❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks data on environmental referrals, assessments, and advice provided by the EPA over five financial years. The answer provides the requested data, clarifying the EPA's processes for handling referrals and providing advice.
AnsweredQoN 5378Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority and the Environmental Protection Authority, for each of the financial years, 2014/15; 2013/14; 2012/13; 2011/12 2010/11: (a) how
many referrals under section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 were received by the Environmental Protection Authority; (b) how
many were refused to be acknowledged as referrals; (c) how
many were subject to informal advice from the Environmental Protection Authority; and (d) how
many progressed to formal assessment by the Environmental Protection Authority?
many referrals under section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 were received by the Environmental Protection Authority; (b) how
many were refused to be acknowledged as referrals; (c) how
many were subject to informal advice from the Environmental Protection Authority; and (d) how
many progressed to formal assessment by the Environmental Protection Authority?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 May 2016
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
34 days
(a) Referrals received by the Environmental Protection Authority under s38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 :
- 2014-15 – 70
- 2013-14 – 79
- 2012-13 – 66
- 2011-12 – 119
- 2010-11 – 105
(b) Section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 provides for the referral of significant proposals, that is, proposals likely to have a significant effect on the environment, to the Environmental Protection Authority. All referrals of significant proposals in this period were acknowledged as referrals. Proposals which are brought to the Environmental Protection Authority’s attention which are clearly not significant, do not constitute referrals under section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
(c) The Environmental Protection Authority carries out investigations and inquiries before deciding not to assess a proposal. In accordance with s39A(7), once the Environmental Protection Authority has determined not to assess a proposal, it may provide advice and make recommendations to the proponent, relevant person or authority. This is referred to as public advice . Proposals where public advice was issued with the Environmental Protection Authority’s determination on the level of assessment are outlined below:
- 2014-15 – 21
- 2013-14 – 23
- 2012-13 – 22
- 2011-12 – 34
- 2010-11 – 24
(d) The number of referrals that the Environmental Protection Authority determined required formal assessment are listed below:
- 2014-15 – 19
- 2013-14 – 18
- 2012-13 – 22
- 2011-12 – 17
- 2010-11 – 37
- 2014-15 – 70
- 2013-14 – 79
- 2012-13 – 66
- 2011-12 – 119
- 2010-11 – 105
(b) Section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 provides for the referral of significant proposals, that is, proposals likely to have a significant effect on the environment, to the Environmental Protection Authority. All referrals of significant proposals in this period were acknowledged as referrals. Proposals which are brought to the Environmental Protection Authority’s attention which are clearly not significant, do not constitute referrals under section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
(c) The Environmental Protection Authority carries out investigations and inquiries before deciding not to assess a proposal. In accordance with s39A(7), once the Environmental Protection Authority has determined not to assess a proposal, it may provide advice and make recommendations to the proponent, relevant person or authority. This is referred to as public advice . Proposals where public advice was issued with the Environmental Protection Authority’s determination on the level of assessment are outlined below:
- 2014-15 – 21
- 2013-14 – 23
- 2012-13 – 22
- 2011-12 – 34
- 2010-11 – 24
(d) The number of referrals that the Environmental Protection Authority determined required formal assessment are listed below:
- 2014-15 – 19
- 2013-14 – 18
- 2012-13 – 22
- 2011-12 – 17
- 2010-11 – 37
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