Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Environment regarding near-shore seismic surveys at Browse Basin and James Price Point, specifically about EPA approvals. The Minister responds that the surveys haven't been submitted to the EPA, but any survey with significant environmental impact can be referred to the EPA.

AnsweredQoN 327Legislative Council
Asked
27 May 2010
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

BROWSE BASIN AND JAMES PRICE POINT — SEISMIC SURVEYS
I refer to the minister’s answer to question without notice 292 on 25 May 2010. (1) Was the minister aware of near-shore seismic geotechnical surveys being conducted in the area referred to in question without notice 292? (2) If no to (1), why not? (3) If yes to (1), is there a requirement for near-shore seismic geotechnical surveys to be subject to the Environmental Protection Authority approvals process? (4) If no to (3), what EPA processes are in place around seismic geotechnical surveys? (5) If yes to (3), will the minister advise as to whether the geotechnical surveys referred to in question without notice 292 are subject to the approvals process? Hon DONNA FARAGHER

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(2) The surveys referred to have not been submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any proposal for undertaking geotechnical or seismic surveys that are likely, if implemented, to have a significant effect on the environment may be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority. The authority would then make a decision as to whether or not the proposal requires environment assessment under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (5) Not applicable.
(1) Was the minister aware of near-shore seismic geotechnical surveys being conducted in the area referred to in question without notice 292? (2) If no to (1), why not? (3) If yes to (1), is there a requirement for near-shore seismic geotechnical surveys to be subject to the Environmental Protection Authority approvals process? (4) If no to (3), what EPA processes are in place around seismic geotechnical surveys? (5) If yes to (3), will the minister advise as to whether the geotechnical surveys referred to in question without notice 292 are subject to the approvals process? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(2) The surveys referred to have not been submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any proposal for undertaking geotechnical or seismic surveys that are likely, if implemented, to have a significant effect on the environment may be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority. The authority would then make a decision as to whether or not the proposal requires environment assessment under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (5) Not applicable.
(2) If no to (1), why not? (3) If yes to (1), is there a requirement for near-shore seismic geotechnical surveys to be subject to the Environmental Protection Authority approvals process? (4) If no to (3), what EPA processes are in place around seismic geotechnical surveys? (5) If yes to (3), will the minister advise as to whether the geotechnical surveys referred to in question without notice 292 are subject to the approvals process? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(2) The surveys referred to have not been submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any proposal for undertaking geotechnical or seismic surveys that are likely, if implemented, to have a significant effect on the environment may be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority. The authority would then make a decision as to whether or not the proposal requires environment assessment under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (5) Not applicable.
(3) If yes to (1), is there a requirement for near-shore seismic geotechnical surveys to be subject to the Environmental Protection Authority approvals process? (4) If no to (3), what EPA processes are in place around seismic geotechnical surveys? (5) If yes to (3), will the minister advise as to whether the geotechnical surveys referred to in question without notice 292 are subject to the approvals process? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(2) The surveys referred to have not been submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any proposal for undertaking geotechnical or seismic surveys that are likely, if implemented, to have a significant effect on the environment may be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority. The authority would then make a decision as to whether or not the proposal requires environment assessment under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (5) Not applicable.
(4) If no to (3), what EPA processes are in place around seismic geotechnical surveys? (5) If yes to (3), will the minister advise as to whether the geotechnical surveys referred to in question without notice 292 are subject to the approvals process? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(2) The surveys referred to have not been submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any proposal for undertaking geotechnical or seismic surveys that are likely, if implemented, to have a significant effect on the environment may be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority. The authority would then make a decision as to whether or not the proposal requires environment assessment under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (5) Not applicable.
(5) If yes to (3), will the minister advise as to whether the geotechnical surveys referred to in question without notice 292 are subject to the approvals process? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(2) The surveys referred to have not been submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any proposal for undertaking geotechnical or seismic surveys that are likely, if implemented, to have a significant effect on the environment may be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority. The authority would then make a decision as to whether or not the proposal requires environment assessment under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (5) Not applicable.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(2) The surveys referred to have not been submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any proposal for undertaking geotechnical or seismic surveys that are likely, if implemented, to have a significant effect on the environment may be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority. The authority would then make a decision as to whether or not the proposal requires environment assessment under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (5) Not applicable.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(2) The surveys referred to have not been submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any proposal for undertaking geotechnical or seismic surveys that are likely, if implemented, to have a significant effect on the environment may be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority. The authority would then make a decision as to whether or not the proposal requires environment assessment under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (5) Not applicable.
(1)–(2) The surveys referred to have not been submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority. (3) Not applicable. (4) Any proposal for undertaking geotechnical or seismic surveys that are likely, if implemented, to have a significant effect on the environment may be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority. The authority would then make a decision as to whether or not the proposal requires environment assessment under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (5) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable. (4) Any proposal for undertaking geotechnical or seismic surveys that are likely, if implemented, to have a significant effect on the environment may be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority. The authority would then make a decision as to whether or not the proposal requires environment assessment under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (5) Not applicable.
(4) Any proposal for undertaking geotechnical or seismic surveys that are likely, if implemented, to have a significant effect on the environment may be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority. The authority would then make a decision as to whether or not the proposal requires environment assessment under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (5) Not applicable.
(5) Not applicable.

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