❓ The WA parliamentary question seeks information on the government's use of Environmental Protection Policies (EPPs) to manage cumulative environmental impacts, specifically regarding air quality, vegetation, wetlands, and nutrient discharge. The response indicates existing EPPs address cumulative impacts but no new EPPs are being developed or reviewed.
AnsweredQoN 5379Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Does the Government currently utilise Environmental Protection Policies as a mechanism for controlling cumulative environmental impacts; and if so: (a) are cumulative impacts for the following currently being monitored by Office of the Environmental Protection Authority: (i) air quality deterioration; (ii) native vegetation loss; (iii) wetland loss; and (iv) nutrient discharge? (2) Will Environmental Protection Policies be developed by the Government to control: (a) air quality deterioration; (b) native vegetation loss; (c) wetland loss; and (d) nutrient discharge? (3) Between 1 Nov 2014 and 1 February 2015, and
1 Nov 2015 and 1 Feb 2016: (a) how
many people in the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority were working on reviewing Environmental Protection Policies; (b) who
did they consult with in these periods of time; and (c) how
many briefing notes were provided to the Minister on Environmental Protection Policies? (4) Which
operational Environmental Protection Policies are currently under review? (5) What
new Environmental Protection Policies are under consideration?
1 Nov 2015 and 1 Feb 2016: (a) how
many people in the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority were working on reviewing Environmental Protection Policies; (b) who
did they consult with in these periods of time; and (c) how
many briefing notes were provided to the Minister on Environmental Protection Policies? (4) Which
operational Environmental Protection Policies are currently under review? (5) What
new Environmental Protection Policies are under consideration?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 May 2016
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
34 days
(1) There are currently four enacted Environmental Protection Policies:
All of these Environmental Protection Policies have been designed to provide a decision making framework to address cumulative impacts. For example, the Environmental Protection (Goldfields Residential Areas) (Sulfur Dioxide) Policy 2003 specifies the maximum sulfur dioxide concentration permitted in the ambient air of an area defined in the Policy. This is then translated into licence conditions for facilities that emit sulphur dioxide.
(a) No. However, monitoring and data collection for these matters may be undertaken by the relevant regulatory and technical agencies.
(2) There are not currently any new Environmental Protection Policies being prepared for the matters listed in the question.
(3)
(a) There were four officers who spent part of their time working on reviewing Environmental Protection Policies between 1 November 2014 and 1 February 2015. There were no officers working on reviewing Environmental Protection Policies between 1 November 2015 and 1 February 2016.
(b) The Department of Environment Regulation and Department of Parks and Wildlife were consulted between 1 November 2014 and 1 February 2015. No agencies were consulted between 1 November 2015 and 1 February 2016.
(c) There were two briefing notes on the review of Environmental Protection Policies submitted to the Minister for Environment between 1 November 2014 and 1 February 2015. There were no briefing notes on the review of Environmental Protection Policies submitted to the Minister for Environment between 1 November 2015 and 1 February 2016.
(4) None.
(5) There are not currently any new Environmental Protection Policies under consideration.
All of these Environmental Protection Policies have been designed to provide a decision making framework to address cumulative impacts. For example, the Environmental Protection (Goldfields Residential Areas) (Sulfur Dioxide) Policy 2003 specifies the maximum sulfur dioxide concentration permitted in the ambient air of an area defined in the Policy. This is then translated into licence conditions for facilities that emit sulphur dioxide.
(a) No. However, monitoring and data collection for these matters may be undertaken by the relevant regulatory and technical agencies.
(2) There are not currently any new Environmental Protection Policies being prepared for the matters listed in the question.
(3)
(a) There were four officers who spent part of their time working on reviewing Environmental Protection Policies between 1 November 2014 and 1 February 2015. There were no officers working on reviewing Environmental Protection Policies between 1 November 2015 and 1 February 2016.
(b) The Department of Environment Regulation and Department of Parks and Wildlife were consulted between 1 November 2014 and 1 February 2015. No agencies were consulted between 1 November 2015 and 1 February 2016.
(c) There were two briefing notes on the review of Environmental Protection Policies submitted to the Minister for Environment between 1 November 2014 and 1 February 2015. There were no briefing notes on the review of Environmental Protection Policies submitted to the Minister for Environment between 1 November 2015 and 1 February 2016.
(4) None.
(5) There are not currently any new Environmental Protection Policies under consideration.
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