To amend the National Environmental Management Act, 1998, so as to insert certain definitions and to substitute others; to further regulate environmental authorisations; to empower the Minister of Minerals and Energy to implement environmental matters in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998, in so far as it relates to prospecting, mining, exploration, production or related activities on a prospecting, mining, exploration or production area; to align environmental requirements in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002, with the National Environmental Management Act, 1998, by providing for the use of one environmental system and by providing for environmental management programmes, consultation with State departments, exemptions from certain provisions of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998, financial provision for the remediation of environmental damage, the management of residue stockpiles and residue deposits, the recovering of cost in the, event of urgent remedial measures and the issuing of closing certificates as it relates to the conditions of the environmental authorisation; and to effect certain textual alterations; and to provide for matters connected therewith.