2014
Download
About the document
The purpose of this guideline is to provide assistance to approval holders preparing annual compliance reports, where required under a condition of an Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) approval. Information about the EPBC Act assessment and approval process is available on the Department of the Environment’s website at www.environment.gov.au/environment/epbc
The Department is responsible for a range of regulatory functions under the EPBC Act. Under the EPBC Act an approval is required from the Minister for any proposed action that is likely to have a significant impact on a matter protected by the EPBC Act.
The Minister, or their delegate, approves the taking of the action by signing an instrument of decision. Many approval decisions include a requirement (known as a condition) for the approval holder to prepare and submit to the Minster, an annual report addressing compliance with the EPBC conditions of approval and approved management plans. Failure to submit an annual compliance report by the due date may represent a contravention of the conditions of approval and could be subject to compliance action.
Under the Department’s compliance monitoring plan, all submitted reports are reviewed to verify that the action is being undertaken in accordance with the conditions of approval and approved management plans.