Information guidelines for proponents preparing coal seam gas and large coal mining development proposals
The Information Guidelines were first published in March 2013 and revised in April 2014, October 2015, May 2018 and February 2024.
About the document
The Information Guidelines developed by the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Unconventional Gas Development and Large Coal Mining Development (IESC) outline the information considered necessary to enable the IESC to provide robust scientific advice to government regulators on the water-related impacts of coal seam gas and large coal mining development proposals.
On 15 December 2023, the Nature Repair (Consequential Amendments) Act 2023 amended the EPBC Act to expand the IESC’s remit to all unconventional gas developments. This publication was developed prior to these amendments of the EPBC Act commencing.
Further information
For some topics, Explanatory Notes have been written to supplement the IESC Information Guidelines, providing tailored guidance and up-to-date robust scientific methodologies and tools for specific components of Environmental Impact Assessments on coal seam gas and large coal mining developments.
- Uncertainty analysis–Guidance for groundwater modelling within a risk management framework
- Assessing groundwater-dependent ecosystems
- Deriving site-specific guideline values for physico-chemical parameters and toxicants
- Characterisation and modelling of geological fault zones
- Subsidence associated with underground coal mining
- Subsidence Associated with Coal Seam Gas Production
- Using impact pathway diagrams based on ecohydrological conceptualisation in environmental impact assessment