HOME CONTENTS ABOUT US OUR WORK DISCLOSURES APPENDICES PREV NEXT Office of the Environmental Protection Authority annual report 2012—13 HOME CONTENTS ABOUT US OUR WORK DISCLOSURES APPENDICES PREV NEXT Acknowledgements This report was prepared by the Strategic Policy and Planning Division, Office of the Environmental Protection Authority. For more information contact: Office of the Environmental Protection Authority Level 8 The Atrium 168 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 Locked Bag 10, East Perth, Western Australia 6892 Telephone 08 6145 0800 Facsimile 08 6145 0895 Email [email protected] Website www.epa.wa.gov.au Recommended reference The recommended reference for this publication is: Office of the Environmental Protection Authority 2012—13 Annual Report, Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, 2013. This annual report is available in alternative formats on request. 20 September 2013 4 HOME CONTENTS ABOUT US OUR WORK DISCLOSURES APPENDICES PREV NEXT Letter to the Minister Hon Albert Jacob Minister for Environment In accordance with s21 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and s63 of the Financial Management Act 2006, I submit for presentation to Parliament the Annual Report of the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority for the year ended 30 June 2013. This report has been prepared in accordance with the Financial Management Act 2006. Kim Taylor General Manager 20 September 2013 1 HOME CONTENTS ABOUT US OUR WORK DISCLOSURES APPENDICES PREV NEXT The Office of the Environmental Protection The OEPA also contributed to a cross- Authority was established in 2009. agency project on the strategic environmental General assessment of land and infrastructure Our work contributes to achievement of development in the Perth-Peel region to cater for the Government’s goal of ‘ensuring that an anticipated increased population of around Manager’s economic activity is managed in a socially and 3.5 million people in future decades. environmentally responsible manner for the long- term benefit of the State’. Another of the OEPA’s specific statutory overview responsibilities is to monitor compliance with In meeting this goal, one of our roles is to Ministerial approval conditions of implementation. support the Environmental Protection Authority This continued to be a major focus for the (EPA) in undertaking its statutory functions. department, with a specific focus on emissions During the year the OEPA helped the EPA to the environment, offsets and wastewater complete 39 environmental impact assessments outfalls during 2012–13. of development proposals, planning schemes Consistent with Government’s goal of achieving and strategic proposals. best practice approvals processes, the OEPA Iron ore projects continue to dominate paid particular attention to streamlining assessments, including the BHP Billiton strategic procedures and introducing guidelines to achieve proposal for the Pilbara, still in progress, which greater clarity, certainty and consistency in considers mine and infrastructure development the assessment of proposals. This included for the next 50 years. implementing a structured, risk-based approach Other significant assessments included uranium to the assessment process and reviewing mining and waste-to-energy proposals, while environmental policies and guidelines to ensure infrastructure requirements for the resources that they are relevant and consistent with sector, particularly construction and expansion of contemporary requirements. ports, were also a focus. Developing appropriate management and Taking cumulative impacts into account is an tracking systems remains a high priority. A Case emerging and important consideration for future Management System was progressed during the assessments, particularly in the Pilbara and year, and will be delivered within the context of Mid West-Yilgarn regions. broader information requirements. The EPA considered 261 planning schemes A key agency goal over recent years has and scheme amendments during the year, and been to enhance our service culture. This has provided advice on many of them to protect continued and the OEPA has received increased environmental values. positive recognition of our service delivery from companies and groups we deal with. 2 HOME CONTENTS ABOUT US OUR WORK DISCLOSURES APPENDICES PREV NEXT Achievement of the department’s substantial work for the year was a reflection of the staff’s continuing strong work commitment and desire for protection of the State’s environment. We have appreciated the positive cross-agency working relations with other departments, particularly the Department of Environment Our vision and Conservation (now the Department of Environment Regulation and the Department of Parks and Wildlife). Additionally, constructive An environment that is engagement with industry and environmental stakeholders has been an essential part of highly valued and protected improving our policy outputs and business performance. I would also like to acknowledge the ongoing support and commitment of members of the EPA Our purpose who provided valuable advice and guidance to OEPA officers during the year. We support the EPA and work with other departments, industry and the community to ensure Kim Taylor environmental values are GENERAL MANAGER OEPA protected and development is managed in an environmentally responsible manner 3 HOME CONTENTS ABOUT US OUR WORK DISCLOSURES APPENDICES PREV NEXT 4 HOME CONTENTS ABOUT US OUR WORK DISCLOSURES APPENDICES PREV NEXT Contents Letter to the Minister 1 Improving our business 42 General Manager’s overview 2 Communicating 42 About the Office of the Environmental Protection Organisational change 42 Authority 7 Information management and system development 42 Our role 8 Disclosures and legal compliance 45 The environmental impact assessment process 9 Independent Auditor’s report 47 Subsidiary legislation 9 Financial statements 50 Organisational structure 10 Key performance indicators 92 Assessment and Compliance Division 10 Other disclosures 100 Strategic Policy and Planning Division 10 Ministerial directives 100 Business Operations Division 10 Other financial disclosures (TI 903) 100 Performance management framework 12 Governance disclosures (TI 903) 100 Performance analysis and trends 12 Other legal requirements 100 Resource agreement 12 Government policy requirements 103 Our work 15 Appendices 105 Environmental impact assessment and policies 16 Appendix 1 Public reports and recommendations to the Mining and industrial 20 Minister for Environment Infrastructure assessments 26 Appendix 2 Section 45C list of approved changes to proposals Environmental planning 28 Appendix 3 Other publications Post approval assessment 30 Appendix 4 Acronyms Environmental management policies, guidelines and strategic advice 34 Environmental compliance audits 40 Compliance and audit activity 40 Significant proposals audited 41 5 HOME CONTENTS ABOUT US OUR WORK DISCLOSURES APPENDICES PREV NEXT Giant baobab trees and termite mounds in north-west Western Australia. Photo: John Carnemolla 6 HOME CONTENTS ABOUT US OUR WORK DISCLOSURES APPENDICES PREV NEXT About the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority 7 HOME CONTENTS ABOUT US OUR WORK DISCLOSURES APPENDICES PREV NEXT Our role The Office of the Environmental Protection • Environmental impact Authority (OEPA) was established in 2009 to assessment reports and MINISTER FOR EPA service the EPA in undertaking its statutory recommendations ENVIRONMENT functions, in accordance with s17A and s22(1) of • Policy and strategic advice the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act). The OEPA provides the EPA with support for environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environmental policy and strategic advice. This support helps the EPA provide the • Environmental impact • Whole of government policy Minister for Environment with EIA reports and advice recommendations on development proposals assessment services • Advice on Ministerial approval and planning schemes, and with advice on • Environmental policy and statements (Part IV approvals) environmental policy and environmental issues strategic advice services generally. • Compliance and enforcement (Part IV approvals) In line with s22(1), the OEPA is responsible for directly servicing the Minister in performance of his functions under the EP Act, particularly for granting and managing Ministerial approval statements for projects under Divisions 2 and 3 Office of the of Part IV of the EP Act. Environmental Protection Authority The OEPA is also responsible for administering s48 of the EP Act in monitoring compliance of projects with Ministerial approval conditions and reporting on this to the Minister. During the reporting year, the OEPA provided its Figure 1: Relationship between the OEPA, the EPA and the Minister for Environment services to the Honourable Bill Marmion MLA and, from 21 March 2013, to the Honourable Albert Jacob MLA. 8 HOME CONTENTS ABOUT US OUR WORK DISCLOSURES APPENDICES PREV NEXT The environmental impact Subsidiary legislation EIA is a systematic and orderly assessment process Subsidiary legislation relevant to the OEPA’s evaluation of a proposal and Environmental impact assessment (EIA) of some functions includes: its impact on the environment. proposals and schemes referred to the EPA is • Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 The assessment includes conducted under Part IV of the EP Act. • Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain considering ways in which EIA is a systematic and orderly evaluation of a