INPEX BROWSE LIMITED ICHTHYS GAS FIELD DEVELOPMENT DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING / GUIDELINES DOCUMENT FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE PROPOSED ICHTHYS GAS FIELD DEVELOPMENT Invitation to Comment The Proposal INPEX Browse Ltd. as operator of offshore permit area WA-285-P, propose to develop the Ichthys gas field by exporting two phase hydrocarbons via a subsea pipeline to a processing facility on the Maret Islands in the Bonaparte Archipelago off the north-west coast of Australia. The processing facility would primarily produce Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and condensate by-products, which would be transported to markets via sea. The licence for WA-285-P is held jointly by INPEX Browse Ltd and Total E&P Australia, a subsidiary of Total S.A. INPEX is a Japanese oil and gas company headquartered in Tokyo, which has substantial interests in Australian and international oil and gas projects. Total S.A. is a French oil and gas company with operations in over 130 countries. Assessment Process The Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Water Resources determined that the proposal requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) determined that the proposal requires assessment under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) at the level of Environmental Review and Management Programme (ERMP). The Commonwealth and Western Australian governments have agreed to a coordinated parallel environmental assessment process such that an integrated EIS/ERMP document, which satisfies the requirements of both jurisdictions, must be submitted to both agencies and released for public comment. An ‘Environmental Scoping Document for the ERMP’ and ‘Guidelines for an EIS’ are now required by the Western Australian and Commonwealth governments respectively, to set the terms of reference for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). INPEX has been advised by the regulators that one document (the ‘scoping/guidelines document’) can be submitted to the Western Australian and Commonwealth governments. This Draft Environmental Scoping/Guidelines Document is provided for public review for a period of four (4) weeks commencing 12th March 2007. INPEX will subsequently consider all comments submitted as part of this public review process and respond to the regulators prior to submission of the final document. Submissions The EPA prefers submissions to be sent electronically using the submission form on the EPA’s website at www.epa.wa.gov/submissions.asp DEV-EXT-RP-0014-Public Invitation to Comment Alternatively they can be posted to: Environmental Protection Authority PO Box K822 Perth WA 6842 Attention: Peter Walkington Public submissions close on Tuesday 10 April 2007. Contact Requests for hard or electronic copies, or any enquiries regarding the submissions may be addressed to: INPEX BROWSE LTD. External Affairs Department Level 35, Exchange Plaza 2 The Esplanade Perth, Australia 6000 Telephone: +61 8 9223 8483 Fax : +61 8 9223 8444 E-mail: [email protected] Copies may also be downloaded from the Inpex website at www.inpex.co.jp DEV-EXT-RP-0014-Public Invitation to Comment TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Purpose of Document........................................................................................... 7 1.2 Structure of this Document................................................................................... 7 1.3 Identification of Proponent.................................................................................... 8 1.4 Key Contact and Address of Proponent ............................................................... 8 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL......................................................................... 10 2.1 Project Concept.................................................................................................. 10 2.2 Key Project Components.................................................................................... 11 2.3 Project Development Schedule .......................................................................... 14 2.4 Justification of Proposal and Preferred Option................................................... 14 2.5 Project Site Alternatives ..................................................................................... 16 3. REGIONAL SETTING ................................................................................................. 20 3.1 Introduction......................................................................................................... 20 3.2 Biophysical Environment .................................................................................... 20 3.2.1 Marine Environment................................................................................ 20 3.2.2 Terrestrial Environment........................................................................... 21 3.2.3 Matters of National Environmental Significance ..................................... 22 3.2.4 Conservation Status ............................................................................... 23 3.3 Social, Economic and Cultural Environment ...................................................... 23 3.3.1 The Kimberley Region ............................................................................ 23 3.3.2 Land and Sea Use .................................................................................. 23 3.3.3 Native Title.............................................................................................. 24 3.3.4 Cultural Heritage..................................................................................... 24 4. OUTLINE OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS ................... 25 4.1 Regulatory Framework ....................................................................................... 25 4.1.1 Environmental Legislation and Policy ..................................................... 25 4.1.2 Associated Project Approvals ................................................................. 25 4.2 Environmental Approval Schedule ..................................................................... 27 4.2.1 Activities to Date ..................................................................................... 27 4.2.2 Planned Activities ................................................................................... 27 4.3 EIS/ERMP Objectives ........................................................................................ 28 4.3.1 EIA Principles ......................................................................................... 29 4.4 Stakeholder Engagement................................................................................... 30 4.4.1 Consultation Activities to Date ................................................................ 30 4.4.2 Planning for Stakeholder Engagement ................................................... 33 4.5 Resourcing and Peer Review............................................................................. 33 4.5.1 Study Team ............................................................................................ 33 4.5.2 Peer Review ........................................................................................... 34 5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT SCOPE ............................................... 35 5.1 Scope of Interactions.......................................................................................... 35 5.2 Summary of Environmental Factors, Key Impacts and Issues........................... 40 5.3 Technical Scopes of Work.................................................................................. 44 DEV-EXT-RP-0014-Public 4 5.3.1 Noise and Vibration Studies.................................................................... 45 5.3.2 Light Studies ........................................................................................... 46 5.3.3 Air Quality Studies .................................................................................. 47 5.3.4 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ................................................................... 48 5.3.5 Waste Management................................................................................ 48 5.3.6 Quarantine Management Studies ........................................................... 49 5.3.7 Marine Physical Environment Studies .................................................... 51 5.3.8 Marine Ecological Studies ...................................................................... 54 5.3.9 Terrestrial Physical Environment Studies ............................................... 57 5.3.10 Terrestrial Ecological Studies ................................................................. 57 5.3.11 Sociological Studies................................................................................ 59 5.4 Environmental Management Planning................................................................ 64 References .................................................................................................................. 66 6. GLOSSARY OF PROJECT ABBREVIATIONS.......................................................... 68 TABLE OF APPENDICES APPENDIX A. APPLICABLE LEGISLATION .................................................................