Summary: The Environmental Protection Authority has set an Assessment on Referral Information ARI level of assessment and released its recommendations to Environment Minister David Templeman on a proposal by Mobil Australia Resources Company Pty Ltd to construct a feed gas pipeline to carry natural gas from the Io/Jansz offshore gas field, through State waters and across Barrow Island nature reserve to the Gorgon gas processing plant.
Release Date: 10 December 2007
Details: The Environmental Protection Authority has set an Assessment on Referral Information (ARI) level of assessment and released its recommendations to Environment Minister David Templeman on a proposal by Mobil Australia Resources Company Pty Ltd to construct a feed gas pipeline to carry natural gas from the Io/Jansz offshore gas field, through State waters and across Barrow Island nature reserve to the Gorgon gas processing plant.
Elements of the proposal in Commonwealth waters have been approved by the Commonwealth.
EPA Chairman, Paul Vogel, said that in principle the EPA does not support the use of class A nature reserves such as Barrow Island for industrial development.
"The EPA recognises, however, that decisions on the implementation of proposals clearly rest with Government," Dr Vogel said.
"Given that Government has authorised the Gorgon development on Barrow Island, the Jansz proposal is capable of being managed in a manner such that it is unlikely that significant, additional, environmental impacts would occur beyond those authorised for the implementation of the Gorgon proposal, provided there is satisfactory implementation of the recommended conditions.
"All relevant conditions for the Gorgon pipeline are expected to be applied to the Jansz pipeline," Dr Vogel said.
The Jansz proposal has a separate owner and hence a separate proponent, therefore it required its own assessment and set of legally binding conditions.
The Barrow Island Act 2003 limits development to a total of 300ha of new clearing on Barrow Island.
The Jansz pipeline would fit within the terrestrial easement approved for the Gorgon project and no additional on-shore clearing for the Jansz pipeline is proposed.
Construction of the pipeline would be carried out in association with the Gorgon feed gas pipeline by the same contractors, at the same time, under the management of the Gorgon proponent.
The EPA's report, available at www.epa.wa.gov.au, and the level of assessment are subject to appeal until close of business on 24 December 2007. The ARI document is available at www.exxonmobil.com.au. Appeals will be considered by the Independent Appeals Convenor (9221 8711).
The final decision will be made by the Minister for the Environment.
EPA media contact Charlie Maling 6467 5415, 0400 866 450
Status: Final
Report Number: 1278
Appeals close