The Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development (IESC) provides scientific advice to decision makers on the impact that coal seam gas and large coal mining development may have on Australia's water resources.

The IESC was established as a statutory committee in 2012 by the Australian Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) in response to community concerns about coal seam gas and coal mining.

The IESC provides:

• Independent, expert scientific advice on coal seam gas and large coal mining proposals as requested by the Australian Government and state government regulators.

  This advice is provided to enable the regulator's decisions about coal seam gas and large coal mining developments to be informed by the best available science about the potential water related impacts associated with those developments.

  Queensland, New South Wales, South Australian and Victorian government regulators can seek the IESC's advice in accordance with the terms of the National Partnership Agreement on Coal Seam Gas and large Coal Mining Development.

• Advice to the Australian Government on bioregional assessments and research priorities and projects.

  Bioregional assessments and other research will improve our knowledge base regarding the potential water related impacts of coal seam gas and large coal mining.