(1) How many petroleum tenements within or in close proximity to the Cape Range are held by Empire Oil and Gas and its subsidiaries? (2) Does Empire Oil and Gas or its subsidiaries have any further pe

AnsweredQoN 12Legislative Council
Asked
14 May 2013
Portfolio
Mines and Petroleum

QuestionView source ↗

(1) How many petroleum tenements within or in close proximity to the Cape Range are held by Empire Oil and Gas and its subsidiaries?
(2) Does Empire Oil and Gas or its subsidiaries have any further petroleum lease applications pending for the area?
(3) Have Empire Oil and Gas and its subsidiaries completed any exploration or well drilling within the Cape Range National Park, and:
(a) if yes, how much work has been concluded and at what locations;
(b) if yes, was Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) approval sought or given; and
(c) if no to (b), why not?
(4) Are Empire Oil and Gas and its subsidiaries proposing any exploration or well drilling within the Cape Range National Park, and:
(a) if yes, how much work is proposed and at what locations;
(b) if yes, has EPA approval been sought or given; and
(c) if no to (b), why not?
(5) Does the Minister agree with Empire Oil and Gas managing director, Craig Marshall, that "There are surely creatures on the North West Cape that are much more important to protect", as reported in the Northern Guardian of 20 February 2013, in relation to stygofauna, and:
(a) if yes, what are those creatures and will the Minister outline how they will be protected from Empire Oil and Gas activities; and
(b) if no, how will the Minister protect the stygofauna from the activities of Empire Oil and Gas?
(6) If yes to (3) or (4), do any of these projects or proposals involve the use of unconvential extraction techniques, such as fraccing?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
18 June 2013
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
35 days
(1) Empire Oil and Gas and its subsidiaries have seven petroleum tenements
on the Exmouth Peninsula.
(2) Yes
(3) No
(a)-(c) Not applicable
(4) The Department of Mines and Petroleum has not received any drilling or
exploration activity applications from Empire Oil and Gas and its subsidiaries
within the Cape Range National Park.
(a)-(c) Not applicable
(5) The State Government strives to protect all flora and fauna, including
subsurface species. Risks to flora and fauna are identified and managed under
existing environmental assessment processes where the impact of any activity is
assessed on a case-by-case basis.
(a)-(b) See response for question 5.
(6) Not applicable

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