To achieve a permit to operate a mine, it is essential that a mine developer can demonstrate a full understanding of the natural environment in which it is proposed to develop the mine.  The operator needs to ensure knowledge of the potential environmental impact of the operation.  To understand the potential for environmental impact there are many aspects that need to be considered including visual impact, land use, habitat, waste management, air emissions and potential impact on water (abstraction and discharge).  Data is required to assess and manage all these aspects.

The acquisition and interpretation of data is a very important aspect of the permitting phase.  There are many techniques used by mine developers to acquire the information needed, much of which is field based sampling and analysis.