SUMMARY ENVIRONMENT PLAN Otway deep marine seismic survey EEN17175.004-2 Summary environment plan Rev 1 09 July 2019 rpsgroup.com REPORT Document status Version Purpose of document Authored by Reviewed by Approved by Review date Rev 0 Final for submission HelSiv MikMac JerFit 21/06/2019 Rev 1 Final for submission HelSiv MikMac JerFit 02/07/2019 Approval for issue J. Fitzpatrick 09 July 2019 This report was prepared by RPS within the terms of RPS’ engagement with its client and in direct response to a scope of services. This report is supplied for the sole and specific purpose for use by RPS’ client. The report does not account for any changes relating the subject matter of the report, or any legislative or regulatory changes that have occurred since the report was produced and that may affect the report. RPS does not accept any responsibility or liability for loss whatsoever to any third party caused by, related to or arising out of any use or reliance on the report. Prepared by: Prepared for: RPS Spectrum Geo Tamara Al-Hashimi Danny Chan Principal Marine Scientist Project Coordinator Level 2, 27-31 Troode Street Level 3, 55 St Georges Terrace West Perth WA 6005 Perth WA 6000 T +61 8 9211 1111 T 09 9322 3700 E [email protected] E [email protected] EEN17175.004-2 | Summary environment plan | Rev 1 | 09 July 2019 rpsgroup.com Page ii REPORT Contents Acronyms and abbreviations .......................................................................................................................... 1 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Purpose .......................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Details for Spectrum’s nominated liaison person ........................................................................... 5 1.3 Location of the activity .................................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Timing of the activity ...................................................................................................................... 7 1.5 Seismic program ............................................................................................................................ 8 1.5.1 Survey parameters .........................................................................................................10 1.6 Ocean bottom nodes ....................................................................................................................10 1.7 Survey vessels .............................................................................................................................11 1.7.1 Seismic vessel ................................................................................................................11 1.7.2 Support and chase vessels .............................................................................................11 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ...........................................................................12 2.1 Defining the EMBA for the activity ...............................................................................................12 2.1.1 Activity EMBA .................................................................................................................12 2.1.2 Oil spill EMBA .................................................................................................................12 2.2 Regional overview ........................................................................................................................13 2.2.1 South-east Marine Region ..............................................................................................13 2.3 Conservation values and sensitivities within the oil spill EMBA ...................................................13 2.3.1 Australian Marine Parks ..................................................................................................13 2.3.2 Ramsar sites ...................................................................................................................14 2.3.3 State protected areas .....................................................................................................14 2.3.4 Key ecological features ...................................................................................................15 2.4 Physical environment ...................................................................................................................15 2.5 Biological environment .................................................................................................................16 2.5.1 Threatened ecological communities ...............................................................................16 2.5.2 Benthic habitats and communities ..................................................................................16 2.5.3 Plankton ..........................................................................................................................16 2.5.4 Marine invertebrates .......................................................................................................16 2.5.5 Fish .................................................................................................................................17 2.5.6 Marine reptiles ................................................................................................................22 2.5.7 Marine mammals ............................................................................................................22 2.5.8 Birds ................................................................................................................................24 2.6 Socio-economic environment .......................................................................................................24 2.6.1 Commercial fisheries ......................................................................................................24 2.6.2 Native title, heritage and historic shipwrecks ..................................................................28 2.6.3 Tourism, recreation and recreational fishing ..................................................................29 2.6.4 Shipping ..........................................................................................................................29 2.6.5 Defence ...........................................................................................................................29 3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND RISK ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY .......................................30 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................30 3.2 Communication and consultation .................................................................................................30 3.3 Establishing the context ...............................................................................................................30 3.4 Impact and risk assessment .........................................................................................................31 3.4.1 Impact and risk identification ..........................................................................................31 3.4.2 Impact and risk analysis and evaluation .........................................................................31 3.5 Impact and risk treatment .............................................................................................................33 3.5.1 Decision context and assessment techniques ................................................................33 3.5.2 Hierarchy of control measures ........................................................................................34 3.5.3 Demonstration of ALARP ................................................................................................34 EEN17175.004-2 | Summary environment plan | Rev 1 | 09 July 2019 rpsgroup.com Page iii REPORT 3.5.4 Demonstration of acceptable levels of risk .....................................................................35 3.6 Monitoring and review ..................................................................................................................36 4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND RISK ASSESSMENT .....................................................................37 4.1 Impact 1: Underwater sound – seismic operations ......................................................................37 4.1.1 Description of impact ......................................................................................................37 4.1.2 Underwater sound modelling ..........................................................................................38 4.1.3 Predicted impacts from the Otway deep MSS ................................................................42 4.1.4 Demonstration of ALARP ................................................................................................73 4.1.5 Demonstration of acceptability........................................................................................77 4.1.6 Environmental performance outcomes and standards ...................................................79 4.2 Impact 2: Underwater sound – vessel / helicopter operations .....................................................83