Alcoa is currently subject to two parallel environmental assessment processes for its bauxite mining operations at the Huntly and Willowdale mines in Western Australia’s northern jarrah forests, covering activities through to 2045.
At the state level, the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is assessing Alcoa’s mining proposals under the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986.
Assessment by the WA Environmental Protection Authority
The EPA is assessing two proposals under the Environmental Protection Act 1986:
- Alcoa’s bauxite mining in the Darling Ranges for 2023–2027, and
- The Pinjarra Alumina Refinery Revised Proposal.
The public comment period for both proposals has now closed, and attracted a remarkable 60,000 submissions.
The EPA’s next step is to publish its assessment report setting out its findings on environmental impacts and its recommendations on whether the proposals should be approved, and, if so,on what conditions.
Importantly, the state process allows for merits appeals against the EPA’s findings and recommendations once the report is published.
The WA Minister for Environment ultimately makes the final approval decision.
Federal Strategic Assessment
At the federal level, a Strategic Assessment started in February 2026 under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
That assessment is focused on impacts to matters of national environmental significance (MNES) — threatened species, migratory species, and internationally protected wetlands.
Notably, Alcoa has been permitted to continue mining during both assessment processes under exemptions granted by both the federal and state governments.
The federal Strategic Assessment is a landscape-scale process in which Alcoa prepares an overarching plan and a Strategic Impact Assessment Report (SIAR) outlining how it will manage environmental impacts.
If the federal minister endorses the plan, individual future mining projects can proceed under that plan without requiring separate assessments.
Public submissions
The public will have 28 days to comment once Alcoa’s draft plan and SIAR are published.
This will be the only opportunity for public participation at the federal level, and — unlike the state process — there is no mechanism for a merits appeal against the federal assessment outcome.
Those interested in commenting should monitor the websites of Alcoa and the Department of Climate Change, the Environment, Energy and Water for updates.
Detailed explainer
EDO has prepared an explainer for people interested in the regulatory processes and how to have your say. Explainer: Strategic Assessment of Alcoa’s proposed mining activities to 2027 under the EPBC Act, May 202
