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Submarine Tailings Disposal, or STD, has recently come into favor in Papua New Guinea where on-land disposal options are problematic. Two mines: Misima Gold Mine (Placer Pacific) in the Milne Bay Archipelago, and Lihir Gold Mine (RTZ), in New Ireland Province, already use this technique. (See: STD on the Island of Lihr.) The State of Papua New Guinea is highly dependant on the revenue from mining projects. For this reason the mining sector has traditionally wielded substantial power, and this in turn has had major implications for the acceptance of sub-standard environmental performance.

Highlands Pacific Limited is currently seeking finance for the development of a Nickel-Cobalt mine in Madang Province. Papua New Guinea. The mine will be located near the Ramu River, with processing facilities at Basamuk Bay on the Rai Coast. Basainuk Bay is a small embayment of the larger Astrolabe Bay. Highlands Pacific plans to dispose of mill tailings through a submarine outfall into Astrolabe Bay. Oceanographic conditions in Astrolabe Bay make this practise inadvisable if consideration is given to the ecological health of the Madang region.