Browsing: Assessments, approvals, licensing

The task of approving mining and petroleum proposals should rest with one decision-making authority and responsibility for hearing environmental appeals should temporarily be given to a 'retired magistrate', says a report for the WA Government.

The WA Government says it has imposed 'strong, new conditions' on the Gorgon Venture's proposed LNG plant, but it has watered down key EPA recommendations dealing with CO2 storage that the venture had unsuccessfully challenged.

WA Environment Minister Donna Faragher has rejected WWF's push for the multi-billion dollar Gorgon LNG plant to be built on the mainland instead of an island nature reserve, despite the WA EPA raising doubts about whether the mainland option is still too expensive.

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has granted environmental approval for mining of the Four Mile uranium deposit in South Australia, saying it posed ‘no credible risk’ to the environment.

A Rudd Government-commissioned review links the need for an EPBC Act ‘greenhouse trigger’ to the fate of the CPRS, says prohibiting coal-fired plants lacking CCS technology might be warranted and floats the prospect of an offset scheme to control land clearing.

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