PR 2021 009 Draft Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation For
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Proactive Release Date: 10 March 2021 The following Cabinet paper and related Cabinet minutes have been proactively released by the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Title of paper: Draft Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation for Proposed Scott Base Redevelopment: Public Consultation CAB-21-SUB-0009 Title of minutes: CAB-20-MIN-0009 refers Some parts of this information release would not be appropriate to release and, if requested, would be withheld under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). Where this is the case, the relevant sections of the Act that would apply have been identified. Where information has been withheld, no public interest has been identified that would outweigh the reasons for withholding it. Key to redaction codes: 9(2)(f)(iv): to protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials. © Crown Copyright, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) CAB-21-MIN-0009 Cabinet Minute of Decision This document contains information for the New Zealand Cabinet. It must be treated in confidence and handled in accordance with any security classification, or other endorsement. The information can only be released, including under the Official Information Act 1982, by persons with the appropriate authority. Draft Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation for Proposed Scott Base Redevelopment: Public Consultation Affairs Portfolio Foreign Affairs On 2 February 2021, Cabinet: Foreign 1 noted that a bid seeking funding for the full costs of the redevelopmentof of Scott Base has been prepared for consideration as part of Budget 2021; 2 noted that the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Environmental Protocol) requires all activities in Antarctica to be planned and conducted so as to limit adverse impacts on the Antarctic environment; Minister 3 noted that the Environmental Protocol and the Antarctic Environmental Protection Act 1994 (the Act) require that, if activities in Antarctica are likely to have more than a minor or transitory effect on the Antarctic environment,the a Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE) is required; by 4 noted that Antarctica New Zealand has drafted a CEE for the Scott Base Redevelopment; 5 noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs (the Minister) considers the draft CEE for the proposed Scott Base Redevelopment to be a strong and comprehensive assessment of the likely effects on the Antarctic environment; 6 noted that underreleased the Act, the Minister is required to circulate the draft CEE to the Parties to the Environmental Protocol and provide a period of public consultation of no less than 90 days; 7 noted that the Minister intends to circulate the draft CEE to the Parties to the Environmental Protocol by 14 February 2021, and to the New Zealand public on Monday, 15 February 2021; 8Proactivelynoted that Cabinet approval of the Budget bid and Implementation Business Case, as well as the Minister’s approval of the final CEE, is required for the Scott Base Redevelopment to proceed in 2021. Michael Webster Secretary of the Cabinet 1 883jp3jkpp 2021-02-03 11:46:37 CAB-21-SUB-0009 Cabinet Summary This document contains information for the New Zealand Cabinet. It must be treated in confidence and handled in accordance with any security classification, or other endorsement. The information can only be released, including under the Official Information Act 1982, by persons with the appropriate authority. Draft Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation for Proposed Scott Base Redevelopment: Public Consultation Affairs Portfolio Foreign Affairs Purpose This paper notes that the draft Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE) for the proposed Scott Base redevelopment will be releasedForeign for consultation. The draft CEE is not attached due to its size (almost 300 pages). The document is in CabNet, and hard copies will be available at theof Cabinet meeting. Previous In May 2019, ERS endorsed the detailed business case for the redevelopment of Consideration Scott Base [ERS-19-MIN-0011]. Summary The Environmental Protocol and theMinister Antarctic Environmental Protection Act 1994 (the Act) require that, if activities in Antarctica are likely to have more than a minor or transitory effect on the Antarctic Environment, a CEE is required. The Act also requiresthe draft CEEs to be consulted with the New Zealand public and partiesby to the environmental protocol. The draft CEE demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty System and to protect the Antarctic Treaty environment, including by minimising any potential impacts of the redevelopment. It has been assessed by MFAT in consultation with experts from the EPA, DoC, and MPI. Regulatory Notreleased applicable. Impact Analysis Baseline None from this paper. Implications Legislative None from this paper. ImplicationsProactively Timing Issues Under the Act, the Minister is required to circulate the draft CEE to the Parties to the Environmental Protocol and provide a period of public consultation of no less than 90 days. The Minister intends to circulate the CEE to the Parties by 14 February, and to the public on 15 February 2021. The timeline summarising the CEE process is attached. Cabinet approval of the Budget Bid and Implementation Business Case, as well as the Minister’s approval of the final CEE, is required for the Scott Base 1 883jp3jkpp 2021-02-03 11:45:08 CAB-21-SUB-0009 Redevelopment to proceed in 2021. Announcement None proposed. The previous Minister of Foreign Affairs made a statement in June 2019 on the decision to redevelop Scott Base. Proactive The Minister proposes to proactively release the paper. Release Consultation Paper prepared by MFAT. DoC, EPA, Treasury, and MPI (Oceans and Fisheries) were consulted. The Minister of Foreign Affairs indicates that all Cabinet Ministers and the Green Party were consulted. The government caucus has not been consulted.Affairs The Minister of Foreign Affairs recommends that Cabinet: 1 note that a bid seeking funding for the full costs of the redevelopmentForeign of Scott Base has been prepared for consideration as part of Budget 2021; of 2 note that the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (Environmental Protocol) requires all activities in Antarctica to be planned and conducted so as to limit adverse impacts on the Antarctic environment; 3 note that the Environmental Protocol and the Antarctic Environmental Protection Act 1994 (the Act) require that, if activities in AntarcticaMinister are likely to have more than a minor or transitory effect on the Antarctic Environment, a Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE) is required; the 4 note that Antarctica New Zealandby has drafted a CEE for the Scott Base Redevelopment; 5 note that the Minister of Foreign Affairs (the Minister) considers the draft CEE for the proposed Scott Base Redevelopment to be a strong and comprehensive assessment of the likely effects on the Antarctic Environment; 6 note that under the Act the Minister is required to circulate the draft CEE to the Parties to the Environmentalreleased Protocol and provide a period of public consultation of no less than 90 days; 7 note that the Minister intends to circulate the draft CEE to the Parties to the Environmental Protocol by 14 February 2021, and to the New Zealand public on Monday 15 February 2021; 8 note that Cabinet approval of the Budget Bid and Implementation Business Case, as well as Proactivelythe Minister’s approval of the final CEE, is required for the Scott Base Redevelopment to proceed in 2021. Jenny Vickers for Secretary of the Cabinet Hard-copy distribution: Cabinet 2 883jp3jkpp 2021-02-03 11:45:08 Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Chair, Cabinet PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION FOR PROPOSED SCOTT BASE REDEVELOPMENT Affairs Proposal 1 This paper asks Cabinet to note my intention to begin public consultation on the draft Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE) for the proposed Scott Base Redevelopment (Annex One). The CEE is related to theForeign Budget Bid for the Redevelopment, which has been prepared for considerationof as part of Budget 2021. Approval of both the CEE and Budget Bid are required in order for the project to proceed this year. Relation to government priorities 2 This paper relates to the Government’s priorityMinister to build an economy that is growing and working for all of us through transition to a clean, green and carbon neutral New Zealand. This paper also relatesthe to the Government’s priority to enhance an international reputation we can be proud of. The draft CEE demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment byto the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty System and our commitment to protect the Antarctic Treaty environment including by minimising the potential impacts of the proposed Scott Base Redevelopment. Background and consultation 3 New Zealandreleased has enduring interests in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, including ensuring peace, security and effective governance in Antarctica, sustaining our territorial claim over the Ross Dependency and protecting our environmental, scientific, conservation, reputational and economic interests. These were agreed by Cabinet in August 2017 (CAB-17-Min-0437). 4 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is submitting a bid for the redevelopment Proactivelyof Scott base for consideration as part of Budget 2021. Scott Base is New Zealand’s only base in Antarctica. It is situated in the Ross Dependency, which New Zealand claims as territory. The overall condition of Scott Base continues to deteriorate and the need for redevelopment gains urgency. The redevelopment project has previously been considered by Cabinet, with a specific option endorsed in 2019 on 883jp3jkpp 2021-02-03 11:40:46 Page 2 of 4 the basis of a Detailed Business Case, subject to approval of the final costs (CAB- 19-MIN-0260). 5 The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Environmental Protocol), to which New Zealand is a party, requires that all activities in Antarctica be planned and conducted so as to limit adverse impacts on the Antarctic environment.