❓ A parliamentary question probes the EPA's assessment of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly regarding the threshold for 'significant emission levels' and the tracking of emissions below 100,000 tonnes. The Minister's response indicates a flexible approach and reliance on national reporting for smaller emissions.
AnsweredQoN 731Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY — SIGNIFICANT EMISSION LEVELS
I refer to the Environmental Protection Authority’s assessment of greenhouse gas impacts of proposals. The “Public Environmental Review: Carina Iron Ore Mine: Yilgarn Region WA” report states — This emission level is less than half the 100,000 tonnes per year emissions trigger used by EPA for determining significant emission levels … (1) What level of greenhouse gas emissions does the EPA consider to be a relevant environmental factor or a “significant emission level”? (2) Does the EPA assess the carbon pollution impact of proposals with projected greenhouse gas emissions of less than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent? (3) If the EPA does not assess the carbon pollution impact of all proposals, what guidelines are in place to determine which proposals will be assessed for carbon pollution, and will the minister table these guidelines? (4) Are records kept of proposals with projected greenhouse gas emissions of less than 100 000 tonnes CO 2 per annum to enable a cumulative understanding of projected CO2e emissions? Hon HELEN MORTON
I refer to the Environmental Protection Authority’s assessment of greenhouse gas impacts of proposals. The “Public Environmental Review: Carina Iron Ore Mine: Yilgarn Region WA” report states — This emission level is less than half the 100,000 tonnes per year emissions trigger used by EPA for determining significant emission levels … (1) What level of greenhouse gas emissions does the EPA consider to be a relevant environmental factor or a “significant emission level”? (2) Does the EPA assess the carbon pollution impact of proposals with projected greenhouse gas emissions of less than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent? (3) If the EPA does not assess the carbon pollution impact of all proposals, what guidelines are in place to determine which proposals will be assessed for carbon pollution, and will the minister table these guidelines? (4) Are records kept of proposals with projected greenhouse gas emissions of less than 100 000 tonnes CO 2 per annum to enable a cumulative understanding of projected CO2e emissions? Hon HELEN MORTON
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) The Environmental Protection Authority has advised that it does not have a fixed threshold for what it considers to be a “significant emission level”; however, as a general guide, proponents are asked at the point of referral whether their proposal is likely to result in substantial greenhouse emissions, which is defined as greater than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. (4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
(2) Does the EPA assess the carbon pollution impact of proposals with projected greenhouse gas emissions of less than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent? (3) If the EPA does not assess the carbon pollution impact of all proposals, what guidelines are in place to determine which proposals will be assessed for carbon pollution, and will the minister table these guidelines? (4) Are records kept of proposals with projected greenhouse gas emissions of less than 100 000 tonnes CO 2 per annum to enable a cumulative understanding of projected CO2e emissions? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) The Environmental Protection Authority has advised that it does not have a fixed threshold for what it considers to be a “significant emission level”; however, as a general guide, proponents are asked at the point of referral whether their proposal is likely to result in substantial greenhouse emissions, which is defined as greater than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. (4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
(3) If the EPA does not assess the carbon pollution impact of all proposals, what guidelines are in place to determine which proposals will be assessed for carbon pollution, and will the minister table these guidelines? (4) Are records kept of proposals with projected greenhouse gas emissions of less than 100 000 tonnes CO 2 per annum to enable a cumulative understanding of projected CO2e emissions? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) The Environmental Protection Authority has advised that it does not have a fixed threshold for what it considers to be a “significant emission level”; however, as a general guide, proponents are asked at the point of referral whether their proposal is likely to result in substantial greenhouse emissions, which is defined as greater than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. (4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
(4) Are records kept of proposals with projected greenhouse gas emissions of less than 100 000 tonnes CO 2 per annum to enable a cumulative understanding of projected CO2e emissions? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) The Environmental Protection Authority has advised that it does not have a fixed threshold for what it considers to be a “significant emission level”; however, as a general guide, proponents are asked at the point of referral whether their proposal is likely to result in substantial greenhouse emissions, which is defined as greater than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. (4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) The Environmental Protection Authority has advised that it does not have a fixed threshold for what it considers to be a “significant emission level”; however, as a general guide, proponents are asked at the point of referral whether their proposal is likely to result in substantial greenhouse emissions, which is defined as greater than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. (4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) The Environmental Protection Authority has advised that it does not have a fixed threshold for what it considers to be a “significant emission level”; however, as a general guide, proponents are asked at the point of referral whether their proposal is likely to result in substantial greenhouse emissions, which is defined as greater than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. (4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
(1)–(3) The Environmental Protection Authority has advised that it does not have a fixed threshold for what it considers to be a “significant emission level”; however, as a general guide, proponents are asked at the point of referral whether their proposal is likely to result in substantial greenhouse emissions, which is defined as greater than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. (4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
(4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
(2) Does the EPA assess the carbon pollution impact of proposals with projected greenhouse gas emissions of less than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent? (3) If the EPA does not assess the carbon pollution impact of all proposals, what guidelines are in place to determine which proposals will be assessed for carbon pollution, and will the minister table these guidelines? (4) Are records kept of proposals with projected greenhouse gas emissions of less than 100 000 tonnes CO 2 per annum to enable a cumulative understanding of projected CO2e emissions? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) The Environmental Protection Authority has advised that it does not have a fixed threshold for what it considers to be a “significant emission level”; however, as a general guide, proponents are asked at the point of referral whether their proposal is likely to result in substantial greenhouse emissions, which is defined as greater than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. (4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
(3) If the EPA does not assess the carbon pollution impact of all proposals, what guidelines are in place to determine which proposals will be assessed for carbon pollution, and will the minister table these guidelines? (4) Are records kept of proposals with projected greenhouse gas emissions of less than 100 000 tonnes CO 2 per annum to enable a cumulative understanding of projected CO2e emissions? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) The Environmental Protection Authority has advised that it does not have a fixed threshold for what it considers to be a “significant emission level”; however, as a general guide, proponents are asked at the point of referral whether their proposal is likely to result in substantial greenhouse emissions, which is defined as greater than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. (4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
(4) Are records kept of proposals with projected greenhouse gas emissions of less than 100 000 tonnes CO 2 per annum to enable a cumulative understanding of projected CO2e emissions? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) The Environmental Protection Authority has advised that it does not have a fixed threshold for what it considers to be a “significant emission level”; however, as a general guide, proponents are asked at the point of referral whether their proposal is likely to result in substantial greenhouse emissions, which is defined as greater than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. (4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) The Environmental Protection Authority has advised that it does not have a fixed threshold for what it considers to be a “significant emission level”; however, as a general guide, proponents are asked at the point of referral whether their proposal is likely to result in substantial greenhouse emissions, which is defined as greater than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. (4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) The Environmental Protection Authority has advised that it does not have a fixed threshold for what it considers to be a “significant emission level”; however, as a general guide, proponents are asked at the point of referral whether their proposal is likely to result in substantial greenhouse emissions, which is defined as greater than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. (4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
(1)–(3) The Environmental Protection Authority has advised that it does not have a fixed threshold for what it considers to be a “significant emission level”; however, as a general guide, proponents are asked at the point of referral whether their proposal is likely to result in substantial greenhouse emissions, which is defined as greater than 100 000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. (4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
(4) The Environmental Protection Authority does not keep records of emissions for proposals that it does not assess. However, there are reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
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