Environmental compliance news for business

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Environment law and policy tracker

Highlights include new NGER data, new federal regulations, and two Victorian court cases. Jobs listings include sustainability manager with QBE. Events include a national hydrogen summit.

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Featured Opportunity – Chief Executive Officer

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Upcoming events:

  • Risk to remediation A March 4 to 8 training program on site contamination and remediation in Newcastle, hosted by CRC CARE.
  • Climate update 2019 A March 4 seminar at Adelaide University, with speakers including shadow climate minister Mark Butler.
  • Sports environment alliance summit 2019 A March 5 event in Melbourne.
  • Energy – where to invest in 2019 Seminars in Sydney (March 5) and Melbourne (March 7) featuring Simon Currie and Simon Corbell from Energy Estate.
  • Climate change and the economy: RBA deputy-governor Dr Guy Debelle A March 12 evening seminar in Sydney, hosted by the Centre for Policy Development.
  • Climate risk: The need for action A March 13 two-hour seminar hosted by Norton Rose Fulbright, Point Advisory and the Future Business Council.
  • Brominated flame retardants in the environment A March 14 lunchtime lecture by RMIT environmental science lecturer, Bradley Clarke.
  • Transform: Leading a sustainable built environment A March 19 to 20 conference in Sydney, hosted by the Green Building Council.
  • Wind industry forum 2019 A March 21 forum, hosted by the Clean Energy Council.
  • Inaugural hydrogen energy summit A March 26 to 27 conference in Melbourne, hosted by Informa.
  • National acid-sulfate soils guidance – identification and assessment A March 28 and 29 short course at the Gold Coast campus of Southern Cross University.
  • Environment management short course An April 3 and 4 short course in Melbourne, hosted by the Australian Environment Business Network.
  • EUAA national conference 2019 The May 1 and 2 national conference of the Energy Users Association of Australia, held in Melbourne.

National:

  • The Clean Energy Regulator today released NGER emissions data for FY18 (see background here).
  • The Clean Energy Regulator has released new market data on the Emissions Reduction Fund.
  • The federal government has released greenhouse gas emissions data for the quarter ending September 2018.
  • Prime Minister Scott Morrison has committed a returned Coalition federal government to providing $2 billion over a decade for an extension of the Emissions Reduction Fund, which would be rebadged as the Climate Solutions Fund (see background here).
  • The ACCC is seeking comment by March 22 on how best to allow consumers to access their energy data.
  • Public comment is invited by March 20 on Equinor's proposed environmental plan by for drilling in the Great Australian Bight.
  • The Clean Energy Regulator has released guidance for greenhouse and energy auditors on marketing and promoting practices.
  • The federal government has released the interim report of its independent assessment of fish deaths in the Lower Darling.
  • The E3 energy efficiency scheme is updating its guide to sustainable housing.
  • The ACCC today announced it won't oppose waste company Bingo's proposed acquisition of Dial-a-Dump, on condition that Bingo divest one of its processing facilities (see background here).
  • Listed companies will have to more carefully consider their exposure to environmental risks, including those arising from climate change, as a result of new ASX guidance (see background here).
  • New federal waste export data shows a huge increase in waste plastic exports to Malaysia and Indonesia, which has largely offset the massive cuts in the amount accepted by China (see background here).
  • Statutory change: The federal government has gazetted the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment (Small-scale Solar Eligibility and Other Measures) Regulations 2019, with explanatory material available here.
  • Statutory change: The federal government has gazetted the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 2019.
  • Statutory change: The federal government has gazetted an EPBC national recovery plan for the clay pans of the Swan coastal plain.
  • Have your say!: Comment closes March 21 on the Australian Energy Market Commission's draft determination on proposed changes to the 'RERT' grid safety-net scheme (see background here).
  • Have your say!: Submissions are due by April 8 to a Senate committee inquiry into a bill introduced by Senator Stirling Griff that would ban cotton exports to ensure water security.
  • Have your say!: Submissions close March 4 to a Senate committee inquiry into a bill to protect dugongs and turtles, introduced by Senator Derryn Hinch.
  • The federal government has awarded a $171,865 grant to Ping Services to help develop acoustic technology that allows continuous monitoring of wind turbine blade damage.
  • New submissions to the Senate committee inquiry into 'fair dinkum power' are now available. The committee will report on June 30.
  • Applications must be made by April 1 for exemptions from liability for RET-related charges, which are available to emissions-intensive, trade-exposed businesses.

Queensland:

  • A parliamentary committee inquiry has recommended that a bill be passed that would empower the Chief Health Officer to order a company to notify the public about a pollution event (see background here).
  • Have your say!: Comment closes April 5 on the state's draft waste strategy (see background here).
  • Have your say!: The state government has launched a review of its environmental offsets policy (see background here).
  • Five south-east Queensland councils (Logan, Ipswich, Redlands, Lockyer Valley and Somerset) have lodged an application with the ACCC for authorisation to collectively tender for waste processing services.
  • The Department of Environment and Science has forwarded to Adani the findings of an independent scientific review of the company's black-throated finch management plan. The plan must be approved by the department before Adani's Carmichael coal mine can proceed.
  • The state government has pledged a $150,000 grant to establish a Circular Economy Lab in Brisbane.
  • The state government has invited applications for support through its Queensland Disaster Resilience Fund.

NSW:

  • After conciliation, the EPA has dropped a claim that a licence-holder isn't a fit and proper person (see background here).
  • Transport for NSW is inviting expressions of interest to deliver electric vehicle charging programs in regional NSW and commuter carparks in Sydney.
  • Grant opportunity: The state government is inviting applications for a share in first-round funding under its new $16 million manufacturing efficiency funding program (see background here).
  • The administrator of the NSW Energy Savings Scheme has issued amended minimum requirements of conduct for accredited certificate providers.
  • The EPA has awarded $3.6 million to companies and councils for projects that increase recycling (see background here).
  • Have your say!: Comment closes March 23 on the EIS for geotechnical works for the Shoalhaven hydro expansion project.

ACT:

  • The ACT has released its FY18 greenhouse gas inventory.
  • Last chance!: Comment closes tomorrow on proposals to subsidise the installation of ceiling and sub-floor insulation in homes through the ACT Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme (see background here).

Victoria:

  • The EPA has released its new governance charter.
  • Court ruling: A court has penalised Melbourne's Yarra Valley Water $100,000 over a sewage spill caused by wet wipes, and EPA Victoria says company claims that they are flushable shouldn't be trusted (see background here).
  • Court ruling: A tribunal has granted a permit for a concrete recycling facility, a year after invalidating a council amendment to a previous permit (see background here).
  • Grant opportunity: The state government has invited applications from non-profit groups for grants of up to $50,000 for projects that help protect and preserve the environmental health of Port Phillip Bay. Applications close April 10.
  • Grant opportunity: The state government is offering community climate change adaptation grants of between $25,000 and $75,000, with applications closing March 31.

South Australia:

Western Australia:

  • The state government has approved changes to Tellus Holdings' proposed geological repository for hazardous waste that include installation of a 1.5MW solar PV system.
  • Western Power has awarded contracts worth $8.8 million in round 1 of its stand-alone power system rollout, which will install units at 57 sites.
  • Award opportunity Applications close April 29 for the state government's Golden Gecko environmental awards for resource companies.
  • Grant opportunity: Grants of up to $300,000 are available to non-profit groups for individual projects that help manage the Western Australian coastline.

Jobs and appointments:

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