Department of Primary Industries
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EDG10 Version 4.1, September 2006
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
Environmental Management
Guidelines for Industry
EDG10: Surface Disturbance Notice
for Exploration Activities
Prospecting operations not covered by Condition 1 of the Exploration Licence Conditions require an
assessment and determination under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act
1979, and written approval from the Department prior to the commencement of operations.
Activities which require a Part 5 Determination will require a site inspection and an assessment of
the proposed activity by one of the Department’s Environmental Officers.
Notice of proposed operations is undertaken via a Surface Disturbance Notice (SDN) or Review of
Environmental Factors (REF). The type of notice can be determined by choosing the appropriate
category of activity described below.
Please refer to Exploration Licence Conditions for additional detail.
Category 1 Activities – Do not require a Surface Disturbance Notice – unless activities meet the
definitions of Category 2(a) or 2(b). Refer to definitions below.
Category 2 Activities – Require a Surface Disturbance Notice – unless activities meet the
definitions of Category 3 (a) or 3 (b). Refer to definitions below. Note: an REF may be required if
DPI considers an additional level of assessment is required for the activities proposed.
Category 3 Activities – Require a Review of Environmental Factors (Refer to ESB 18 - Guidelines
for Review of Environmental Factors). Submission of a REF will negate the need for submission of
a Surface Disturbance Notice. Note: An EIS may be required if the level of impact is considered
likely to be significant in terms of Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
For activities requiring submission of a Surface Disturbance Notice, you will be advised in writing
within 4 weeks of submission of the outcome of the assessment.
1 Definitions - Categories of Prospecting Operations
C