Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) announced it is withdrawing its revised GHG guidelines from application. EPA’s Environmental Factor Guidance released in early March, aimed to help proponents of significant proposals in the State prepare for an environmental assessment by the EPA.
Over the past week the Environmental Protection Authority held a number of discussions with companies potentially impacted by EPA’s revised assessment guidelines on greenhouse gas emissions. As such, it now informed that it withdraws the application of guidelines, until those consultations with industry and stakeholders are more fully complete.
It is clear from our consultation there is some uncertainty within industry on the technical aspects and the practical implementation of the guidelines, particularly with respect to offsets. The EPA also appreciates that further discussion is merited to ensure that industry and stakeholders can anticipate how such guidelines can apply to proposals.
The revised guidelines:
- outline the information required from proponents and how it may be considered by the EPA in its environmental impact assessment;
- set a clear threshold for when greenhouse gas emissions from proposals will be considered by the EPA, and what mitigation measures will likely be required.
As a result, the EPA will be undertaking further consultation with industry and stakeholders to ensure these guidelines can be practically implemented and that they are fully complementary to Commonwealth regulation.
