Browsing: <a href="/tag/nt">NT</a> <i class="grey">•</i> <a href="/tag/site-contamination">Site contamination</a>

• NT Assembly passes mines rehabilitation levy bill
  
• NSW finalises waste exemption for electric arc furnace slag
  
• Audit finds flaws in public reporting by Victoria's environment department

Rehabilitating abandoned and shoddily-closed mines is likely to cost $1 billion, the Northern Territory Government estimates, prompting it to introduce a new levy on the mining industry.

Environment and water ministers today approved changes to the contaminated sites NEPM, released a draft RIS on managing chemical environmental risks and proposed a national approach to biobanking.

Most companies are closely watching the Federal carbon price push – and the likely outlines of a deal are starting to emerge – but state, territory and local governments are also taking action that has major implications for business.

'Sporadic and infrequent' inspections by the Northern Territory's mining regulator contributed to a fuel spill at a Rio Tinto mine site last year, according to an NT EPA report.

• EPA Victoria flags blitz on poor performers
  
• Business group praises planned changes to contaminated sites NEPM
  
• Ryan Smith to be Baillieu Government's environment minister
  
• NT rushes to fix Water Act licensing flaw

• Jail sentence 'excessive', environment court rules
  
• NT to oppose Paladin Energy uranium mine
  
• China explores regional emissions trading; tax measures
  
• Productivity Commission releases urban water reform paper
  
• U.S. EPA's Clean Air Act turns 40

The latest environmental incident at an NT mine could add further weight to the argument that the territory's environment department should have responsibility for environmental assessment of mining operations, says an EPA spokeswoman.

The Northern Territory Government is investigating a spill of up to 70,000 litres of petrol from a tank at Rio Tinto Alcan's Nhulunbuy alumina refinery on the Gove peninsula, just a few months after the company dumped tonnes of alumina into Gove Harbour.

• Gore to business summit – 'act this year, not next year' (with video link)
  
• Greens seek 'consensus mandate'
  
• NT EPA calls for overhaul of assessment law
  
• NSW Government issues underground fuel tanks guide
  
• SA issues draft waste guides