Statement of Environmental Objectives for Geophysical Operations in the Otway Basin, South Australia Jack A Annear Energy Resources Division May 2013 Report Book 2013/00008 Energy Resources Division Division of Minerals and Energy Resources South Australian Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy Level 6, 101 Grenfell Street GPO Box 1264 ADELAIDE SA 5001 Phone +61 8 8463 3204 Fax +61 8 8463 3229 Email [email protected] Web www.petroleum.dmitre.sa.gov.au © Government of South Australia 2013 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwlth), no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the South Australian Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Director, Energy Resources Division, DMITRE, GPO Box 1264, Adelaide SA 5001. Disclaimer The South Australian Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy has tried to make the information in this publication as accurate as possible, however, it is intended as a guide only. The agency will not accept any liability in any way arising from information or advice that is contained in this publication. Preferred way to cite this publication Annear, J.A., 2013. Statement of Environmental Objectives for Geophysical Operations in the Otway Basin, South Australia. South Australian Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy. Report Book 2013/00008. Energy Resources Division i Report Book 2013/00008 ABBREVIATIONS General AARD Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division (Department of Premier and Cabinet) APPEA Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association DEWNR Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (SA) DMITRE Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy (SA) EIR Environmental Impact Report GAS Goal Attainment Scaling GIS Geographic Information System SEO Statement of Environmental Objectives Measurement Units of measurement used in this document are those of the International System of Units (SI) as well as units outside the SI that have been authorized for use within Australia’s metric system. km kilometre (length; 1,000m) L litre (volume) m metre (length) GLOSSARY Biosecurity Threat – Any micro or macro organism which presents a threat to the ecology of the Otway Basin. Conservation Park – An area protected for the purpose of conserving wildlife, natural or historic features found within the area protected under National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. Game Reserve – An area preserved for the purpose of conserving wildlife and managing game found within the area protected under National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. Listed Species – Plants or animals (and their habitats) prescribed under relevant state or federal legislation or identified in regional biodiversity plans. National Park – An area of national significance by reason of wildlife or natural features found within the area protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. Non-Indigenous Species – Any plant or animal that does not originate from the South East region of South Australia. Recreation Park – An area preserved for the purpose managing public recreation and enjoyment within the area protected under National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. Regional Reserve – An area protected for the purpose of conserving any wildlife, natural or historic features of the land while, at the same time, permitting the utilization of the natural resources of the area protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. Spill – The escape of a controlled substance from its containment vessel. Energy Resources Division ii Report Book 2013/00008 CONTENTS Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................................... ii Glossary ................................................................................................................................................................... ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Scope ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Definition ................................................................................................................................................. 3 2. ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES............................................................................................................................ 4 2.1 Assessment Methods .............................................................................................................................. 5 2.1.1 Defined Conditions .......................................................................................................................... 5 2.1.2 Goal Attainment Scaling .................................................................................................................. 5 2.1.3 Scientific Surveys/Studies ............................................................................................................... 5 2.1.4 Photomonitoring ............................................................................................................................. 6 2.1.5 Other techniques as appropriate .................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Assessment Criteria ................................................................................................................................. 6 3. AUDITING AND REPORTING ................................................................................................................................ 6 3.1 Operator Internal Reports ....................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 DMITRE Audits ........................................................................................................................................ 6 3.3 Third Party Audits.................................................................................................................................... 7 3.4 Incidents .................................................................................................................................................. 7 3.4.1 Serious Incidents ............................................................................................................................. 7 3.4.2 Reportable Incidents ....................................................................................................................... 7 4. DOCUMENT REVISION ......................................................................................................................................... 8 5. APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Appendix A. Parks and Reserves Listing .......................................................................................................... 9 Appendix B. Relevant Legislation .................................................................................................................. 11 Appendix C. Environmental Objectives and Assessment Criteria ................................................................. 12 Appendix D. Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) Criteria for Assessing Seismic Lines in the Otway Basin, SA ... 17 Appendix E. Summary of Threatened Plants ................................................................................................ 19 Appendix F. Preliminary Stakeholder Comments and Responses – First Round .......................................... 26 Appendix G. Preliminary Stakeholder Comments and Responses – Second Round..................................... 28 6. REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................................... 29 Energy Resources Division iii Report Book 2013/00008 STATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES FOR GEOPHYSICAL OPERATIONS IN THE OTWAY BASIN, SOUTH AUSTRALIA Jack A Annear EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Statement of Environmental Objectives (SEO) has been prepared in accordance with section 99 of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000 (the Act). The objectives contained in this document are based on the information identified in the 'Environmental impact report for seismic operations in the Otway Basin, South Australia' (Roberts 2001) and are also a revision of those prescribed previously in the 'Statement of environmental objectives for seismic operations in the Otway Basin, South Australia' (Kane 2007). Typical seismic and other geophysical operations within the Otway Basin, which use current field techniques as identified in the environmental impact report (Roberts 2001), have been previously assessed to be of a low environmental significance. This SEO has been developed in accordance with the document revision period of five (5) years, outlined in the