A Footprint weekly snapshot for ISO 14001 system managers and environmental and carbon professionals.

• Upcoming events
• International developments
• Corporate news
• Jurisdictional round-up (national, states and territories)
• Jobs and appointments

* Featured jobs: Victoria's Essential Services Commission has two vacancies for positions that will help develop the state's VEET energy efficiency scheme.

The commission is seeking a project and technical lead and a project analyst, with applications closing on November 15.

Upcoming events:

• 2015 NELA National Conference: Planning, climate and environmental law - Where to from here? A November 13 conference in Sydney, with speakers including Professor Michael Gerrard, Director, Sabin Centre for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School.
• CEO forum and Banksia awards A November 13 forum featuring World Business Council for Sustainable Development president Peter Bakker and Global Reporting Initiative chief executive Michael Meehan, followed by presentation of the 2015 Banksia sustainability awards. Organised by Sustainable Business Australia and the Banksia Foundation.
• National air pollution summit A November 14 conference organised by Environmental Justice Australia. National energy efficiency conference 2015 A November 17 and 18 conference in Melbourne, hosted by the Energy Efficiency Council.
• Stakeholder engagement masterclass A November 19 seminar in Brisbane, hosted by the Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility.
• International conference on sustainable water management A November 29 to December 3 conference in Perth, with speakers including WA Water Minister Mia Davies.
• Bioenergy Australia 2015 A November 30 to December 2 conference in Launceston.

For other events, including a 'summer study' in Sydney on energy productivity, see the extensive Footprint what's on listings.

International developments:

• Signatories to the Montreal Protocol that was established to protect the ozone layer last week agreed to amend it next year so that it can be used to phase down HFCs, which are potent greenhouse gases and are widely used as refrigerants.
• The UN Environment Programme has issued an updated version of its estimate of the gap between existing country commitments and the cuts in emissions necessary to limit warming to no more than 2°C.

Corporate news:

• An investigation by New York's Attorney-General into coal company Peabody Energy has concluded that it engaged in false and misleading conduct in its statements to investors on financial risks associated with climate change. Attorney-General Eric Schneiderman said the company denied in its filings that it could predict the impact of climate regulation on its business, even though it and its consultants had estimated the effect on coal sales. Under the terms of an agreement with the Attorney-General, Peabody Coal will file revised shareholder disclosures. Nor will it in future either claim that it can't predict the impact of regulation or ignore International Energy Agency projections of coal use if measures are in place to limit warming to 2°C.
• The World Business Council for Sustainable Development has released reporting matters, which discusses the effectiveness and use of non-financial reporting.
• Greenfleet has teamed with New Zealand fuel card provider CardLink Systems to establish a program that allows card users to offset the emissions associated with their fuel use by supporting forest plantings in the country.
• The Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) has announced its new board.

National:

• The Department of Health has released a discussion paper on proposed changes to assessment procedures for industrial chemicals. The changes would allow market entry of low-risk chemicals without assessment and would permit higher-risk chemicals to be introduced based on assessments by specified international agencies.
• More than 98% of companies obliged to report their annual emissions and energy use through NGER did so by the November 2 deadline, according to the Clean Energy Regulator.
• The Australian Conservation Foundation has launched proceedings in the Federal Court against Environment Minister Greg Hunt, challenging the validity of his second approval for Adani's Carmichael coal mine. (See the Footprint article 'Federal Court to test Hunt's new EPBC carbon approach').
• Comment closes next Monday on a Department of Environment options paper on reforms to legislation dealing with ozone-depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases.
• The avoidable cost of congestion for Australia's capital cities was about $16.5 billion in 2014-15, up from $12.8 billion in 2009-10, according to a new report from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics.
• The Senate has extended to November 25 the reporting date for a Senate inquiry into a Motor Vehicle Standards (Cheaper Transport) Bill 2014 that was introduced last year by former Greens Leader Christine Milne.
• The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has released its 2014-15 annual report.
• The Federal Government has gazetted a recovery plan for threatened sawfish and river sharks.

Queensland:

• The Queensland Government has gazetted the Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment (Postponement) Regulation 2015. An explanatory statement says the regulation postpones commencement of all uncommenced provisions of the Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2014. This will ensure the provisions don't take effect before the commencement of related provisions in the Mineral and Energy Resources (Common Provisions) Act 2014, the statement says. It will also provide time for consultation on the Government's 'end of waste' framework.
• The Queensland Competition Authority is inviting tenders by tomorrow for a consultant to review projected costs for rehabilitating the plant and facilities at Dalrymple Bay coal terminal are reasonable and efficient.
• The Queensland Government is planning a comprehensive review of the state's energy laws, which will begin next year. (See the Footprint article 'Review of Queensland energy laws').

NSW:

• The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) is seeking a contractor to evaluate the NSW energy efficiency action plan. The project will include evaluating the impact of the NSW Energy Saving Scheme (ESS).
• The NSW EPA has invited tenders to develop a best practice odour modelling methodology for poultry farms.
• The NSW Government has released its response to a minerals industry action plan developed by an advisory taskforce. (See the Footprint article 'NSW fence-sites on fate of independent mining umpire').
• The NSW Parliamentary Library has released a research brief on the proposed Greater Sydney Commission.

Victoria:

• Comment closes this month on proposed changes to VEET regulations and a proposal to introduce "project-based assessments" that allow complex projects at facilities to earn certificates. The VEET scheme administrator is also inviting suggestions by December 11 on new energy efficiency activities that should be approved to be subsidised through the scheme.
• Submissions made in response to a State Government inquiry into e-waste will be made available shortly.
• EPA Victoria has started a review of its scheduled premises regulation. Meanwhile, Environment Minister Lisa Neville has invited comment on a draft priority statement that would govern the expenditure of money raised through landfill levies. (See the Footprint article 'Victoria signals changes to controls on high-risk sites').
• Sustainability Victoria has released its 2014-15 annual report.
• Grant opportunity: The Victorian Government is offering a new round of resource efficiency grants through Sustainability Victoria. Businesses can apply for up to $5,000 for an energy assessment and up to $10,000 for a materials or combined materials and energy assessment. If they begin implementing at least one assessment recommendation, then they are eligible for a $3,000 implementation bonus. Applications close February 12 for energy resource assessment grants, and on May 13 for materials assessments.
• Grant opportunity: The Victorian Government has launched a new $1.5 million grants program to help councils cut emissions and boost climate resilience. Grants of between $10,000 and $80,000 are available and applications close on December 29.

Tasmania:

• EPA Tasmania has released its latest annual report.
• Tasmania will soon have an accreditation scheme for contaminated sites auditors, according to State Environment Minister Matthew Groom. (See the Footprint article 'Tasmania to introduce accreditation for contaminated sites auditors').

South Australia:

• Zero Waste SA has released its 2014-15 annual report.
• The Water Industry (Third Party Access) Amendment Bill, which allows third-party access to SA Water's bulk drinking water pipelines and the Glenelg-to-Adelaide recycled water pipeline, has received Royal Assent.
• The Whyalla Steel Works (Environmental Authorisation) Amendment Bill, which curtails EPA powers to intervene in the operations of Arrium's Whyalla steelworks, has also received Assent.
• The State Emergency Services is inviting quotes to develop options and a business case for a state-wide extreme weather and heatwave risk mitigation program.

Western Australia:

• Dr James Limerick has joined the board of the WA EPA, with effect from November 5. Dr Limerick is the chair of Fremantle Port, Ports WA and a member of the advisory board to the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority. He is also the former director general of the Department of Industry and Resources.
• Comment closes on November 18 on the WA EPA's draft guidance on separation distances, which complements similar draft guidance issued by the Department of Environment Regulation. (See the Footprint article 'WA regulator issues new advice on buffer zones').

Jobs and appointments:

• The Leighton Samsung John Holland joint venture is seeking a sustainability and systems coordinator for the Westconnex M4 East project.
• Kellogg's is seeking a Sydney-based environment, health and safety leader.
• The ACT Environment and Planning Directorate is seeking a senior development assessment officer and a senior energy and water assessor.
• WA Main Roads is seeking an environment manager.
• The WA Department of Environment Regulation is seeking an executive manager of waste services.
• Energy Safe Victoria, which regulates electricity, gas and pipeline networks, is seeking a Melbourne-based senior environmental professional and a leader for audit and submissions. Both are new positions.
• Melbourne Metro Rail Authority is seeking an environmental engineering graduate.
• UrbanGrowth NSW is seeking a Sydney-based sustainability and compliance officer.
• Tamworth City Council (NSW) is seeking a senior environmental officer.
• Melbourne's Wyndham City Council is seeking a sustainability team leader.
• Campbelltown City Council (western Sydney) is seeking a senior sustainability officer.
• Kelly Engineering is recruiting on behalf of a government-backed authority for an environmental consultant to develop a construction environmental management plan for a major project.
• Leighton Contractors is seeking an Adelaide-based environmental manager, with a strong focus on biodiversity.
• Biopharmaceuticals company CSL Ltd is seeking an EHS senior manager.
• Environmental Justice Australia is seeking a Melbourne-based digital campaigner.