The JPNCC comprises representatives from the Autonomous Bougainville Government, the Papua New Guinea National Government, Panguna-affected landowners and Bougainville Copper Limited.
It is part of a process that ensures all key stakeholders have the same access to information about a possible resumption of mining on Bougainville.
Its responsibilities include the supervision of environmental, social and economic studies as well as the customary bel kol reconciliation process.
As with all decisions made by the JPNCC, the selection of consultants for the baseline studies will be made unanimously.
The JPNCC is guided in these processes by an independent panel of experts, the Project Support Team.
For the environmental baseline study, the team is evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of expressions of interest from consultants.
At the same time, the United Nations Environment Programme will independently evaluate tenders using the same criteria.
The next meeting of the JPNCC is scheduled for Friday 3 October in Port Moresby.