ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT Geophysical Operations in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions DRAFT May 2020 Tri-Star Energy Company Environmental Impact Report – Geophysical Operations in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions Prepared by: Tri-Star Energy Company Level 35 Riverside Centre 123 Eagle Street Brisbane, Q 4000 T: (07) 3236 9800 F: (07) 3221 2146 E: [email protected] W: http://www.tri-starpetroleum.com.au and JBS&G Australia Pty Ltd ABN 62 100 220 479 100 Hutt St Adelaide SA 5000 T: +61 8 8431 7113 F: +61 8 8431 7115 W: http://www.jbsg.com.au Document Status Release Version Purpose of Document Original Review Review Date QA Review Issue Date Approval A Preliminary draft AC SM 15/9/2019 B Draft for Tri-Star review / discussion AC SM 2/10/2019 RM/SM SM 2/10/2019 Draft updated with Tri-Star changes. Issued C for preliminary government agency AC SM 28/11/2019 SM SM 28/11/2019 consultation Updated based on DEW and DPTI initial 0 AC AC/DC 8/3/2020 CB/RU/SH JB 29/5/2020 comments Tristar Seismic EIR Rev0 Tri-Star Energy Company Environmental Impact Report – Geophysical Operations in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions Contents 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 About this Document .................................................................................. 1 1.2 Tri-Star Energy Company Profile ................................................................. 1 1.3 Location and Exploration Rationale ............................................................ 1 1.4 Scope ........................................................................................................... 2 2 Legislative Framework ....................................................................................... 6 2.1 Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000 ............................................. 6 2.1.1 Environmental Significance Assessment and SEO Consultation Requirements .............................................................................................. 7 2.1.2 Activity Notification / Approval Process .................................... 8 2.2 Other Legislation ......................................................................................... 8 3 Proposed Activities .......................................................................................... 11 3.1 History of Geophysical Exploration in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions . 11 3.2 Grouping of Operations ............................................................................ 13 3.2.1 Planning .................................................................................... 14 3.2.2 Cultural Heritage Approval ....................................................... 15 3.2.3 Seismic Line and Access Track Preparation .............................. 16 3.2.4 Surveying .................................................................................. 18 3.2.5 Recording ................................................................................. 18 3.2.6 Seismic Operations ................................................................... 18 3.2.7 Camp Sites and Associated Supplies ........................................ 20 3.2.8 Uphole Drilling and Logging ..................................................... 22 3.2.9 Rehabilitation ........................................................................... 23 3.2.10 Post Survey Monitoring and Auditing ...................................... 23 3.2.11 Other Geophysical Activities .................................................... 24 4 Existing Environment ....................................................................................... 25 4.1 Climate ...................................................................................................... 25 4.2 Bioregions, Landforms and Land Systems ................................................. 25 4.3 Flora and Fauna ......................................................................................... 30 4.3.1 Flora ......................................................................................... 30 4.3.2 Fauna ........................................................................................ 32 4.3.3 Threatened Species and Communities ..................................... 33 4.3.4 Listed Migratory Species .......................................................... 35 4.3.5 Weeds and Pests ...................................................................... 35 4.3.6 Recognised Biodiversity Values ................................................ 37 4.4 Surface Water ........................................................................................... 37 4.5 Social Environment ................................................................................... 41 4.5.1 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage ..................................................... 41 4.5.2 Non-Aboriginal Heritage .......................................................... 41 4.6 Land Use .................................................................................................... 42 4.6.1 Pastoralism ............................................................................... 42 4.6.2 Mining and Petroleum ............................................................. 44 Tristar Seismic EIR Rev0 i Tri-Star Energy Company Environmental Impact Report – Geophysical Operations in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions 4.6.3 Conservation ............................................................................ 44 4.6.4 Tourism .................................................................................... 45 4.6.5 Native Title ............................................................................... 45 4.7 Socio-Economic ......................................................................................... 46 4.7.1 Population Centres ................................................................... 46 4.7.2 Infrastructure ........................................................................... 46 5 Environmental Risk Assessment ....................................................................... 48 5.1 Overview of Risk Assessment Process ...................................................... 49 5.2 Risk Assessment ........................................................................................ 52 6 Consultation .................................................................................................... 68 6.1 Key Stakeholder Consultation ................................................................... 68 7 Environmental Management System ............................................................... 70 7.1.1 Environmental Training ............................................................ 70 7.1.2 Emergency Response and Contingency Planning ..................... 70 7.1.3 Environmental Monitoring and Audits ..................................... 70 7.1.4 Incident Management, Recording and Corrective Actions ...... 71 7.1.5 Reporting .................................................................................. 71 8 References ....................................................................................................... 72 9 Abbreviations and Glossary ............................................................................. 76 Appendix A: Agency Consultation - Comments and Responses Tables Table 1-1: Licence Area Work Program Commitments ...................................................... 2 Table 2-1: Additional Environmental Legislation and Approvals ....................................... 8 Table 3-1: Historic 2D Seismic Survey Activity in the Licence Area (1961 - 1988) ........... 11 Table 3-2: Matrix of Line Preparation Activity and Machinery by Landform ................... 17 Table 4-1: Climate Data for Oodnadatta Airport ............................................................. 25 Table 4-2: Typical Landforms and Characteristics in the Licence Area ............................ 28 Table 4-3: Mapped Vegetation Associations in the Licence Area .................................... 30 Table 4-4: Threatened Species Recorded or Predicted to Occur in the Licence Area ..... 33 Table 4-5: Weeds Recorded in the Licence Area ............................................................. 36 Table 5-1: Severity of Consequences ............................................................................... 50 Table 5-2: Assessment of Likelihood ................................................................................ 51 Table 5-3: Risk Matrix ...................................................................................................... 51 Table 5-4: Impacts Associated with Line / Access Track Preparation in Various Land Systems ........................................................................................................... 52 Table 5-5: Environmental Risk Assessment for Geophysical Operations in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions, South Australia ............................................................. 54 Table 6-1: Stakeholder Consultation List ......................................................................... 68 Table 6-2: Summary of Issues Raised During Stakeholder Consultation ......................... 69 Figures Figure 1-1: Location of Tri-Star Petroleum Exploration Licences (PELs) 160, 288, 289 and 290 and the Simpson and Pedirka Regions ................................................ 4 Tristar Seismic EIR Rev0 ii Tri-Star Energy Company Environmental Impact Report –