Leigh Creek Energy (LCK) proposes to undertake geophysical operations at Leigh Creek, within Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) 650. These exploratory activities are proposed to further inform Leigh Creek Energy’s Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) project. UCG is also referred to as in-situ gasification (ISG), for an explanation of UCG see FAQ brochure on the Department for Energy and Mining - Energy Resources Division (DEM-ERD) web site. Geophysical operations will assist LCK to identify and delineate the depth to the coal resources and any potential structures such as faults. Geophysical operations proposed by LCK include: • Seismic surveys; • Gravimetric surveys; • Ground magnetic surveys; • Electromagnetic surveys; • Ground penetrating radar surveys; • Thiel Surface Impendance Method (TSIM) surveys; and • any other low impact non-destructive geophysical surveys. This report details the Department for Energy and Mining - Energy Resources Division’s (DEM-ERD) review of the Environmental Impact Report and other information to assess this application. The review was undertaken as part of Stage 2 of the three-stage approval process under the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000 (P&GE Act) that all prospective operators must submit to. These stages are: 1. Licensing: Stage 1 approval grants exclusive rights to an area but does not grant rights to undertake on-ground activities. 2. Environmental Impact Report (EIR) assessment and Statement of Environmental Objectives (SEO) approval: In this stage a draft SEO is prepared on the basis on an EIR. The draft SEO identifies the environmental objectives and conditions that the licensee will be required to achieve to ensure it addresses the risks identified in the EIR. Both the EIR and draft SEO for the Leigh Creek Geophysical Operations were the subject of for public consultation. Stage 2 approval is only granted when all relevant issues raised through this public consultation process are addressed. 3. Activity notification and approval: The Stage 3 process requires submission and approval of technical and operational plans in consultation with co- regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Environment and Water (DEW) and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC), Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division. Also notification of intentions to undertake a regulated activity to all relevant landowners. After Stage 3 approval, on-ground activities can begin. During the Stage 2 consultation process (1 March 2019 to 15 April 2019) a number of issues were raised by government and the wider public in a total of 642 submissions. Of these 610 submissions, 596 were serial submissions that formed part of an online anti-UCG campaign. This campaign did not specifically raise issues or questions in relation to the content of the EIR and/or draft SEO but instead opposed UCG operations in general. These submissions are available on the DEM- ERD’s environmental register. Leigh Creek Energy responded to all of these submissions and submitted its revised EIR to the DEM-ERD on 28 October 2019. The key concerns raised in the consultation process were: • matters relating to Aboriginal heritage in the Leigh Creek area; and • general anti-UCG concerns regarding the Leigh Creek Energy project DEM-ERD recommends Stage 2 approval, based on: • its detailed review of the EIR and draft SEO; • Leigh Creek Energy’s responses to comments submitted as a result of the public consultation;