❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the EPA on environmental compliance audits, particularly regarding coal-fired power stations and mines. The EPA confirms audits occur, breaches are found, and actions are taken to ensure compliance.
AnsweredQoN 5786Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the 2012-13 Budget Statements that list 'Environmental Compliance Audits' as an important function of the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), and I ask —
(1) How many Environmental Compliance Audits have been undertaken in the past year and what proportion of projects subject to Ministerial Conditions does this represent?
(2) How many Environmental Compliance Audits have been undertaken in the past five years and what proportion of projects subject to Ministerial Conditions does this represent?
(3) Have any of the State's coal fired power stations or coal mines been subject to environmental compliance audits?
(4) Have any of the State's coal fired power stations or coal mines been found to be in breach of their Ministerial Conditions by the EPA?
(5) If yes to (4), what action has been taken by the EPA to bring these facilities into compliance?
(1) How many Environmental Compliance Audits have been undertaken in the past year and what proportion of projects subject to Ministerial Conditions does this represent?
(2) How many Environmental Compliance Audits have been undertaken in the past five years and what proportion of projects subject to Ministerial Conditions does this represent?
(3) Have any of the State's coal fired power stations or coal mines been subject to environmental compliance audits?
(4) Have any of the State's coal fired power stations or coal mines been found to be in breach of their Ministerial Conditions by the EPA?
(5) If yes to (4), what action has been taken by the EPA to bring these facilities into compliance?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 September 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
35 days
(1) During the 2011-2012 financial year, the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority undertook 55 detailed audits. This represents 11% of projects subject to Ministerial Conditions and monitoring by the Office of the Environmental Protection. In addition the Office of the Environmental Protection received and reviewed 188 Annual Compliance Reports from companies.
(2) The Office of the Environmental Protection Authority was formed on 27 November 2009, since this time a total of 166 detailed audits have been undertaken. This represents approximately 30% of projects subject to Ministerial Conditions and monitoring by the Office Environmental Protection Authority. The Office of the Environmental Protection Authority also received and reviewed more than 400 Annual Compliance Reports in that period.
(3) Yes
(4) Yes
(5) The Office of the Environmental Protection Authority has documented processes for the management of non-compliances, including requiring the proponent to take corrective actions in a specified timeframe. The Office of the Environmental Protection Authority is currently investigating the non-compliances with a view to bringing the operations into compliance.
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(2) The Office of the Environmental Protection Authority was formed on 27 November 2009, since this time a total of 166 detailed audits have been undertaken. This represents approximately 30% of projects subject to Ministerial Conditions and monitoring by the Office Environmental Protection Authority. The Office of the Environmental Protection Authority also received and reviewed more than 400 Annual Compliance Reports in that period.
(3) Yes
(4) Yes
(5) The Office of the Environmental Protection Authority has documented processes for the management of non-compliances, including requiring the proponent to take corrective actions in a specified timeframe. The Office of the Environmental Protection Authority is currently investigating the non-compliances with a view to bringing the operations into compliance.
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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