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Environment Protection Act 1997
Sch 1Activities requiring
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Schedule 1 Activities requiring
environmental authorisation
(see s 42)
1.1 Definitions for sch 1
In this schedule:
airgun means a firearm, other than a paintball marker, that—
(a) can propel, or is designed to propel, a projectile by means of—
(i) any gas or mixture of gases, including air but not including
a gas or mixture of gases generated by an explosive; or
(ii) a spring; and
(b) is operated or designed for operation by means of a trigger or
similar device.
aquifer means a geological formation or structure, or an artificial
landfill, permeated or capable of being permeated (whether
permanently or intermittently) with water.
authorised concert venue means a concert venue where the holder of
an environmental authorisation for the conduct of outdoor concert
activities is authorised to conduct such an activity.
authorised motor racing venue means a motor racing venue where
the holder of an environmental authorisation for the conduct of motor
racing events is authorised to conduct such an activity.
blank fire firearm—see the Firearms Act 1996, dictionary.
bore means a bore, hole, well, excavation or other opening in the
ground or an underground cavity (whether occurring naturally or
having been artificially constructed or modified)—
(a) that is used, or is capable of being used, to intercept or collect
ground water; or
(b) from which ground water is, or is capable of being, obtained or
used; or
(c) that is used, or is capable of being used, for the disposal of water
or waste below the surface of the ground; or
(d) that extends into an aquifer.
clinical waste—see the Clinical Waste Act 1990, dictionary.
concert means a public performance of music the primary purpose of
which is to entertain.
concert venue means a place or location where a concert is being, or
is proposed to be, conducted.
environmental standards means the ACT’s Environmental
Standards: Assessment and Classification of Liquid and Non-liquid
Wastes published by Environment ACT, as in force for the time
being.
firearm—
(a) means a gun, or other weapon, that is, or at any time was,
capable of propelling a projectile by means of an explosive
force, however caused; and
(b) includes an airgun; but
(c) does not include—
(i) a blank fire firearm; or
(ii) a paintball marker.
ground water means water occurring or obtained from below the
surface of the ground, including water occurring in or obtained from
a bore or an aquifer, but not including water occurring in or obtained
from any other system for the distribution, reticulation,
transportation, storage or treatment of water or waste.
hazardous component, of electronic waste, means any component of
the electronic waste that has chemical, physical or biological
properties with the potential to cause harm to a person, property or
the environment.
live animal weight, for animals, means the weight of the animals
calculated on the basis that—
(a) for birds—555 layer chickens, 1 100 broiler chickens,
310 ducks, 165 geese, 110 turkeys or 17 emus represent 1t; or
(b) for a stock feedlot—2 cattle, 13 goats, 2 horses or 22 sheep
represent 1t; or
(c) for a stock saleyard—2 cattle, 13 goats, 2 horses, 22 sheep,
5 deer, 17 emus, 13 kangaroos, 5 breeding sows, 17 porker pigs
or 11 baconer pigs represent 1t.
logging includes the cutting and removal of pulpwood.
mobile plant, for the processing of agricultural crops, means plant
operated on a temporary basis at a place for not more than 6 months
in a year.
motor racing event means—
(a) a motor vehicle race or practice for a motor vehicle race; or
(b) a motor vehicle reliability trial or speed test, including a trial or
test for which the vehicles have been exempted under the road
transport legislation from the provisions of that legislation about
attaching silencers to the exhaust pipes of motor vehicles, rules
of the road and speed limits during the trial or test.
paintball marker means a device that shoots capsules of paint, or a
similar substance, for the game of paintball.
Note The Macquarie Dictionary, 4th ed, defines paintball as a game in which
players participate in mock military skirmishes using guns which fire
capsules of paint instead of bullets.
pest—see the Biosecurity Act 2023, section 11.
receiving waters means ground water or water in a waterway.
regulated waste—see section 1.1A.
road transport legislation—see the Road Transport (General)
stock—see the Stock Act 2005, dictionary.
stormwater means water run-off from an urban area that is normally
collected by the stormwater system.
stormwater system means a system of pipes, gutters, drains,
floodways and channels, being public works constructed to collect or
transport stormwater in or through an urban area.
waste means any solid, liquid or gas, or any combination of them, that
is a surplus product or unwanted by-product of an activity, whether
the product or by-product is of value or not.
wastewater means water that is the by-product of an activity if the
water—
(a) contains other matter (whether in a solid, liquid or gaseous
state); or
(b) if added to receiving waters—has the potential to pollute those
waters.
water includes water that contains impurities.
waterway means—
(a) a river, creek, stream or other natural channel in which water
flows (whether permanently or intermittently); or
(b) a channel formed (whether in whole or part) by altering or
relocating a waterway described in paragraph (a), and includes
the stormwater system; or
Section 1.1A
(c) a lake, pond, lagoon or marsh (whether formed by geomorphic
processes or by works) in which water collects (whether
continuously or intermittently);
and includes the bed that the water in the waterway normally flows
over or is covered by and the banks that the water in the waterway
normally flows between or is contained by, but does not include land
normally not part of the waterway that may be covered from time to
time by floodwaters from the waterway.
year means any 12 month period.
1.1A Meaning of regulated waste
(1) In this schedule:
regulated waste means waste that is, or contains, 1 or more of the
following kinds of waste:
(a) hazardous waste;
(b) group A waste;
(c) group B waste;
(d) group C waste;
(e) industrial waste.
(2) An expression used in subsection (1) and defined in the
environmental standards has the same meaning as in the standards.
1.2 Class A activities
For section 42, the following activities are class A activities:
Table 1.2
item
1 the extraction of more than 100m3 of material (other than water) from a
waterway
item
2 the operation of equipment designed to extract more than 30 000t per year
of material (other than ground water) from land outside a waterway
3 the operation of an incineration facility for the destruction of waste by
thermal oxidation (including biological, veterinary, medical, dental,
quarantine and municipal wastes)
4 the sterilisation of clinical waste
5 the conduct of a crematorium for the reduction by means of thermal
oxidation of human bodies to cremated remains
6 the operation of a commercial landfill facility that receives, or is intended
by the operator to receive, more than 5 000t of waste per year
7 the acceptance of more than 100m3 of soil for placement on land by a lessee
(or for land under a land sublease, the sublessee) or occupier of the land if
the land is in—
(a) an area identified in the territory plan as land in any of the
following zones:
Broadacre; Rural; Hills, Ridges and Buffer; River Corridor;
Mountains and Bushland; or
(b) an area identified in the territory plan as an area where plantation
forestry is permitted subject to development assessment; or
(c) an area identified in the national capital plan as any of the
Broadacre Areas; Rural Areas; Hills, Ridges and Buffer Spaces;
River Corridors; Mountains and Bushland
8 transport activities to which the National Environment Protection
(Movement of Controlled Waste between States and Territories) Measure
dated 26 June 1998, as in force from time to time, made under the National
Environment Protection Council Act 1994, applies
9 the transportation, from 1 place in the ACT to another place in the ACT, for
fee or reward of—
(a) 200kg or more of regulated waste, other than waste consisting only
of stabilised asbestos waste in bonded matrix; or
(b) 2t or more of used, rejected or unwanted tyres (including shredded
tyres and tyre pieces)
item
10 sewage treatment if the activity involves the discharge of treated or
untreated sewage or septic tank effluent to land or water and having a peak
loading capacity designed for more than 100 people per day, other than an
activity involving the recycling of wastewater if there is no discharge to
receiving waters
11 the treatment (other than by incineration), storage or handling of more than
1 000m3 of contaminated soil from land outside the parcel of land where the
contaminated soil is treated, stored or handled
12 the treatment (other than by incineration), storage or handling of more than
10 000m3 of contaminated soil from land
13 the operation of a facility at which more than 800 animals per day may be
milked
14 the operation of a facility designed to process more than 30 000kL of milk
or milk products per year
15 the operation of a facility designed to process more than 30 000t of
agricultural crops per year, other than—
(a) the processing of grapes or grape products, milk or milk products
or forestry products; or
(b) the processing of agricultural crops by a mobile plant on a farm
16 commercial aquaculture, being the propagation or rearing of fish or other
aquatic organisms in the course of which supplementary feeding is used
17 the operation of a stock feedlot—
(a) for the rearing or fattening of stock fed entirely or largely on
prepared or manufactured feed; and
(b) that is designed to accommodate at any one time more than 200t
live animal weight of stock in a confinement area;
other than a feedlot operated for drought or similar emergency relief or for
the holding of stock at an abattoir or saleyard
18 the keeping of poultry, game birds or emus if the premises where the birds
are kept is designed to accommodate at any one time more than 180t live
animal weight of birds
item
19 the operation of commercial stock saleyards (including associated transport
loading facilities) that sells or exchanges, or is intended by the operator to
sell or exchange, more than 10 000t live animal weight of animals per year
20 the operation of an abattoir or another facility for the processing of the
products of slaughtered animals (other than for the tanning of animal skins
or fellmongery) designed to process more than 3 000kg of live animals per
day
21 the commercial cleaning or carbonising of wool at a facility designed to
process more than 200t of wool per year
22 the processing of animal skins or other animal products (including
fellmongery) to produce leather or other similar products
23 outdoor concert activities using amplifying equipment if the venue has the
capacity to hold more than 2 000 people and is not an authorised concert
venue
24 the management of a concert venue that has the capacity to hold more than
2 000 people where outdoor concert activities using amplifying equipment
are held
25 the generation of electricity by a generator classified as a scheduled
generating unit under the national electricity rules, clause 2.2.2, under the
National Electricity (ACT) Law
26 motor racing events, other than motor racing events held at an authorised
racing venue
27 the management of a motor racing venue where motor racing events are
held
item
28 lighting, using or maintaining a fire in the open air, or causing or permitting
a fire to be lit, used or maintained in the open air, for the purpose of burning
plant matter—
(a) to reduce a fire hazard; or
(b) to clear the land; or
(c) to conserve biological diversity or ecological integrity
Note The Emergencies Act 2004 contains an offence about lighting etc fire
during a total fire ban (see that Act, s 116). That Act may also require
the owner of land to obtain oral approval or a permit before lighting
etc a fire on the land (see that Act, s 123 and s 126A).
29 the commercial use of chemical products registered under the Agricultural
and Veterinary Chemicals Code as in force for the time being under the
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994 (Cwlth) for pest
control or turf management
30 the storage of petroleum products in a facility designed to store more than
50m3 of products
31 the production of petroleum products (other than the recovery, processing or
disposal of petroleum product waste) at a facility designed to produce more
than 100t of petroleum products per year
32 the operation of a facility that recovers, processes or disposes, or is intended
by the operator to recover, process or dispose, of more than 20t of waste
petroleum products per year
33 the operation of an aerodrome for helicopters (other than a facility used
only for the emergency medical evacuation, retrieval or rescue of people by
helicopter) if—
(a) the aerodrome is operated for more than 2 weeks; and
(b) the number of take-offs and landings by helicopters is, or is
intended by the operator to be, more than 30 per week; and
(c) the aerodrome is located less than 1km from a dwelling not
associated with the aerodrome
34 the conduct of a logging operation that logs, or is intended by the operator
to log, more than 5 000t of timber per year
item
35 the commercial production of alcoholic beverages or distilled alcohol at a
facility designed to produce more than—
(a) 30 kL of alcoholic beverages or distilled alcohol per day; or
(b) 10 000kL of alcoholic beverages or distilled alcohol per year
36 the conduct of an operation that applies to land, or is intended by the
operator to apply to land, more than 500t per year of organic products
produced by the treatment of sewerage for the improvement of soil
37 the operation of a facility that composts, or is intended by the operator to
compost, more than 200t of animal waste, or 5 000t of plant waste, per year
38 timber chipping, pulping or milling at a facility (other than at a joinery or
retail timber yard) designed to process or produce more than 30 000m3 of
timber or wood products per year
39 the manufacture of things in furnaces or kilns (including bricks, glass,
pipes, pottery goods and tiles) at a facility designed to produce 10 000t or
more of things per year
40 the preservation of wood for commercial purposes using chemicals
(including copper, chromium, arsenic and creosote) at a facility designed to
process 10 000m3 or more of wood per year
41 the production of concrete or concrete products at a facility designed to
produce more than 7 000m3 of concrete per year
42 the production of road building materials by the mixing of ground rock
aggregate and bituminous materials at a production facility that—
(a) is, or is intended to be, located at the one site for more than 1 year;
and
(b) is designed to produce more than 30 000t of road building
materials per year
43 the operation of a facility for the crushing, grinding or separating of
materials (including sand, gravel, rock, minerals, slag, road base, concrete,
bricks, tiles, asphaltic material, metal or timber) into different sizes, if the
processing facility is designed to produce more than 10 000t of processed
materials per year
Section 1.3
item
44 the operation of a firearm shooting range
Note A person commits an offence if the person operates a shooting
range other than an approved shooting range. Also, a person
commits an offence if the person operates an approved shooting
range and is not licensed to operate the shooting range (see
Firearms Act 1996, s 224).
45 the operation of a waste transfer station receiving 30 000t or more of waste
each year
46 the operation of a commercial facility for the treatment of the hazardous
components of electronic waste
1.3 Class B activities
For section 42, the following activities are class B activities:
Table 1.3
item
1 the manufacture of things in furnaces or kilns (including bricks, glass,
pipes, pottery goods and tiles) at a facility designed to produce between
100t and 10 000t of things per year
2 the preservation of wood for commercial purposes using chemicals
(including copper, chromium, arsenic and creosote) at a facility designed to
process less than 10 000m3 of wood per year
3 forestry activities, being the growing, harvesting and management of
forestry products
4 major land development or construction activities, being—
(a) land development, or the construction of a commercial building, on
a site of 0.3ha or more and including the construction of associated
public infrastructure; or
(b) the construction of public infrastructure on a site of 0.3ha or more;
but not including the installation of pipes or lines for linear utilities such as
gas, water, electricity and telephone
Section 1.3
item
5 management of municipal services maintenance on unleased land, being the
maintenance of—
(a) urban parkland or other municipal landscapes; or
(b) public places, public roads or public footpaths; or
(c) the stormwater system
6 wastewater recycling that discharges recycled water onto land or into a
waterway if the recycling involves—
(a) the treatment for the purpose of reuse of wastewater (including
effluent) in a treatment plant that has a capacity of greater than
3ML per year; or
(b) the reuse of more than 3ML per year
7 the commercial collection of waste from commercial premises
8 the operation of a commercial facility for the storage and dismantling of
electronic waste
Preliminary Part 2.1
Section 2.1
(see s 145)
Part 2.1 Preliminary
2.1 Definitions for sch 2
In this schedule:
AS/NZS 4012 means AS/NZS 4012 (Domestic solid fuel burning
appliances—Method for determination of power output and
efficiency) as in force from time to time.
Note AS/NZS 4012 may be purchased at www.standards.org.au.
AS/NZS 4013 means AS/NZS 4013 (Domestic solid fuel burning
appliances—Method for determination of flue gas emission), as in
force from time to time.
Note AS/NZS 4013 may be purchased at www.standards.org.au.
fuel-burning equipment means a furnace, boiler, fireplace, oven,
retort, incinerator, internal-combustion engine, chimney or any other
apparatus, device, mechanism or structure, in the operation of which
combustible material is, or is intended to be, used or that is, or is
intended to be, used in relation to the burning of combustible material.
residential premises means premises that are used exclusively or
primarily for residential purposes.
sell includes exhibit or offer for sale (whether by wholesale or retail)
and supply by way of exchange, lease, hire or credit sale.
solid fuel-burning equipment means fuel-burning equipment that is
designed to burn hard wood, soft wood or briquettes and to which
AS/NZS 4012 or AS/NZS 4013 apply.
Part 2.2 Offences relating to articles that emit noise
Section 2.2
Part 2.2 Offences relating to articles that
emit noise
2.2 Sale of articles that emit excessive noise
A person must not sell a prescribed article that, when in operation,
emits noise that exceeds the prescribed level.
Offences relating to fuel-burning equipment Part 2.3
Section 2.3
Part 2.3 Offences relating to fuel-burning
equipment
2.3 Emission of pollutants in excess of prescribed
concentrations
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit to be used, on any premises,
a fuel that contains more than the prescribed proportion of a
prescribed constituent unless the activity is authorised by an
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an indictable
2.4 Sale or installation of solid fuel-burning equipment
without certification or plate
(1) A person commits an offence if—
(a) the person sells fuel-burning equipment; and
(b) the equipment is solid fuel-burning equipment; and
(c) the equipment is sold for use at residential premises; and
(d) 1 or more of the requirements mentioned in subsection (3) are
not met in relation to the equipment.
(2) A person commits an offence if—
(a) the person installs fuel-burning equipment on premises; and
(b) the equipment is solid fuel-burning equipment; and
(c) the premises are residential premises; and
Part 2.3 Offences relating to fuel-burning equipment
Section 2.4
(d) 1 or more of the requirements mentioned in subsection (3) are
not met in relation to the equipment.
(3) For subsections (1) (d) and (2) (d), the following requirements apply
in relation to solid fuel-burning equipment:
(a) if AS/NZS 4012 applies to the equipment—
(i) a certificate of compliance issued by a certifying entity
must be in force, certifying—
(A) that the equipment, or equipment of the same model
and manufacturer, has been tested in accordance with
AS/NZS 4012; and
(B) the overall average efficiency under AS/NZS 4012 of
the tested equipment; and
(ii) the certified overall average efficiency of the tested
equipment must be equal to, or higher than, the minimum
overall average efficiency prescribed by regulation; and
(iii) a plate marked in accordance with AS/NZS 4012 must be
attached to the equipment; and
(b) if AS/NZS 4013 applies to the equipment—
(i) a certificate of compliance issued by a certifying entity
must be in force, certifying—
(A) that the equipment, or equipment of the same model
and manufacturer, has been tested in accordance with
AS/NZS 4013; and
(B) the appliance particulate emission factor under
AS/NZS 4013 for the tested equipment; and
Offences relating to fuel-burning equipment Part 2.3
Section 2.5
(ii) the certified appliance particulate emission factor for the
tested equipment must be equal to, or less than, the
maximum appliance particulate emission factor prescribed
by regulation; and
(iii) a plate marked in accordance with AS/NZS 4013 must be
attached to the equipment.
(4) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply—
(a) to solid fuel-burning equipment prescribed by regulation; or
(b) if the person has a reasonable excuse.
Note The defendant has an evidential burden in relation to the matters
mentioned in s (4) (see Criminal Code, s 58).
(5) The authority may declare an entity to be a certifying entity.
(6) A declaration under subsection (5) is a disallowable instrument.
(7) In this section:
certifying entity means an entity declared to be a certifying entity by
the authority under subsection (5).
2.5 Interference with solid fuel-burning equipment or
attached plates
(1) A person must not alter the information on, or remove, a plate
attached to solid fuel-burning equipment that contains information
required to be marked on a plate in accordance with—
(a) AS/NZS 4012, section 8; or
(b) AS/NZS 4013, section 10.
(2) A person must not mark on solid fuel-burning equipment that the
equipment complies with 1 or both of the following standards if the
equipment does not comply with the standard:
(a) AS/NZS 4012 (other than the required overall efficiency for the
equipment);
Part 2.3 Offences relating to fuel-burning equipment
Section 2.5
(b) AS/NZS 4013 (other than the required appliance particulate
emission factor).
(3) A person who sells solid fuel-burning equipment for use on
residential premises, or installs solid fuel-burning equipment on
residential premises, must not alter in a material way—
(a) the structure, exhaust system or inlet air system of the
equipment; or
(b) a part of the equipment that is involved in the combustion
process.
(4) Subsection (3) does not apply to the sale or installation of prescribed
equipment.
(5) A person who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes
subsection (1), (2) or (3) commits an indictable offence.
Summary proceedings for indictable offences Part 2.5
Section 2.14
Part 2.5 Summary proceedings for
indictable offences
2.14 Certain offences may be dealt with summarily
(1) A proceeding for an offence against this schedule must be heard and
decided by the Magistrates Court.
(2) If, in accordance with subsection (1), the Magistrates Court hears and
decides a proceeding for an offence, the court may not impose a fine
exceeding 20 penalty units.
(see pt 14)
item
1 21 (4) refuse to exclude document
or part of document from
being made available to the
public
applicant
2 21A (4) refuse to remove entry
from the register
entity that entry relates to
3 43 (1) notify entity not to
conduct, or continue to
conduct, stated activity
unless person holds
4 43 (4) refuse to revoke notice
under section 43 (1)
person conducting or
5 49 (1) (a),
item 30)
6 49 (1) (a),
item 30) for stated period
Reviewable decisions Schedule 3
item
7 49 (1) (a),
item 30) subject to stated
condition
8 49 (1) (b),
(2) (b), (3) (b)
or (4) (b)
refuse to grant
9 57 (2) decide not to take any
action under this Act
10 58 cancel accredited
11 60 (1) vary environmental
12 60 (1) refuse to vary
authorisation on
application
13 63 (1) suspend environmental
14 63 (1) cancel environmental
cancelled
15 63 (2) suspend environmental
authorisation until stated
condition fulfilled
16 63 (2) refuse to lift suspension of
authorisation on ground
that stated condition not
fulfilled
item
17 69 (1) require entity to prepare
and submit for approval
draft environmental
proposing to conduct
18 71 (1) (d) reject draft environmental
improvement plan and
require plan to be amended
and resubmitted
entity that submitted plan
19 71 (2) (b) reject draft environmental
entity that submitted plan
20 72 (3) refuse to accredit
applicant for accreditation
21 75 (1) refuse to approve person to
conduct particular
environmental audit
person refused approval or
entity that commissions
environmental audit
22 75 (4) remove name of auditor
from list maintained by
authority
auditor whose name is
removed from list
23 76 (1) require entity to
commission environmental
audit and submit report on
audit
24 76 (2) require entity to
commission environmental
audit of contaminated land
25 78 (3) refuse to grant protection
in relation to
environmental audit report
applicant for protection
26 78 (3) grant protection in relation
to environmental audit
report subject to stated
conditions
applicant for protection
Reviewable decisions Schedule 3
item
27 82 (1) require entity to prepare
and submit for approval
draft emergency plan
28 84 (1) (d) reject draft emergency plan
and require plan to be
amended and resubmitted
entity required to submit
plan
29 84 (2) (b) reject draft emergency plan entity required to submit
plan
30 91C (1) make order to conduct
assessment
appropriate person
31 91D (1) make order to remediate appropriate person
32 91D (8) refuse to consent to
transfer or sublet
applicant for consent
33 91G (1) refuse to extend period for
compliance
applicant for extension
34 91G (1) extend for period less than
that applied for
applicant for extension
35 91K require stated person to pay
reasonable costs and
expenses
appropriate person against
whom order made
36 110 (4) decide to dispose of seized
thing
owner or entity that had
possession/custody/control
of thing immediately before
it was seized or entity that
has legal/equitable interest
in thing
37 125 (1) serve environment
protection order
38 125 (1) serve environment
protection order that
impose stated requirements
mentioned in s 125 (5)
item
39 125 (2) or (3) serve environment
protection order
(see s 3)
Note 1 The Legislation Act contains definitions and other provisions relevant to
this Act.
Note 2 For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:
• ACAT
• AS (see s 164 (1))
• Commonwealth
• director-general (see s 163)
• disallowable instrument (see s 9)
• exercise
• found guilty
• function
• indictable offence (see s 190)
• Minister (see s 162)
• national capital plan
• National Electricity (ACT) Law
• notifiable instrument (see s 10)
• penalty unit (see s 133)
• public employee
• public holiday
• public servant
• public trustee and guardian
• reviewable decision notice
• State
• territory law
• territory plan
• territory planning authority.
activity means a current or proposed activity including a process,
operation, project, venture or business.
airgun, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
analyst means an analyst under section 15.
appropriate person means the appropriate person under section 91I.
approved use, for division 9.5 (Assessment and remediation)—see
section 91A.
aquifer, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
area of high conservation value means—
(a) an area identified in the territory plan as—
(i) a wilderness area; or
(ii) a national park; or
(iii) a nature reserve; or
(iv) a cemetery or burial ground; or
(b) a place, other than a structure or group of structures, registered
under the Heritage Act 2004; or
(c) the area identified in the territory plan as the river corridor zone
for the Murrumbidgee River; or
(d) any other prescribed area.
AS/NZS 4012, for schedule 2 (Specific offences)—see schedule 2,
section 2.1.
AS/NZS 4013, for schedule 2 (Specific offences)—see schedule 2,
section 2.1.
assessment order, for part 9 (Environmental protection)—see
section 91J.
auditor, for division 9.2 (Environmental audits)—see section 73.
authorisation fee, for an environment authorisation, means the fee
payable in relation to the authorisation.
authorised activity means an activity in relation to which there is an
authorised concert venue, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring
authorised motor racing venue, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring
authorised officer means an authorised officer under section 14.
authority means the Environment Protection Authority under
section 11.
blank fire firearm, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
authorisation)—see the Firearms Act 1996, dictionary.
bore, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
clinical waste, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
authorisation)—see the Clinical Waste Act 1990, dictionary.
concert, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
concert venue, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
conduct includes acts and omissions.
connected, for part 11 (Powers of authorised officers)—see
section 95.
consultation period, for part 4 (Environment protection policies)—
see section 25 (1).
contaminated, in relation to land—see section 4.
development means the following:
(a) building, altering, repairing or demolishing a building or
structure on land;
(b) disposing of waste materials generated by altering or
demolishing a building or structure on land;
(c) carrying out earthworks or other construction work on or under
land;
(d) carrying out work that would affect the landscape of land.
draft environment protection policy, for part 4 (Environment
protection policies)—see section 23B.
EIS, for part 10 (Functions of the Minister)—see environmental
impact statement.
electronic equipment means equipment that requires an electric
current or electromagnetic field to function.
Examples—electronic equipment
televisions, fridges, computers, mobile phones, drills, remote control cars
electronic waste means waste electronic equipment.
emergency plan means an emergency plan described in section 81.
enforceable undertaking, for part 14A (Enforceable undertakings)—
see section 136E.
enter, for part 11 (Powers of authorised officers)—see section 95.
environment means each of the following:
(a) the components of the earth, including soil, the atmosphere and
water;
(b) any organic or inorganic matter and any living organism;
(c) human made or modified structures and areas;
(d) ecosystems and their constituent parts, including people and
communities;
(e) the qualities and characteristics of places and areas that
contribute to their biological diversity and ecological integrity,
scientific value, and amenity;
(f) the interactions and interdependencies within and between the
things mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e);
(g) the social, aesthetic, cultural and economic conditions that
affect, or are affected by, the things mentioned in paragraphs (a)
to (e).
environmental audit, for division 9.5 (Assessment and
remediation)—see section 91A.
(a) for this Act generally—means an environmental authorisation
under part 8 (Environmental authorisations); and
(b) for part 8—see section 41A.
environmental emergency, for division 9.3 (Emergency plans)—see
section 80.
environmental harm means any impact on the environment as a
result of human activity that has the effect of degrading the
environment (whether temporarily or permanently).
environmental impact statement (or EIS), for part 10 (Functions of
the Minister)—see the Planning Act 2023, section 94 (c).
environmental nuisance means an unreasonable interference with
the enjoyment by the public, a section of the public or a person of a
place or area, if the interference caused or likely to be caused by—
(a) dust, fumes, light, noise, odour or smoke; or
(b) an unhealthy, unsightly or otherwise offensive condition
because of pollution.
environmental protection agreement means an environmental
protection agreement under section 38.
environmental record means the environmental record of a person
both in the ACT and elsewhere, and includes any action taken by the
person for this Act.
environmental standards, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring
environmental undertaking, for part 14A (Enforceable
undertakings)—see section 136F (2).
environment protection order means an environment protection
order under section 125.
environment protection policy—
(a) for this Act generally—means an environment protection policy
under part 4 (Environment protection policies); and
(b) for part 4—see section 23B.
Note A reference to an instrument (including a policy) includes a reference to
the instrument as originally made and as amended (see Legislation Act,
s 102).
financial assurance means a financial assurance under section 85.
firearm, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
fuel-burning equipment, for schedule 2 (Specific offences)—see
schedule 2, section 2.1.
general environmental duty means the duty of care described in
section 22 (1).
ground water, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
hazardous component, of electronic waste, for schedule 1 (Activities
requiring environmental authorisation)—see schedule 1, section 1.1.
information discovery order means an information discovery order
under section 133.
inquiry, for part 10 (Functions of the Minister)—see the Planning
Act 2023, dictionary.
internally reviewable decision, for part 14 (Notification and review
of decisions)—see section 135.
land includes water on or below the surface of land and the bed of
such water.
land sublease—see the Planning Act 2023, dictionary.
live animal weight, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring
logging, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
material environmental harm means environmental harm—
(a) that is significant, including environmental harm that becomes
significant—
(b) that is to an area of high conservation value, other than harm that
is trivial or negligible; or
(c) that results in loss or damage to property to the value of more
than $5 000; or
(d) that results in necessary remedial action costing more than
$5 000.
mobile plant, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
motor racing event, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring
motor vehicle—see the Road Transport (General) Act 1999,
dictionary.
national environment protection measure, for division 9.5
(Assessment and remediation)—see section 91A.
offence, for part 11 (Powers of authorised officers)—see section 95.
paintball marker, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
pest, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
authorisation)—see the Biosecurity Act 2023, section 11.
pollutant means—
(a) a gas, liquid or solid; or
(b) dust, fumes, odour or smoke; or
(c) an organism (whether alive or dead), including a virus and a
prion; or
(d) energy, including heat, noise or radioactivity, or light or other
electromagnetic radiation; or
(e) anything prescribed; or
(f) a combination of 1 or more of the things described in
paragraphs (a) to (e);
that, when discharged, emitted, deposited or disturbed, may cause
pollute includes to cause or fail to prevent the discharge, emission,
depositing, disturbance or escape of a pollutant.
premises, for part 11 (Powers of authorised officers)—see section 95.
preparation requirements, for division 9.3 (Emergency plans)—see
section 80.
prescribed activity means—
(a) a class A activity listed in schedule 1, section 1.2; or
(b) a class B activity listed in schedule 1, section 1.3; or
(c) an activity in relation to which a person has been given a notice
under section 43 (1).
receiving waters, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
register means the register kept under section 21A.
regulated waste, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
authorisation)—see schedule 1, section 1.1A.
remediation, in relation to contaminated land, includes—
(a) preparing a long-term management plan (if any) for the land;
and
(b) removing, dispersing, destroying, reducing, mitigating or
containing the contamination of the land; and
(c) eliminating or reducing any hazard arising from the
contamination of the land (including by preventing the entry of
people or animals on the land).
remediation order, for part 9 (Environmental protection)—see
section 91J.
residential premises—
(a) for part 11 (Powers of authorised officers)—see section 95; and
(b) for schedule 2 (Specific offences)—see schedule 2, section 2.1.
reviewable decision, for part 14 (Notification and review of
decisions)—see section 135.
road transport legislation, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring
environmental authorisation)—see the Road Transport (General)
sell, for schedule 2 (Specific offences)—see schedule 2, section 2.1.
serious environmental harm means environmental harm—
(a) that is very significant, including environmental harm that
becomes very significant—
(b) that is to an area of high conservation value and is significant,
including environmental harm that becomes significant—
(c) that results in loss or damage to property to the value of more
than $50 000; or
(d) that results in necessary remedial action costing more than
$50 000.
solid fuel-burning equipment, for schedule 2 (Specific offences)—
see schedule 2, section 2.1.
stock, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
authorisation)—see the Stock Act 2005, dictionary.
stormwater, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
stormwater system, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring
substance, for division 9.5 (Assessment and remediation)—see
section 91A.
waste, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
waste transfer station means a facility that sorts, consolidates or
temporarily stores solid waste (including municipal waste) for
transfer to another site for disposal, storage, reprocessing, recycling,
use or reuse.
wastewater, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
water, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
waterway, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
working day means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, a public
holiday or a day that is a holiday for public servants.
year, for schedule 1 (Activities requiring environmental
1 About the endnotes
1 About the endnotes
Amending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the
amendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law
but are set out in the endnotes.
Not all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are
annotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be
obtained from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office.
Uncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details
of these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are
underlined in the legislation history and amendment history.
If all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered
provisions gives details of previous and current numbering.
The endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.