❓ Question regarding DBCA's prescribed burning activities outside the Forest Management Plan and referrals to the EPA. The Minister confirms no referrals were made, DBCA doesn't consider the program significant, and no specific authorisations were sought.
AnsweredQoN 1460Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA’s) prescribed burning operations and the operation of the Environmental Protection Act 1999 , I ask: (a) how many proposed prescribed burning activities undertaken by DBCA outside of the Forest Management Plan have been referred to the EPA for assessment under Section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act ; (b) how many of these referrals were: (i) considered to be valid referrals by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); (ii) considered significant proposals by the EPA; and (iii) assessed by the EPA; (c) will the Minister table the relevant referral documents from (b) (i-iii): (i) if not, why not; (d) if no referrals have been made, can the Minister provide an explanation of how the requirements of S38(4) of the Act are being fulfilled; (e) does the EPA have a bilateral agreement with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions: (i) if not, why not; and (f) what authorisation (if any) has been provided under the Environmental Protection Act 1999 for prescribed burning activities outside of the Forest Management Plan ?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 June 2023
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment
Response time
7 days
(a) None.
(b)(i-iii) Not applicable.
(c)(i) Not applicable.
(d) Section 38 (4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 requires that a decision-making authority must refer a proposal to the Authority as soon as it has notice of the proposal if the proposal appears to it to be a significant proposal. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction (DBCA) does not consider that its operational prescribed burning program is a significant proposal consistent with this legislation.
(e)(i) No. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DBCA that defines respective roles and responsibilities of the parties, outlines the principles that will foster a strong partnership between the parties, collaborative working arrangements that support efficient and effective environmental impact assessment processes, implementation of DBCA’s roles and development of environmental policy.
(f) No authorisations have been sought by DBCA for prescribed burning activities outside of the Forest Management Plan.
(b)(i-iii) Not applicable.
(c)(i) Not applicable.
(d) Section 38 (4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 requires that a decision-making authority must refer a proposal to the Authority as soon as it has notice of the proposal if the proposal appears to it to be a significant proposal. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction (DBCA) does not consider that its operational prescribed burning program is a significant proposal consistent with this legislation.
(e)(i) No. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DBCA that defines respective roles and responsibilities of the parties, outlines the principles that will foster a strong partnership between the parties, collaborative working arrangements that support efficient and effective environmental impact assessment processes, implementation of DBCA’s roles and development of environmental policy.
(f) No authorisations have been sought by DBCA for prescribed burning activities outside of the Forest Management Plan.
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