58Statutory authorisations and environmental impact

58 Statutory authorisations and environmental impact assessments (1) A statutory decision-maker may consider an application for a statutory authorisation for a referred action or an action under a referred strategic proposal while an environmental impact assessment of the referred action or strategic proposal is being carried out under this Act. (2) A statutory decision-maker must not grant a statutory authorisation for a referred action or an action under a referred strategic proposal until the later of: (a) the determination by the NT EPA as to whether the referred action or strategic proposal requires an environmental impact assessment under this Act; and (b) if an environmental impact assessment is required for the referred action or strategic proposal – the completion of the environmental impact assessment and the environmental approval process for the action or strategic proposal. (3) Nothing in this section prevents a statutory decision-maker from granting a statutory authorisation to carry out any activity required to inform the environmental impact assessment process. Environment Protection Act 2019 43