Environmental compliance news for business

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Environment law and policy tracker

Law and policy changes in all jurisdictions, and a round-up of jobs, grants, awards and seminars.

Upcoming events:

  • Environmental management seminar A September 14 seminar hosted by the Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Association.
  • WA waste and recycle conference A September 14 to 16 conference in Fremantle.
  • International conference on emerging contaminants and micropollutants A September 20 to 23 conference in Sydney.
  • Stakeholder engagement A September 22 seminar hosted by the Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility.
  • National Landcare conference A September 22 and 23 conference in Melbourne.
  • Introduction to corporate social responsibility A September 27 seminar in Melbourne, hosted by the Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility. Life of mine 2016 A September 28 to 30 conference in Brisbane, hosted by AusIMM.
  • Building the business case for energy efficiency projects Backed by the Office of Environment and Heritage, the first pair of half-day workshops will be held in Sydney on September 29 and October 13, with the workshops also available on November 24 and December 8.
  • Waste expo An October 4 to 5 event in Melbourne.
  • All-energy An October 4 to 5 event in Melbourne.

For other events, including a conference in Sydney on managing asbestos contamination, see the extensive Footprint what's on listings.

National:

  • The Australian Energy Market Commission is inviting submissions on its proposal to create a new type of electricity market participant to encourage "demand response", where consumers can choose to change their electricity consumption to avoid periods of high demand and high cost.
  • Renewables agency ARENA has named 12 large-scale projects that will share $92 million in grant funding, with six of them located in Queensland (related article for subscribers only).
  • Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg has ordered an investigation into claims that the controversial Shenhua coal mine would desecrate Aboriginal heritage areas (related article for subscribers only).
  • The Clean Energy Regulator has released its 2016-2020 corporate plan.
  • The Clean Energy Regulator has finalised new safeguard emissions baselines for 42 of Australia's largest emitters, including Engie's Hazelwood and Loy Yang B brown coal power plants (related article for subscribers only).
  • The Department of Environment has released an updated guide to cost recovery arrangements for EPBC applications.  
  • Chemicals regulator NICNAS has released a new report on tattoo inks.
  • A new report from the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Environmental Defenders Network concludes the EPBC Act conditions imposed on Adani's proposed Carmichael coal mine are inadequate.
  • Comment closes on October 16 on NOPSEMA's proposed compliance strategy for the offshore oil and gas industry.
  • Proponents of carbon offset projects have until midnight on October 4 to apply to register them, if they want to participate in the November 16-17 ERF auction.
  • Comment closes October 14 on a paper from the Clean Energy Regulator on direct purchasing of abatement from large-scale projects, which would by-pass ERF auction processes (related article for subscribers only).
  • National Pollutant Inventory reporters that report emissions on a financial year basis have until September 30 to submit their data.
  • All NGER reporters must submit their emissions and energy reports by midnight, October 31.
  • Applications close on October 9 for this year's Clean Energy Council developing women directors' scholarship.

NSW:

  • Weston Aluminium is seeking development approval to install and operate a facility in Kurri Kurri that would treat up to 8,000 tonnes of medical and hazardous waste each year.
  • The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage is offering subsidised energy efficiency workshops in Sydney over the next few months.
  • The EPA is inviting Local Aboriginal Land Councils to apply for individual grants of up to $50,000 under the Aboriginal Land Clean-Up and Prevention Program (ALCUP) to help curb illegal dumping on Aboriginal land.
  • The EPA has fined Unilever Australia $15,000 for polluting waters near its North Rocks facility, following a tip-off from a member of the public. The incident was caused by a broken stormwater pipe.
  • Comment closes September 16 on draft documents on the assessment and approval of wind farms (related article for subscribers only).
  • Comment closes September 21 on draft legislation and a regulatory discussion paper on its planned container deposit scheme (related article for subscribers only).
  • Grant opportunity: The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and the state's Local Government Association have invited councils to apply for funding under a new 'building resilience to climate change' grant round.

ACT:

  • The Environment and Planning Directorate has invited applications for a share of sustainable agriculture grant funding totalling $150,000.

Victoria:

  • The Essential Services Commission has amended rules on earning VEET energy efficiency certificates so that they can now be created through upgrades to lighting in open-air car parks (related article for subscribers only).
  • Submissions close November 9 on a draft report of a statewide assessment of public land issued by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council.

Tasmania:

  • Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg and Tasmania's Environment and Energy Minister Matthew Groom have appointed John Tamblyn, a former chair of the Australian Energy Market Commission, to complete the study into the merits of a second interconnector with the mainland.

South Australia:

Western Australia:

  • The EPA has recommended that an extension of Toro Energy Ltd's proposed Wiluna Uranium Project, to mine two additional deposits, be approved with conditions.
  • The Department of Mines and Petroleum has announced 10 finalists for the 2016 Golden Gecko environment awards.

Northern Territory:

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  • Chief Minister Michael Gunner has named Lauren Moss as the Territory's new Environment and Resources Minister.

  • The EPA has issued new advice warning that a general environmental duty contained in the Territory's pollution law obliges people to notify it of contaminated land (related article for subscribers only).

    Jobs and appointments:

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