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Environment Protection Act 2019
Part 5CPower to enter land to comply with
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Part 5C Power to enter land to comply with
specified conditions
124ZZZN Application ................................................................................... 126
124ZZZO Power to enter land ..................................................................... 127
124ZZZP Notice to CEO and Mining Minister.............................................. 128
124ZZZQ Powers on entry........................................................................... 129
124ZZZR Duties on entry ............................................................................ 129
124ZZZS Recovery of costs ........................................................................ 129
124ZZZT Offence to obstruct ...................................................................... 130
124ZZZU Offence to fail to give notice ........................................................ 130
124ZZZV Offence to fail to comply with duty on entry ................................. 131
125 Environmental offsets framework and guidelines ........................ 131
126 Environmental offsets register ..................................................... 132
127 Application of Division ................................................................. 132
128 Purpose of environment protection bond ..................................... 132
129 Amount of bond ........................................................................... 133
130 Environment protection bond account ......................................... 134
131 Claim on bond ............................................................................. 134
132 Unused bond refundable ............................................................. 135
132A Application of Division ................................................................. 135
132B Purpose of mining security .......................................................... 135
132C Amount of mining security ........................................................... 136
132D Mining security account ............................................................... 137
132E Claim on mining security ............................................................. 138
132F Unused mining security refundable ............................................. 138
133 Environment protection levy ........................................................ 139
134 Liability for environment protection levy....................................... 139
135 Amount of levy ............................................................................. 139
136 Minister may establish environment protection funds .................. 140
137 Payments into environment protection funds ............................... 140
138 Expenditure from an environment protection fund ....................... 141
Environment Protection Act 2019 xi
139 Recovery of amounts paid out of fund ......................................... 141
Part 8 Environmental audits, environmental
auditors and environmental practitioners
140 Relationship of this Part to other provisions................................. 142
141 Environmental audit ..................................................................... 142
142 Direction by CEO to carry out environmental audit ...................... 143
143 CEO may appoint qualified person to carry out environmental
audit ............................................................................................. 144
144 Environmental audit and report.................................................... 144
145 Contravention of direction – environmental offence..................... 145
146 Offence relating to conflict of interest .......................................... 145
147 Authorisation of audit despite conflict .......................................... 145
148 Nature of conflict of interest ......................................................... 145
149 Qualified person may direct information to be provided ............... 147
150 Declarations in relation to environmental audit reports ................ 147
151 Contravention of direction to provide relevant information –
environmental offences ............................................................... 147
152 Offence if false or misleading information in audit report or
missing information ...................................................................... 148
153 Retention and production of audit documentation ....................... 148
154 Contravention of direction – environmental offences ................... 149
155 Offence to represent that registered as auditor ........................... 149
156 Registration of environmental auditors ........................................ 150
157 Offence to represent that registered as environmental
practitioner ................................................................................... 150
158 Registration of environmental practitioners ................................. 151
159 Appointment or authorisation of environmental officers ............... 151
160 Identity card ................................................................................. 151
161 Offence not to return identity card ............................................... 152
162 Powers of environmental officers: purposes ................................ 152
163 General powers of environmental officers ................................... 153
Environment Protection Act 2019 xii
164 Entry of residential premises ....................................................... 155
165 Entry on Aboriginal land .............................................................. 156
166 Duties of environmental officer on land or premises .................... 156
167 Duty of environmental officer in relation to seized thing .............. 156
168 Forfeiture of seized thing ............................................................. 157
169 Offence to contravene requirement ............................................. 157
170 Application for and issue of search warrant ................................. 158
171 Effect and term of search warrant................................................ 159
172 Directions by environmental officer.............................................. 159
173 Offence to contravene direction ................................................... 160
174 Offence to obstruct environmental officer .................................... 160
175 Compliance with requirement to provide information ................... 161
176 Environment protection notice – purpose and issue .................... 161
177 Content of environment protection notice .................................... 162
178 Requirements of environment protection notices......................... 163
179 Environment protection notice may permit certain acts or
omissions..................................................................................... 164
180 Effect of environment protection notice on need for statutory
authorisation ................................................................................ 164
181 Notice to prescribed statutory decision-maker of proposed
notice ........................................................................................... 165
182 Emergency environment protection notice issued by CEO .......... 165
182A Further power of CEO to issue emergency environment
protection notice .......................................................................... 167
183 Emergency environment protection notice issued by
environmental officer ................................................................... 168
184 Variation or revocation of environment protection notice ............. 168
185 Copy of environment protection notice may be lodged with
Registrar-General ........................................................................ 168
186 Recorded notice applies to owners and occupiers of land ........... 169
187 Notice to owners and occupiers of land ....................................... 169
188 Notice by owner or occupier to CEO ........................................... 169
189 Offence to contravene notice requirement ................................... 170
190 Cancellation of recording of environment protection notice ......... 170
191 Contravention of environment protection notice –
environmental offences ............................................................... 171
192 Obstruct compliance with notice – environmental offence ........... 172
192A Application ................................................................................... 172
192B Power to enter land ..................................................................... 173
192C Notice to CEO.............................................................................. 174
192D Powers on entry........................................................................... 174
Environment Protection Act 2019 xiii
192E Duties on entry ............................................................................ 175
192F Recovery of costs ........................................................................ 175
192G Offence to obstruct ...................................................................... 176
192H Offence to fail to give notice ........................................................ 176
192J Offence to fail to comply with duty on entry ................................. 176
192K Purpose of Division ...................................................................... 177
192L Definitions .................................................................................... 177
192M Meaning of related person of high risk entity ............................... 178
192N Relevant connection to high risk entity ........................................ 180
Subdivision 2 Redirection to related persons by issue of
compliance notices
192P Purpose of Subdivision ................................................................ 182
192Q Matters to be considered in deciding to issue compliance
notice to related person ............................................................... 182
192R Issue of compliance notice to related person of high risk entity
issued with notice ........................................................................ 183
192S Issue of compliance notice to related person of high risk entity
not issued with notice .................................................................. 184
192T Issue of compliance notice after compliance notice issued to
related person of high risk entity .................................................. 185
192U Issue of compliance notice to previous owner or occupier of
land .............................................................................................. 186
192V Provisions applying to issue of compliance notice ....................... 187
192W Joint and several liability for compliance ..................................... 187
192X Enforcement of compliance by high risk entity not affected ......... 187
Subdivision 3 Corporations legislation displacement and
excluded matter
192Y Declarations under section 5F of the Corporations Act 2001
(Cth) ............................................................................................ 188
192Z Declarations under section 5G of the Corporations Act 2001
(Cth) ............................................................................................ 188
193 Purpose of stop work notice ........................................................ 189
194 NT EPA may issue stop work notice ............................................ 189
195 Requirements of stop work notice ............................................... 190
196 Stop work notice where proponent contravenes call-in notice ..... 190
197 Stop work notice may be issued even if other statutory
authorisation issued..................................................................... 191
Environment Protection Act 2019 xiv
198 Contravention of stop work notice – environmental offences....... 191
199 Monitoring and management notice – environmental approval ... 192
199A Monitoring and management notice – protected environmental
area or prohibited action .............................................................. 192
199AB Monitoring and management notice – environmental (mining)
licence ......................................................................................... 193
199B Monitoring and management notice – form and giving of notice.. 194
200 Contents of monitoring and management notice ......................... 194
201 Effect of monitoring and management notice .............................. 195
202 Copy of monitoring and management notice may be lodged
with Registrar-General ................................................................. 195
203 Recorded notice applies to owners and occupiers of land ........... 196
204 Notice to owners and occupiers of land ....................................... 196
205 Notice by owner or occupier to CEO ........................................... 196
206 Offence to contravene notice requirement ................................... 197
207 Cancellation of recording of monitoring and management
notice ........................................................................................... 197
208 Contravention of monitoring and management notice –
environmental offence ................................................................. 198
209 Obstruct compliance with monitoring and management
notice – environmental offence .................................................... 198
210 Monitoring and management notice not complied with ................ 198
Subdivision 1 Closure certificates – environmental
210A Application of Subdivision ............................................................ 199
211 Criteria for action closure certificate ............................................ 199
212 Application for action closure certificate ...................................... 199
213 Issue of action closure certificate................................................. 200
214 Effect of action closure certificate ................................................ 200
214A Application of Subdivision ............................................................ 200
214B Criteria for mining closure certificate ........................................... 200
214C Application for mining closure certificate ..................................... 201
214D Issue of mining closure certificate................................................ 201
214E Effect of mining closure certificate ............................................... 202
214F Definition specified person........................................................... 203
215 CEO may accept enforceable undertaking .................................. 203
Environment Protection Act 2019 xv
216 Enforcement orders ..................................................................... 203
217 CEO may do specified acts or things........................................... 204
218 Withdrawal or variation of enforceable undertaking ..................... 205
219 Withdrawal of acceptance by CEO of enforceable undertaking ... 206
220 No criminal proceedings while enforceable undertaking is in
force ............................................................................................ 206
221 Proceedings following revocation of enforceable undertaking ..... 206
222 No further proceedings if enforceable undertaking complied
with .............................................................................................. 206
223 Emergency authorisations ........................................................... 207
224 Definitions .................................................................................... 208
225 Duty to notify CEO of notifiable incidents .................................... 209
226 Manner and form of notice ........................................................... 209
227 Notifiable incidents not required to be reported ........................... 209
228 Failure to notify notifiable incident – environmental offences....... 210
228A Offence to interfere with place of notifiable incident .................... 211
229 Incriminating information.............................................................. 211
229A Record of notifiable incidents....................................................... 212
229B Report of notifiable incidents ....................................................... 212
229C Record of recordable incidents .................................................... 212
229D Report of recordable incidents ..................................................... 213
229E Failure to keep required record.................................................... 213
229F Contravention of direction – environmental offence..................... 213
230 Who may bring proceeding .......................................................... 214
231 Prohibitory injunctions ................................................................. 214
232 Mandatory injunctions .................................................................. 214
233 Interim injunctions........................................................................ 214
234 Certain considerations for granting injunctions not relevant ........ 215
235 Discharge of injunctions .............................................................. 215
236 Other orders ................................................................................ 215
Environment Protection Act 2019 xvi
237 Court may vary or revoke order ................................................... 216
238 Security and undertakings ........................................................... 216
239 Orders as to costs ....................................................................... 216
240 Orders as to damages on application of respondent ................... 217
241 Time for commencing proceedings under this Division ............... 217
242 Powers conferred are in addition to other powers of court .......... 218
Division 2 Civil penalty orders, other civil orders and
directions
243 Purpose of Division ...................................................................... 218
244 CEO may give certain directions ................................................. 218
244A Contravention of direction – environmental offence..................... 218
245 Application for civil orders ............................................................ 219
246 CEO to consider certain matters.................................................. 219
247 Notice of proposed application to court ....................................... 219
248 Civil orders................................................................................... 220
249 Court to consider certain matters................................................. 220
250 Civil orders under section 248(1)(b) ............................................ 220
251 CEO may take measures if order not complied with .................... 221
252 Jurisdiction is civil jurisdiction ...................................................... 222
253 Contravention of 2 or more provisions ......................................... 222
254 Proceeding to be stayed if criminal proceedings commenced ..... 222
255 Evidence not admissible in criminal proceedings ........................ 222
256 Orders as to costs ....................................................................... 223
257 Recovery of amounts ordered to be paid to Territory .................. 223
258 Time for bringing proceedings under this Division ....................... 223
259 Civil proceedings not to affect environment protection notices .... 223
Part 11 Offences, penalties and criminal
proceedings
259A Offence to cause environmental harm – environmental
offences ....................................................................................... 223
260 Offence to provide false or misleading information ...................... 225
261 Contravention of court order under section 216 or 236 –
environmental offence ................................................................. 226
262 Continuing offences ..................................................................... 227
263 Liability of occupier ...................................................................... 228
264 Liability of owner .......................................................................... 228
264A Liability of title holder or mining operator of mining site ............... 229
265 Criminal liability of executive officer of body corporate ................ 229
266 Liability of partners and unincorporated associations .................. 231
267 Liability for employees and agents .............................................. 231
Environment Protection Act 2019 xvii
268 Court may order reimbursement of investigation costs................ 232
269 Alternative verdicts ...................................................................... 232
270 Principles to be applied in imposing penalty for specified
environmental offences ............................................................... 235
271 Additional court orders where specified environmental offence
proved ......................................................................................... 235
272 CEO may take measures if order not complied with .................... 236
273 Who can commence proceedings ............................................... 237
274 Time for commencing prosecution............................................... 237
274A Notice of defence must be given ................................................. 237
274B Statements of fact........................................................................ 237
274C Reports of analysis ...................................................................... 239
275 Enforcement agency for Fines and Penalties (Recovery)
Act 2001 ...................................................................................... 240
276 Standing for judicial review .......................................................... 240
277 Review by NTCAT ....................................................................... 241
Division 1 Delegation
278 Delegation by Minister ................................................................. 241
279 Delegation by CEO ...................................................................... 241
280 Service......................................................................................... 241
280A Protection from liability ................................................................ 242
281 Confidential information ............................................................... 243
282 Decision of Minister or NT EPA ................................................... 244
283 Effect of decision ......................................................................... 245
Environment Protection Act 2019 xviii
Division 3A Independent preparation or review of
information
283A Application of Division ................................................................. 245
283B Independent review of information............................................... 245
283C Offence relating to conflict of interest .......................................... 245
283D Authorisation of conduct despite conflict ..................................... 246
283E Nature of conflict of interest ......................................................... 246
283F Qualified person may direct information to be provided ............... 247
283G Declarations in relation to information prepared or reviewed by
qualified person ........................................................................... 247
283H Contravention of direction to provide relevant information –
environmental offences ............................................................... 248
283J Offence if false or misleading information in report or missing
information ................................................................................... 249
284 Public register .............................................................................. 249
Division 4A Failure by decision-maker to meet specified
time or publish decision or statement of
reasons
284A Failure of decision-maker to make decision or do thing within
specified time............................................................................... 250
284B Failure to publish decision or statement of reasons..................... 250
285 Direction notice ............................................................................ 250
286 Methodologies ............................................................................. 251
287 Proponent or approval holder to provide information ................... 251
288 Proponent or approval holder may seek exemption .................... 252
289 Publication of information ............................................................ 252
Division 6 Report by CEO
290 CEO to report on enforcement and compliance........................... 252
291 Guidance documents................................................................... 252
292 Approved forms ........................................................................... 253
Division 7A Analysts
292A Meaning of analyst ...................................................................... 253
Environment Protection Act 2019 xix
293 Regulations.................................................................................. 253
Division 1 Acts repealed
294 Acts repealed............................................................................... 254
295 Definitions .................................................................................... 254
296 Saving of existing assessments commenced but not
completed .................................................................................... 255
297 Termination of assessment under former Act .............................. 256
298 Environmental audit ..................................................................... 256
299 Assessment report....................................................................... 256
300 Assessment report completed under former Act before
commencement ........................................................................... 257
300A Assessment report completed under former Act and action
commenced before commencement ........................................... 257
301 Assessment report completed under former Act after
commencement ........................................................................... 257
301A Assessment report completed under former Act before, and
action commenced after, commencement ................................... 258
302 Process for environmental approval ............................................ 258
Part 15 Transitional matters for Environment
Protection Legislation Amendment
Act 2023
303 Definitions .................................................................................... 259
304 Existing mining authorisation and existing mining management
plan taken to be environmental (mining) licence.......................... 260
305 Duration of deemed mining licence ............................................. 260
306 Prohibition of variation of deemed mining licence........................ 260
307 Prohibition of transfer of deemed mining licence ......................... 261
308 Pending applications for Authorisation ........................................ 261
309 Existing security........................................................................... 262
310 Publication of deemed mining licences........................................ 262
311 Cancellation of deemed mining licence ....................................... 263
Environment Protection Act 2019 xx
312 Replacement of deemed mining licence ...................................... 264
313 Grant of replacement environmental (mining) licence ................. 264
314 Amendment of conditions for replacement environmental
(mining) licence ........................................................................... 265
Division 3 Waste Management and Pollution Control
Act 1998
315 Compliance plans approved before commencement................... 266
316 Performance agreements ............................................................ 266
317 Pollution abatement notice .......................................................... 267
318 Written notice by Controller of Water Resources in relation to
environmental matter ................................................................... 267
319 Saving of existing waste discharge licences under section 74 .... 268
Schedule Reviewable decisions and affected
persons
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As in force at 10 February 2026
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ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT 2019
An Act to provide for the protection of the environment and for related
purposes