Where does the EPBC Act apply?
The EPBC Act affects any group or individual (including companies) whose actions may have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance. This includes: • landowners • developers • industry • farmers • councils • state and territory agencies • Commonwealth agencies.
What does the EPBC Act cover?
The EPBC Act provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places—defined in the EPBC Act as matters of national environmental significance. nationally threatened species and ecological communities. migratory species.
Is the EPBC Act commonwealth?
The EPBC Act also covers actions on, or impacting on, Commonwealth land or actions by Commonwealth agencies. It also covers Commonwealth heritage places outside Australia.
Which level of government administers the EPBC Act?
The EPBC Act focuses Australian Government interests on the protection of matters of national environmental significance, with the states and territories having responsibility for matters of state and local significance. The Australian Government Department of the Environment (the Department) administers the EPBC Act.
What is the purpose of the EPBC Act 1999?
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s environmental legislation. It covers environmental assessment and approvals, protects significant biodiversity and integrates the management of important natural and cultural places.
Who administers EPBC Act?
The Australian Government Department of the Environment
The EPBC Act focuses Australian Government interests on the protection of matters of national environmental significance, with the states and territories having responsibility for matters of state and local significance. The Australian Government Department of the Environment (the Department) administers the EPBC Act.
What is an EPBC referral?
The purpose of the referral process is to determine whether or not a proposed action will need formal assessment and approval under the EPBC Act. You may still make a referral if you believe your action is not going to have a significant impact, or if you are unsure.
What is a controlled action under the EPBC Act?
Controlled actions If the Minister decides that significant impacts are likely, then the action requires approval under the EPBC Act. The action is known as a ‘controlled action’.
What are the 9 matters of national significance which are protected by the EPBC Act 1999?
The matters of national environmental significance are: • world heritage properties • national heritage places • wetlands of international importance (often called ‘Ramsar’ wetlands after the international treaty under which such wetlands are listed) • nationally threatened species and ecological communities • …
Why was the EPBC Act introduced?
The objectives of the EPBC Act are to: provide for the protection of the environment, especially matters of national environmental significance. conserve Australian biodiversity. provide a streamlined national environmental assessment and approvals process.
Who can make a referral under EPBC Act?
7. Who can make a referral under the EPBC Act? Under the EPBC Act a referral can only be made by: the person proposing to take the action (which can include a person acting on their behalf); or.
What is the purpose of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999?
What was the purpose of the EPBC Act?
The EPBC Act was drafted to include several tools to achieve streamlining and harmonisation between the Commonwealth and states and territories. Strategic assessments (see Chapter 1) have been one mechanism to do this.
How many species have been listed under the EPBC Act?
Rather than a species being assessed numerous times, it can be considered once, which leads to corresponding improvements in efficiency. To date 100 species listing decisions have been made under the EPBC Act based on state and territory-led assessments and a further 47 are in progress.
How are nuclear activities regulated under the EPBC Act?
Nuclear activities are regulated under the EPBC Act in 2 ways. The first is section 140A, which prohibits the Environment Minister from approving specific nuclear installations.