❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the EPA's assessment criteria for unconventional gas proposals, focusing on potential environmental risks and monitoring programs. The answer indicates limited EPA assessment to date, deferring regulation of existing wells to the Department of Mines and Petroleum.
AnsweredQoN 7974Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What specific criteria does the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) use to determine whether an unconventional gas proposal requires assessment?
(2) Does the EPA assess the potential for an unconventional gas extraction plant to release chemicals, gases and waste waters into underground and surface water bodies through leakages and accidents from all underground pipes as a potential risk to the environment?
(3) Has the EPA assessed the safety and environmental fate of the chemicals in the drilling fluids used by the unconventional gas industry?
(4) Of the six wells that have been drilled and hydraulically stimulated for unconventional gas extraction in Western Australia since 1998, which ones are required to have long-term groundwater and air monitoring programs; and
(a) will the Minister table the results from these programs?
(5) Have BTEX chemicals been found in any of these monitoring programmes and, if so, will the Minister please provide details?
(2) Does the EPA assess the potential for an unconventional gas extraction plant to release chemicals, gases and waste waters into underground and surface water bodies through leakages and accidents from all underground pipes as a potential risk to the environment?
(3) Has the EPA assessed the safety and environmental fate of the chemicals in the drilling fluids used by the unconventional gas industry?
(4) Of the six wells that have been drilled and hydraulically stimulated for unconventional gas extraction in Western Australia since 1998, which ones are required to have long-term groundwater and air monitoring programs; and
(a) will the Minister table the results from these programs?
(5) Have BTEX chemicals been found in any of these monitoring programmes and, if so, will the Minister please provide details?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 June 2012
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
35 days
(1) The
Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act)
provides that a proposal likely, if implemented, to have a significant effect on the environment can be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for it to decide whether to assess the proposal. The EPA has published the
Environmental Impact Assessment Administrative Procedures 2010
. Section 7 of the procedures describes a number of matters that the EPA may have regard to when judging if a proposal will have a significant effect on the environment. The EPA gives regard to these matters when making its decision whether an unconventional gas proposal requires formal environmental impact assessment.
(2)-(5) The EPA has not undertaken formal environmental impact assessment of unconventional gas extraction plants or wells that have been hydraulically stimulated.
The unconventional gas proposals referred to the EPA have been small scale trial proposals. The EPA will continue to consider proposals on their merit, and undertake formal environmental impact assessments where warranted. The Department of Mines and Petroleum regulates unconventional gas activities under the
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967
and questions concerning the regulation of existing wells should be directed to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act)
provides that a proposal likely, if implemented, to have a significant effect on the environment can be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for it to decide whether to assess the proposal. The EPA has published the
Environmental Impact Assessment Administrative Procedures 2010
. Section 7 of the procedures describes a number of matters that the EPA may have regard to when judging if a proposal will have a significant effect on the environment. The EPA gives regard to these matters when making its decision whether an unconventional gas proposal requires formal environmental impact assessment.
(2)-(5) The EPA has not undertaken formal environmental impact assessment of unconventional gas extraction plants or wells that have been hydraulically stimulated.
The unconventional gas proposals referred to the EPA have been small scale trial proposals. The EPA will continue to consider proposals on their merit, and undertake formal environmental impact assessments where warranted. The Department of Mines and Petroleum regulates unconventional gas activities under the
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967
and questions concerning the regulation of existing wells should be directed to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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