70Information that must be set out in offsets reports

#### 70 Information that must be set out in offsets reports (1) For paragraph 76(4)(b) of the Act, this section specifies information that must be set out in an offsets report about an eligible offsets project for a reporting period. General information (2) The offsets report must set out the following information: (a) the unique project identifier for the project; (b) the start and end dates of the reporting period; (c) the name of: (i) the project proponent; or (ii) if there are multiple project proponents—the nominee of the project proponents; (d) the amount of: (i) each component of the equation or calculation that, under the applicable methodology determination, is the final equation or calculation to be used to work out the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount, or the carbon dioxide equivalent net sequestration amount, for the project for the reporting period; and (ii) if the Regulator publishes, on the Regulator’s website, guidelines about which equations and calculations for working out the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount, or the carbon dioxide equivalent net sequestration amount, for the project are significant equations or calculations—each component of each of those significant equations and calculations; (e) if the offsets report must be accompanied by a report of an initial audit, the extent and manner of the project’s compliance with project eligibility requirements and monitoring requirements during the period of time covered by the audit; (f) if the offsets report must be accompanied by a report of a subsequent audit or a triggered audit and, under Subdivision C of Division 3 of this Part, the audit was required to be about a particular matter—a description of the matter and why it was required to be audited; (g) whether an application for a certificate of entitlement in respect of the project for the reporting period has been, or will be, made under section 12 of the Act; (h) whether the offsets report is included in the same document as another offsets report under subsection 76(8) of the Act; (i) if the project proponent has chosen to divide the project into parts in accordance with section 77A of the Act—both: (i) a statement that the project has been divided into parts under that section; and (ii) a description of the part of the project that the offsets report is about; (j) a signed statement by the project proponent that the information included in, and any document accompanying, the offsets report: (i) meets the requirements in this instrument and any requirements in the applicable methodology determination; and (ii) is accurate; (k) a signed statement by the project proponent that all inputs used to work out the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount, or the carbon dioxide equivalent net sequestration amount, for the project for the reporting period are accurate; (l) if the project is a savanna emissions avoidance project or savanna sequestration project—evidence that the requirements of subsection 9(6) were satisfied throughout the reporting period; (m) if the project is an alternative assurance project and information must be included in an offsets report to meet any conditions for the project to be an alternative assurance project—that information. > Note: The offsets report must also include any information that is required to be included in the report under the applicable methodology determination (see subsection 76(7) of the Act). Information about changes to the project (3) The offsets report must also set out the following information: (a) if, since an offsets report accompanied by an audit report was last given to the Regulator about the project, the extent or manner of the project’s compliance with project eligibility requirements or monitoring requirements has changed—both: (i) a description of the change; and (ii) an explanation of how the project is continuing to comply with the requirements; (b) if the offsets report must be accompanied by a report of an initial audit and the scope or location of the project has changed significantly since the application for a section 27 declaration in relation to the project was made—both: (i) a description of the change; and (ii) an explanation of how the changed scope, or the conduct of the project at any additional location, is consistent with the applicable methodology determination; (c) if, since an offsets report accompanied by an audit report was last given to the Regulator about the project, the scope or location of the project has changed significantly—both: (i) a description of the change; and (ii) an explanation of how the changed scope, or the conduct of the project at any additional location, is consistent with the applicable methodology determination; (d) if, in accordance with paragraph 13(1)(d), the application for a section 27 declaration in relation to the project was accompanied by details of a sub‑method to be used for the project and a different sub‑method is used in preparing the offsets report—details of the sub‑method used; (e) if, during the reporting period, a reportable change occurs to the kinds of activities included in the project—both: (i) a description of the change; and (ii) an explanation of how, following the change, the activities included in the project are consistent with the applicable methodology determination. > Note: For paragraphs (3)(b) and (c), examples of when the scope or location of a project may change significantly include the following: (a) if the project starts to be carried out at a greater number of sites or at sites not identified in the application for a section 27 declaration; (b) if the project undergoes a substantial expansion at an existing site; (c) if the overall scale of the project is significantly expanded. Information for regeneration projects (3A) The offsets report for a regeneration project must set out the following information: (a) if: (i) a reporting period ends more than 5 years after the start of the project’s last or only crediting period and the information required by this paragraph has not been included in an offsets report within the last 5 years; or (ii) the Regulator requests, in writing, some or all of the following information in relation to a carbon estimation area after a risk based assessment of the project; an explanation, for each carbon estimation area included in the offsets report that has not already attained forest cover: (iii) of the progress towards or attainment of forest cover in each such carbon estimation area and evidence supporting that progress or attainment; and (iv) of how the project mechanism has continued to be implemented in each such carbon estimation area and evidence supporting that continued implementation; (v) of how the boundaries and stratification of the carbon estimation area meet the requirements of the applicable methodology determination; taking into account any guidelines published by the Regulator on its website for the purpose of this paragraph, as in force from time to time; Note: In 2018, the Regulator’s website was http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au (b) if: (i) the offsets report includes a carbon estimation area that has passed its forest cover assessment date; and (ii) the information required by this paragraph has not already been included in an offsets report; an explanation of the evidence that demonstrates whether or not the requirements of subsection 9AA(3) are satisfied in relation to the carbon estimation area, taking into account any guidelines published by the Regulator on its website for the purpose of this paragraph, as in force from time to time; Note: In 2018, the Regulator’s website was http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au (c) for each carbon estimation area included in the offsets report: (i) the date that the modelling of forest regeneration commenced; and (ii) the estimated forest cover assessment date; and (iii) details of any eligible growth disruption period; and (iv) an explanation of whether forest cover has been attained; and (v) the total carbon stock at the end of the reporting period, in both tonnes of carbon and tonnes of carbon per hectare, under the modelling undertaken in accordance with the applicable methodology determination for the reporting period; (d) a statement that during the reporting period the project proponent and other relevant land holders for the project area have taken reasonable steps to comply with requirements relating to the management of weeds and pests in the project area imposed by or under applicable State, Territory or local government laws. Information about certain facilities (4) If: (a) the offsets report: (i) is given to the Regulator on or after 1 July 2016; and (ii) is for a reporting period that includes all or part of a financial year; and (b) the project involves carbon abatement at a facility: (i) that is, or is likely to be, a designated large facility for the financial year; or (ii) for which there is a monitoring period, within the meaning of section 22XJ of the NGER Act, that includes all or part of the financial year; the offsets report must also set out what portion of the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount for the project for the reporting period is attributable to carbon abatement at each facility that the project involves. Information relating to permanence (4A) If: (a) the offsets report is the first offsets report to be submitted after the start of the 8th year of a sequestration offsets project’s last or only crediting period; or (b) the offsets report is the first offsets report to be submitted after the start of the 24th year of a sequestration offsets project’s last or only crediting period; the offsets report must also set out an explanation of the steps undertaken, and intended to be undertaken, to ensure carbon remains sequestered in the project area for the permanence obligation period for the project. Meaning of reportable change (5) A reportable change occurs to the kinds of activities included in an eligible offsets project if: (a) the change is not minor or trivial; and (b) following the change, the project includes activities that either: (i) were not included in the description of the project that accompanied the application for a section 27 declaration in relation to the project; or (ii) were included in the description of the project that accompanied the application for a section 27 declaration in relation to the project, but were the subject of a previous reportable change that was included in a previous offsets report about the project. (6) In this section: attained forest cover, in relation to a carbon estimation area, has the meaning given by subsection 9AA(4). carbon estimation area has the meaning given by subsection 9AA(7). eligible growth disruption period has the meaning given by subsection 9AA(7). forest cover assessment date has the meaning given by subsection 9AA(6).