The list of restrictions, including spatial, temporal, geological, economic, regulatory, etc., within which the mining enterprise operates as a natural-technical system is given. The general scheme of a natural-industrial system and the restrictions which determine the conditions for its functioning is given. It is stated that any natural-industrial system being a sophisticated complex dynamical system is at the same time an inertial system which quality is important for its operation and management decisions. A scheme of functioning of a naturalindustrial system in time has been presented. The process of its functioning is described. With regards to complexity of environmental issues and environmental legal regulations in mining, a risk assessment approach is proposed which is based on taking into account the external limitations and impacts of different origin, related to environmental safety restrictions. Based on the conclusions of different authors the need to consider a mining enterprise as a dynamic “natural - industrial” system which is permanently under impact of changing external factors is demonstrated. An example of changes of environmental legal regulations as one of the external impacts is given.An example of changes in one of the external limitations that determine the risks of environmental management decisions is given. An analysis of changes in the legal requirements for hazardous wastes management over the past 20 years (from 2000 to 2019) is presented. The possible consequences of these changes for mining enterprises are described.. In addition, the risks that arise for mining enterprises in the event of failure to comply with these environmental requirements are described as well. Conclusions are drawn about the possible areas of application of the approach given in the article.