Environment protection licences
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issues environment protection licences to the owners or operators of various industrial premises under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act). Licence conditions relate to pollution prevention and monitoring, and cleaner production through recycling and reuse and the implementation of best practice.
If you think you may require an environment protection licence, consult the Guide to Licensing.
Online forms are available to:
- apply for, transfer, vary or surrender a licence
- apply for a load reduction agreement
- apply to sign an annual return on behalf of a licence holder.
All licence holders must:
The load-based licensing (LBL) scheme sets limits on the pollutant loads emitted by the state's larger and potentially most polluting industries by linking licence fees to pollutant emissions. The LBL scheme also provides the infrastructure for emissions trading schemes. These enable emissions to be controlled from groups of licensees as well as from individual premises by allowing licensees to buy and sell credits for reducing emissions.
Other information sources relating to environment protection licences are:
the
public register, which contains information on licence reviews, prosecutions and other issues
the
National Pollutant Inventory, which provides data on types and amounts of certain emissions across Australia, and their impact on health and the environment.
The EPA manages a strategic compliance audit program, which assesses how licence holders comply with existing requirements and provides industry with examples of best practice to encourage improved environmental performance.
To help the EPA manage its audit program and promote environmental improvements:
authorised officers - normally EPA or local council staff - are appointed to exercise certain functions under the POEO Act.
Variation to an environment protection licence section 58 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997
Endeavour Coal Pty Ltd (ACN 099 830 476), a wholly owned subsidiary of BHP Billiton Illawarra Coal Holdings Pty Ltd (ACN 093 857 286), holds environment protection licence No. 2504 that authorises, among other things, the carrying out of coals works and mining for coal at West Cliff Mine.
Endeavour Coal applied to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) under section 58 of the Act to vary their licence no. 2504 to authorise the limited discharge of certain pollutants from West Cliff Mine to Brennans Creek, a tributary of the upper Georges River.
Notice of Variation of licence No. 2504
On 24 April 2013, the EPA varied Endeavour Coal’s licence no. 2504, issued under section 58 of the Act. Details provided in the notice, along with an updated version of licence no. 2504, are available on the EPA’s Public Register.
A statement of reasons, which outlines the matters that the EPA took into account in making its decision to vary licence No. 2504 is also displayed for public viewing.
Submissions received
The EPA received submissions about Endeavour Coal’s application for licence variation and these are displayed for public viewing. All written submissions received were considered by the EPA.
Endeavour Coal's application and supporting documentation
Page last updated: 07 May 2013
