The Department of Mineral Resources has a statutory responsibility for mine site environmental management and control in New South Wales. The Department is focusing on an environmental management systems (EMS) approach, as a management tool to achieve best practice' outcomes both within our own organisation and on mine sites. One of the Department's tools is environmental risk assessment and management which incorporates the Mining, Rehabilitation and Environmental Management Process (MREMP). The MREMP was introduced many years ago in order to integrate the activities of key stakeholders who may have a material interest in the mine. The MREMP provides an ideal mechanism by which due diligence' requirements and environmental management programs can be integrated into mining operations and lead to a sustainable post-mining land use.