Guideline for subterranean fauna released for comment

Paradraculoides gnophicola courtesy of the WA Museum

The EPA has released the draft Environmental Assessment Guideline for Consideration of subterranean fauna in environmental impact assessment in Western Australia for comment and submissions.

This draft EAG has been developed to provide guidance on the relevant impact assessment methods where subterranean fauna is likely to be a factor, particularly the standards of survey and type of information required to understand impacts.

Development of the draft guidance follows the release of the discussion paper A review of subterranean fauna assessment in Western Australia in March 2012, and the June 2012 recommendations of a five member advisory group which provided direction and guidance on a more strategic and risk-based approach for assessing proposals where subterranean fauna are a factor.

The EPA Advisory Group recognised the need to improve consistency and transparency of assessment procedures and the need to develop an appropriate method of risk assessment. Public comments on the discussion paper and expert advice from a Subterranean Fauna Technical Group have informed the development of this guideline.