A new opportunity for the public to comment on significant proposals referred to the Environmental Protection Authority will be available as part of a suite of reforms to environmental assessments that come into effect today.
Environment Minister John Day said the new legislative, administrative and funding arrangements would allow for early community input on key proposals and a clearer, streamlined assessment process.
“We have been steadily implementing reforms that deliver on the Government’s commitment to an environmental approvals process that is effective, efficient and rigorous,’ Mr Day said.
Mr Day said the Approvals and Related Reforms (No1) (Environment) Bill, which comes into effect today, removes duplication in appeals on environmental assessments.
“And today I am also announcing additional funding of $7 million over the next four years to boost the capacity of the State’s environment agencies to undertake environmental assessments and world’s best practice regulation.”
Mr Day said on-line public comment on the Environmental Protection Authority’s revamped website, which will be available from Monday, would make it easier for people across the State to have a say on whether a project should be assessed, and if so, at what level.
“This opportunity will be introduced on the EPA’s website to coincide with new EPA administrative procedures which also take effect today,” he said.
Mr Day said the new comment period would allow the public to have a say before the EPA sets its level of assessment.
EPA Chairman Paul Vogel said the Authority’s new administrative procedures incorporated key reforms to the environmental impact assessment process.
As part of the administrative changes, the EPA has simplified its five options for the level of assessment of significant proposals to two so the process was simpler and more transparent for the public and proponents alike.
“Complex assessments will be subject to the most rigorous scrutiny through a full Public Environmental Review (PER). This involves the proponent releasing a detailed document for a period of public comment,” Mr Vogel said.
“The EPA will assess how the issues have been dealt with, including the public comments, and then provide a recommendation to the Minister as to whether the proposal should proceed and if so, under what conditions.
“Alternatively, more straightforward projects may be put through an Assessment on Proponent Information (API).
“API’s will be applied to proposals where their environmental impacts are apparent at the referral stage, allowing the EPA to make expedited decisions. For instance where a proposal has significant and unmanageable environmental impacts a quick ‘no’ will be the EPA’s response,” Dr Vogel said.
Dr Vogel said that proposals that have been referred to the EPA, but have not had an assessment decision made on them by the time of the commencement of the new procedures, would be considered under the new administrative procedures.
Further information is available on the EPA website at www.epa.wa.gov.au.
Media contact: David Harris - 9213 7250 or 0432 751 985
