Whitehaven Coal is facing more than $16 million in fines after the NSW mining regulator charged the company with failing to rehabilitate drill sites, illegally drilling bore holes and building unauthorised tracks at its Narrabri coal mine in the state's north-west.

The resources regulator on Tuesday filed 16 charges in the NSW Land and Environment Court against Narrabri Coal Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the $1.4 billion ASX-listed company that operates the mine, 24 kilometres from Boggabri. Each offence carries a maximum penalty of $1.1 million.