Enviro Marine assists clients comply with a variety of acts and regulations covering activities in the marine environment.

Environmental Protection Act 1986

This State Act is the principal statute relevant to environmental protection in Western Australia.  It gives the Environmental Protection Authority overall responsibility for the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution and for the conservation, preservation, protection, enhancement and management of the environment.  The Act regulates wastes discharged into the environment, and noise, odour and electromagnetic radiation.  Ozone protection is regulated under the Act by an environmental protection policy.  The issuing agency is either the West Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) or the West Australian Department of Environment (DoE), depending on which provision under the Act is being promulgated.  Acceptable proposals referred to the issuing agency can be assessed at several levels, ranging from Assessment of Referral Information (ARI), Environmental Protection Statement (EPS), Public Environment Review (PER) to Environmental Review and Management Programme (ERMP).  Enviro Marine are able to prepare referral documents for marine activities and, depending on the level of assessment set, prepare the appropriate documentation such as Environmental Management Plans.  For larger projects encompassing terrestrial work, Enviro Marine are able to offer specialist technical studies and advice to assist in preparation of PER or ERMP documents

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)

This Commonwealth Act protects the environment, particularly matters of National Environmental Significance. It streamlines the national environmental assessment and approvals process, protects Australian biodiversity and integrates management of important natural and cultural places.  Proponents who suspect that they may trigger a matter the EPBC Act are required to prepare a referral for assessment.  If the decision not to refer is made, it is good practice to prepare a 'due diligence' document outlining the reasoning behind the decision.  In both cases Enviro Marine has experience preparing documentation to assist clients comply with this act for marine activities.

Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981

This Commonwealth Act regulates the dumping and incineration, and the loading for thepurposes of dumping or incineration, of wastes and other matter at sea, in accordance with international obligations under the London Convention. Enviro Marine are experienced in assisting clients undertaking dredging operations comply with the requirements of this act and the National Ocean Disposal Guidelines for Dredged Material, including preparation and execution of sediment sampling and analysis plans, dredging EMPs and Sea Dumping Permit applications.

Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Management of Environment) Regulations 1999

Under the Commonwealth Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967, these Regulations ensure that offshore petroleum operations are performed in a manner that is consistent with the principles of environmentally sustainable development through an accepted Environment Plan (EP) with agreed environmental performance objectives, standards and criteria for determining environmental performance.  Recently amended, these regulations require the preparation of an EP Summary document for release to the public in addition to the EP.  Enviro Marine has assisted clients undertaking marine activities comply with this act through preparation of EPs and were involved in the preparation and submission of one of the first EPs conforming to the amended regulations.