Late-2013 saw plenty of
activity around environmental assessment under the Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act).
On 16 October 2013, the
Minister for the Environment announced a three-step framework for the
implementation of the Federal Government’s ‘one-stop-shop’ policy. Meanwhile,
on 20 December 2013, the Department of the Environment released new Significant
Impact Guidelines, relating to the recently introduced ‘water trigger’
amendments.
These new developments are
most relevant to proponents of developments requiring both State and
Commonwealth environmental assessment and approval in Australia. In particular,
the new Guidelines will be relevant for proponents of Coal Seam Gas (CSG)
developments or large coal mining developments.
This alert
provides an overview of the EPBC Act.
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