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It is estimated that over one million people work in small scale mining (as against only 6,000 in industrial mines). In view of the environmental problems created by small scale mining and the proliferation of clandestine sites and to reduce fraud, in November 2015 the Government set up the National Agency for the Supervision of Small Scale and Semi Mechanized Mining (ANEEMAS).

No mining activities can lawfully occur in the absence of a mining licence issued by the Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) and environmental clearance from the Ministry for Forest and Environment. There are two types of licences related to mining activities issued by the DMG: a prospecting licence and a mining licence. The prospecting licence is required for all exploration activities in Nepal. It allows the licence-holder to conduct exploration in an area of not less than 0.25 km2 and not more than 250 km2 for an initial exploration period of two to four years, and can be extended for up to two years. Exploration activities should be completed within two years for ordinary non-metallic minerals and four years for metallic and valuable non-metallic minerals. This type of licence is categorized by the value of the mineral being explored.

To obtain an exploration permit, the applicant must submit to the Ministry responsible for mining a dossier that complies with the regulatory requirements, including: (...)an environmental impact study.

The law governing the exploration, exploitation, and processing of minerals is set out in a number of different legal acts including:
The Constitution, which states that natural resources are the property of the State, and also includes a provision relating to environmental, social and labour policies which affect the mineral sector;

Under the new Mining Code, mining title holders are required to observe the norms in force for the protection of the environment, and an environmental impact assessment by the Ministry of the Environment is required.

(...) The Government continues to ensure that environmental and social impact assessment, occupational health and safety standards and stakeholder engagements are undertaken prior to commencement of mining projects.

Several key bodies are currently responsible for regulating mining activities, namely:
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• The National Institute of Mines (Instituto Nacional de Minas – INM) is the new regulatory body established by the new Mining Law to regulate mining activities, and its primary responsibilities include: reviewing, analysing and approving mining projects, including carrying out technical and economic studies for the opening of new mines, in addition to decommissioning and/or closing mines; minimizing the social and environmental impacts of mining projects; publishing guidelines on public and private sector participation in the mining sector; and proposing new policies to the MIREME regarding the development of the mining sector.
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Besides the concession and the authorization to use the land, approval must also be obtained for the environmental management tools for mineral exploration, exploitation and/or processing. In 2017, the new Regulations on Environmental Protection for Mining Exploration Activities were published, replacing the previous 2008 regulations. (...)

While mining activities fall under provincial jurisdiction, mining projects are subject to both provincial and federal Environmental Assessments. The federal Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and Environment and Climate Change Canada have an important role in the Environmental Assessments of almost all major mining projects, as well as serving as the Crown's consultation coordinator for many major resource projects. Canada is currently working to modernize its federal environmental assessment and regulatory processes. The proposed changes, including a new impact assessment process, aim to support jobs and economic opportunities through a more timely, predictable, and transparent assessment process that strengthens investor confidence, restores public trust, advances Indigenous reconciliation, and enhances environmental performance.

The new Mining Code of the Republic of Burundi makes sure that artisanal miners undertake to comply with the environmental regulations and affirms the principles of rational quarry exploitation in compliance with the environmental regulations in order to support the development of the country's mineral resources and to create jobs through the profitable and sustainable exploitation of Burundi's natural resources and advantages, although reforms are needed to align the mining regulations on other more recent provisions, particularly the Environmental Code