42.Environmental management plans in force before commencement day38
43.Environmental management plans submitted before commencement day40
44.Pipeline activities for which no environmental management plan in force before commencement day40
Notes
Compilation table42
Other notes42
Defined terms
Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Pipelines Act 1969
Part 1 — Preliminary
1.Citation
These regulations are the Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Pipelines (Environment) Regulations 2012.
[Regulation 1 amended: SL 2026/82 r. 75.]
2.Commencement
These regulations come into operation as follows —
(a)regulations 1 and 2 — on the day on which these regulations are published in the Gazette;
(b)the rest of the regulations — on the day after that day.
3.Object of regulations
The object of these regulations is to ensure that any pipeline activity is —
(a)carried out in a manner consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development; and
(b)carried out in accordance with an environment plan that —
(i)demonstrates that the environmental impacts and environmental risks of the pipeline activity will be reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable; and
(ii)has appropriate environmental performance objectives and environmental performance standards; and
(iii)has appropriate measurement criteria for determining whether those objectives and standards have been met.
4.Terms used
In these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears —
approved, in relation to an environment plan, means approved by the Minister under regulation 11;
environment means —
(a)ecosystems and their constituent parts, including people and communities; and
(b)natural and physical resources; and
(c)the qualities and characteristics of locations, places and areas; and
(d)the heritage value of places,
and includes the social, economic and cultural features of the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d);
environment plan, in relation to a pipeline activity, means an environment plan submitted by the operator of the pipeline activity that is approved and revised from time to time under these regulations, but does not include —
(a)if the environment plan is approved in part — that part of the plan that is not approved; or
(b)an environment plan for which the approval has been withdrawn;
environmental impact means any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, that wholly or partly results from a pipeline activity of an operator;
environmental performance means the performance of an operator in relation to the environmental performance objectives and environmental performance standards provided for in an environment plan;
environmental performance objective means an environmental performance objective included in an environment plan under regulation 14(5)(a);
environmental performance standard means an environmental performance standard included in an environment plan under regulation 14(5)(b);
environmental risk means the chance of something happening that will have an adverse environmental impact, measured in terms of the environmental consequences and the likelihood of those particular consequences occurring;
instrument holder, for a pipeline activity, means the registered holder of a pipeline instrument for the pipeline activity and includes a licensee;
nominated address, for an operator, means the address of the operator of which notice has been given under regulation 37(5)(a);
operator, of a pipeline activity, means —
(a)if there is a person recorded by the Minister as the operator of the pipeline activity under regulation 40 — that person; or
(b)in any other case —
(i)if there is a pipeline instrument for the pipeline activity — the person responsible to the instrument holder for the overall management and operation of the pipeline activity (whether or not the pipeline activity has commenced); or
(ii)if there is no pipeline instrument for the pipeline activity — the person carrying out the pipeline activity;
pipeline activity means —
(a)any operations or works carried out under a pipeline instrument; or
(b)any other operations or works carried out in relation to a pipeline which may have an environmental impact,
and includes —
(c)construction and installation of a pipeline; and
(d)operation of a pipeline; and
(e)modification of a pipeline; and
(f)decommissioning, dismantling or removing a pipeline; and
(g)storage, processing or transport of petroleum using a pipeline; and
(h)conveyance of a greenhouse gas substance by pipeline; and
(i)care and maintenance of land, waters and infrastructure in relation to a pipeline; and
(j)rehabilitation of land or waters in relation to a pipeline;
pipeline instrument means —
(a)a licence; or
(b)any other authority or consent granted by instrument under the Act for the carrying out of operations or works relating to a pipeline;
recordable incident, for an operator of a pipeline activity, means an incident arising from the pipeline activity that —
(a)breaches an environmental performance objective or environmental performance standard in the environment plan for the pipeline activity; and
(b)is not a reportable incident;
reportable incident, for an operator of a pipeline activity, means —
(a)an incident that is classified as a reportable incident under the environment plan for the pipeline activity; or
(b)an incident arising from the pipeline activity if —
(i)the incident has caused, or has the potential to cause, an adverse environmental impact; and
(ii)under the environmental risk assessment process described in the environment plan for the pipeline activity, that environmental impact is categorised as moderate or more serious than moderate;
revise, for an environment plan, includes to extend or modify.
[Regulation 4 amended: SL 2026/82 r. 76.]
5.References to pipeline activity
A reference in these regulations to a pipeline activity includes, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to —
(a)a proposed pipeline activity; and
(b)any stage of a pipeline activity.
Part 2 — Environment plans
Division 1 — Requirement for environment plan
6.Approved environment plan required for pipeline activity
The operator of a pipeline activity commits an offence if —
(a)the operator carries out the pipeline activity; and
(b)there is no environment plan for the pipeline activity.
7.Pipeline activity must comply with approved environment plan
(1)The operator of a pipeline activity commits an offence if the operator carries out the pipeline activity in a way that is contrary to —
(a)the environment plan for the pipeline activity; or
(b)any limitation or condition applying to the pipeline activity under regulation 11(4)(b).
(2)Subregulation (1) does not apply to the operator if the operator has the written consent of the Minister to carry out the pipeline activity in that way.
(3)The Minister must not give a consent under subregulation (2) unless there are reasonable grounds for believing that the way in which the pipeline activity is to be carried out will not result in —
(a)the occurrence of any significant new environmental impact or environmental risk; or
(b)the occurrence of a significant increase in any existing environmental impact or environmental risk.
8.Pipeline activity must not continue if new or increased environmental impact or environmental risk identified
(1)The operator of a pipeline activity commits an offence if —
(a)the operator carries out the pipeline activity after the occurrence of —
(i)any significant new environmental impact or environmental risk arising from the pipeline activity; or
(ii)a significant increase in any existing environmental impact or environmental risk arising from the pipeline activity;
and
(b)the new impact or risk, or increase in the impact or risk, is not provided for in the environment plan for the pipeline activity.
(2)Subregulation (1) does not apply to the operator if —
(a)the operator has submitted a proposed revision of the environment plan in accordance with regulation 18; and
(b)the Minister has not refused to approve the revision.
Division 2 — Approval of environment plan
9.Submission of environment plan
(1)Before commencing a pipeline activity, the operator of the pipeline activity must submit an environment plan for the pipeline activity to the Minister.
(2)An environment plan may be submitted for one or more stages of the pipeline activity if the operator and the Minister so agree.
(3)An environment plan —
(a)must be in writing in a form approved by the Minister; and
(b)if the Minister approves — may relate to a specified activity in one or more identified locations specified in the plan.
10.Time limit for approving or not approving environment plan
(1)Within 30 days after an operator submits an environment plan, the Minister must —
(a)approve the plan under regulation 11; or
(b)refuse to approve the plan; or
(c)give written notice to the operator stating that the Minister is unable to make a decision about the plan within the period of 30 days, and setting out a proposed timetable for consideration of the plan.
(2)A decision by the Minister to approve, or refuse to approve, an environment plan is not invalid only because the Minister did not comply with subregulation (1) in relation to the plan.
(3)This regulation applies to an environment plan resubmitted in accordance with regulation 11(2) in the same way that it applies to the plan when first submitted.
11.Approval of environment plan
(1)The Minister must approve the environment plan if the Minister is reasonably satisfied that the plan —
(a)is appropriate for the nature and scale of the pipeline activity; and
(b)demonstrates that the environmental impacts and environmental risks of the pipeline activity will continuously be reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable; and
(c)demonstrates that the environmental impacts and environmental risks of the pipeline activity will be of an acceptable level; and
(d)provides for appropriate environmental performance objectives, environmental performance standards and measurement criteria; and
(e)includes an appropriate implementation strategy and monitoring, recording and reporting arrangements; and
(f)for the requirement mentioned in regulation 17(1)(b) — demonstrates that there has been an appropriate level of consultation with relevant authorities and interested persons and organisations; and
(g)complies with Division 3.
(2)If the Minister is not reasonably satisfied that the environment plan when first submitted meets the criteria set out in subregulation (1), the Minister must give the operator a reasonable opportunity to modify and resubmit the plan.
(3)If, after the operator has had a reasonable opportunity to modify and resubmit the environment plan, the Minister is still not reasonably satisfied that the plan meets the criteria set out in subregulation (1), the Minister must refuse to approve the plan.
(4)Despite subregulations (2) and (3), the Minister may do one or more of the following —
(a)approve the plan in part for a particular stage of the pipeline activity;
(b)approve the plan subject to the imposition of limitations or conditions applying to the pipeline activity;
(c)if the environment plan does not include an oil spill contingency plan as required by regulation 15(8) — approve the plan subject to a condition that the operator must not commence the pipeline activity before an oil spill contingency plan is approved for the pipeline activity.
(5)The Minister must give the operator written notice of a decision by the Minister —
(a)to approve the plan; or
(b)not to approve the plan; or
(c)to do either or both of the following —
(i)approve the plan in part for a particular stage of the pipeline activity;
(ii)approve the plan subject to the imposition of limitations or conditions applying to the pipeline activity.
(6)A notice under subregulation (5)(b) or (c) must set out —
(a)the terms of the decision and the reasons for it; and
(b)if limitations or conditions are to apply to the pipeline activity — those limitations or conditions.
(7)Within 10 days after receiving a notification that the Minister has approved an environment plan under subregulation (5)(a), the operator must submit to the Minister for public disclosure a summary of the plan.
(8)A summary submitted under subregulation (7) must include the following —
(a)the contact details of the operator of the pipeline activity or the operator’s agent;
(b)the location or locations of the pipeline activity;
(c)a general description of the existing environment that may be affected by the pipeline activity;
(d)a summary of —
(i)the details of the construction and layout of any pipeline; and
(ii)the operational details of the pipeline activity and proposed timetables; and
(iii)the environmental impacts and environmental risks of the pipeline activity; and
(iv)the implementation strategy included in the environment plan; and
(v)the consultation that has been undertaken during the development of the environment plan and that is to be undertaken in accordance with the implementation strategy.
(9)If the Minister is not reasonably satisfied that a summary submitted under subregulation (7) meets the criteria set out in subregulation (8), the Minister may give the operator written notice that the operator must modify and resubmit the summary within 10 days after receiving the notice.
(10)Within 10 days after receiving a notice under subregulation (9) in relation to a summary of an environment plan, the operator must modify and resubmit the summary.
Penalty for an offence under subregulation (10): a fine of $5 500.
12.Approval of oil spill contingency plan submitted in accordance with condition imposed by Minister
(1)This regulation applies if —
(a)the Minister approves an environment plan that does not include an oil spill contingency plan; and
(b)the approval is subject to a condition imposed under regulation 11(4)(c); and
(c)the operator submits an oil spill contingency plan to the Minister in accordance with the condition.
(2)The Minister must approve the oil spill contingency plan if the Minister is satisfied that the plan —
(a)complies with regulation 15(8); and
(b)is appropriate for the nature and scale of the pipeline activity.
(3)If the Minister is not reasonably satisfied that the oil spill contingency plan when first submitted meets the criteria set out in subregulation (2), the Minister must give the operator a reasonable opportunity to modify and resubmit the plan.
(4)If, after the operator has had a reasonable opportunity to modify and resubmit the oil spill contingency plan, the Minister is still not reasonably satisfied that the plan meets the criteria set out in subregulation (2), the Minister must refuse to approve the plan.
(5)The Minister must give the operator written notice of a decision by the Minister —
(a)to approve the oil spill contingency plan; or
(b)not to approve the oil spill contingency plan.
(6)A notice under subregulation (5) must set out the terms of the decision and the reasons for it.
(7)If the Minister approves an oil spill contingency plan for a pipeline activity under this regulation, the environment plan for the pipeline activity is taken to be revised to include the oil spill contingency plan.
(8)To avoid doubt, a revision of an environment plan under this regulation does not affect any other requirement to revise the environment plan under regulation 18, 19 or 20.
Division 3 — Contents of environment plan
13.Contents of environment plan
An environment plan for a pipeline activity must include the matters set out in regulations 14, 15, 16 and 17.
14.Environmental assessment
(1)The environment plan must include a comprehensive description of the pipeline activity including the following —
(a)the location or locations of the pipeline activity;
(b)details of the construction and layout of any pipeline;
(c)a description of the operational details of the pipeline activity and proposed timetables;
(d)any additional information relevant to consideration of the environmental impacts and environmental risks of the pipeline activity.
(2)The environment plan must —
(a)describe the existing environment that may be affected by the pipeline activity; and
(b)include details of the particular relevant values and sensitivities (if any) of that environment.
(3)The environment plan must include —
(a)details of all environmental impacts and environmental risks of the pipeline activity; and
(b)an evaluation of those impacts and risks; and
(c)a description of the environmental risk assessment process used to evaluate those impacts and risks, including the terms used in that process to categorise the levels of seriousness of those impacts and risks.
(4)For the avoidance of doubt, the evaluation mentioned in subregulation (3)(b) must evaluate all the environmental impacts and environmental risks arising directly or indirectly from —
(a)all aspects of the pipeline activity; and
(b)potential emergency conditions, whether resulting from accident or any other cause.
(5)The environment plan must include —
(a)environmental performance objectives that define the goals of the operator in relation to the —
(i)processes, policies and practices to be followed; and
(ii)equipment to be used; and
(iii)actions to be taken,
for the purposes of minimising the environmental impacts and environmental risks of the pipeline activity; and
(b)environmental performance standards —
(i)that state the performance required of persons, equipment and procedures for the purposes of managing the environmental impacts and environmental risks of the pipeline activity; and
(ii)against which the performance of the operator in meeting the environmental performance objectives in the environment plan can be measured;
and
(c)measurement criteria for the purposes of determining whether —
(i)the environmental performance objectives and environmental performance standards in the environment plan have been met; and
(ii)the implementation strategy in the environment plan has been complied with.
(6)The environment plan must describe the requirements that —
(a)apply to the pipeline activity under legislation (including conditions imposed under legislation), international conventions or agreements, or applicable codes of practice; and
(b)are relevant to the environmental management of the pipeline activity.
15.Implementation strategy for environment plan
(1)The environment plan must include an implementation strategy for the pipeline activity in accordance with this regulation.
(2)The implementation strategy must include measures to ensure that the environmental performance objectives and environmental performance standards in the environment plan are met.
(3)The implementation strategy must identify the specific systems, practices and procedures to be used to ensure that —
(a)the environmental impacts and environmental risks of the pipeline activity are continuously reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable; and
(b)the environmental performance objectives and environmental performance standards in the environment plan are met.
(4)The implementation strategy must establish a clear chain of command, setting out the roles and responsibilities of personnel in relation to the implementation, management and review of the environment plan.
(5)The implementation strategy must include measures to ensure that each employee or contractor working on, or in connection with, the pipeline activity is aware of his or her responsibilities in relation to the environment plan and has the appropriate competencies and training.
(6)The implementation strategy must provide for the monitoring of, audit of, management of non‑compliance with, and review of, the operator’s environmental performance and the implementation strategy.
(7)The implementation strategy must provide for —
(a)specified emissions and discharges (whether occurring during normal operations or otherwise) to the environment to be monitored and recorded in a way that —
(i)is accurate; and
(ii)can be audited against the environmental performance standards and measurement criteria in the environment plan;
and
(b)the monitoring mentioned in paragraph (a) to be done either continuously or at specified intervals; and
(c)tests to assess the performance of the monitoring equipment used for the purposes of paragraph (a) to be conducted at specified intervals.
(8)The implementation strategy must include an oil spill contingency plan that —
(a)sets out details of the following —
(i)preparations to be made for the possibility of an oil spill;
(ii)emergency response arrangements to be implemented if an oil spill occurs;
(iii)recovery arrangements to be implemented if an oil spill occurs;
(iv)current oil spill trajectory modelling that applies to the pipeline activity;
and
(b)requires the operator to conduct tests of the emergency response arrangements set out in the oil spill contingency plan at specified intervals; and
(c)describes the tests mentioned in paragraph (b).
(9)The implementation strategy must provide for appropriate consultation with relevant authorities and other relevant interested persons or organisations.
16.Monitoring, recording and reporting arrangements
The environment plan must include arrangements for —
(a)monitoring, and recording information about, the pipeline activity that are sufficient to enable the Minister to determine whether —
(i)the environmental performance objectives and environmental performance standards in the environment plan have been met; and
(ii)the implementation strategy in the environment plan has been complied with;
and
(b)reporting to the Minister on the information recorded under paragraph (a) at intervals agreed with the Minister, but not less often than annually.
17.Other information in environment plan
(1)The environment plan must include the following —
(a)a statement of the operator’s corporate environmental policy;
(b)a report on all consultations between the operator and relevant authorities and other relevant interested persons and organisations in the course of developing the environment plan;
(c)a list of all incidents that are classified as reportable incidents in relation to the pipeline activity.
(2)The environment plan must classify an incident as a reportable incident if —
(a)it could arise from the pipeline activity; and
(b)it has the potential to cause an environmental impact that is classified, under the environmental risk assessment process described in the environment plan, as moderate or more serious than moderate.
Division 4 — Revision of environment plan
18.Revision because of a change, or proposed change, of circumstances or pipeline activity
(1)The operator of a pipeline activity must submit to the Minister a proposed revision of the environment plan for the pipeline activity before the commencement of —
(a)any new pipeline activity; or
(b)any significant modification of, significant change in, or significant new stage of, an existing pipeline activity,
that is not provided for in the environment plan.
Penalty for this subregulation: a fine of $10 000.
(2)The operator of a pipeline activity must submit to the Minister a proposed revision of the environment plan for the pipeline activity before or as soon as practicable after —
(a)a change in the instrument holder for, or operator of, the pipeline activity; or
(b)the occurrence of —
(i)any significant new environmental impact or environmental risk; or
(ii)any significant increase in an existing environmental impact or environmental risk,
that is not provided for in the environment plan for the pipeline activity; or
(c)the occurrence of a series of new environmental impacts or environmental risks, or a series of increases in existing environmental impacts or environmental risks, which, taken together, amount to the occurrence of —
(i)a significant new environmental impact or environmental risk; or
(ii)a significant increase in an existing environmental impact or environmental risk,
that is not provided for in the environment plan for the pipeline activity.
Penalty for this subregulation: a fine of $10 000.
[Regulation 18 amended: SL 2026/82 r. 77.]
19.Revision required by Minister
(1)The Minister, by written notice given to the operator of a pipeline activity, may require the operator to submit a proposed revision of the environment plan for the pipeline activity.
(2)A notice under subregulation (1) must set out the following —
(a)the matters to be addressed by the revision;
(b)the date by which the revision must be submitted, which must be at least 21 days after the day on which the notice is given;
(c)the proposed date of effect of the revision;
(d)the grounds for the notice.
(3)Within 21 days after being given a notice under subregulation (1), the operator may make a submission in writing to the Minister stating the operator’s reasons for one or more of the following matters —
(a)why the revision should not be made;
(b)why the revision should be in different terms from the proposed terms;
(c)whether or not the operator gives other reasons — why the revision should be submitted or take effect on a date later than the proposed date.
(4)If a submission is made under subregulation (3), the Minister must consider the matters stated in the submission and decide —
(a)to withdraw the notice; or
(b)to vary the notice; or
(c)that the notice as originally given should stand.
(5)The Minister must give the operator written notice of the Minister’s decision under subregulation (4).
(6)The notice must set out the terms of the decision and the reasons for it.
(7)If —
(a)the Minister gives an operator a notice under subregulation (1); and
(b)the operator does not make a submission under subregulation (3),
the operator must comply with the notice.
(8)If —
(a)the Minister gives an operator a notice under subregulation (1); and
(b)the operator makes a submission under subregulation (3); and
(c)the Minister decides under subregulation (4) to vary the notice or that the notice as originally given should stand; and
(d)the Minister gives the operator written notice of the Minister’s decision,
the operator must comply with the notice, or the notice as varied, as the case requires.
20.Revision every 5 years
(1)The operator of a pipeline activity must submit to the Minister a proposed revision of the environment plan for the pipeline activity at least 14 days before the end of each period of 5 years, commencing on the latest of the following —
(a)the day on which the environment plan is first approved under regulation 11 by the Minister;
(b)the day on which a proposed revision of the environment plan submitted under this regulation is approved under regulation 11 by the Minister;
(c)for a revision of an environment plan submitted under regulation 18 or 19 — the day (if any) notified by the Minister under subregulation (2).
(2)For subregulation (1)(c), the Minister may notify the operator that the effect of a revision of an environment plan submitted under regulation 18 or 19 is that the period of 5 years mentioned in subregulation (1) starts on the day specified in the notification.
21.Form of proposed revision
A proposed revision of an environment plan under regulation 18, 19 or 20 must be in the form of a revised environment plan or, if the operator and the Minister so agree, a revised part of the environment plan.
22.Approval of revised environment plan
Regulations 10 and 11 apply to the proposed revision as if —
(a)a reference in those regulations to the submission, approval or non‑approval of the environment plan were a reference to the submission, approval or non‑approval of the proposed revision; and
(b)any other reference in those regulations to the environment plan were a reference to the plan as revised by the proposed revision.
23.Additional requirement for revision of oil spill contingency plan
(1)The operator of a pipeline activity must submit to the Minister a proposed revision of the oil spill contingency plan included in the environment plan for the pipeline activity at least 14 days before the end of the period of 2 years and 6 months commencing on the latest of the following —
(a)the day on which the environment plan is first approved under regulation 11 by the Minister;
(b)the day on which a proposed revision of the environment plan submitted under regulation 20 is approved under regulation 11 by the Minister;
(c)for a revision of an environment plan submitted under regulation 18 or 19 — the day (if any) notified by the Minister under regulation 20(2).
(2)The proposed revision of the oil spill contingency plan must be in the form of a revised oil spill contingency plan, or, if the operator and the Minister so agree, a revised part of the oil spill contingency plan.
(3)The Minister must approve the proposed revision of the oil spill contingency plan if the Minister is satisfied that the proposed revision —
(a)complies with regulation 15(8); and
(b)is appropriate for the nature and scale of the pipeline activity.
(4)If the Minister is not reasonably satisfied that the proposed revision of the oil spill contingency plan when first submitted meets the criteria set out in subregulation (3), the Minister must give the operator a reasonable opportunity to modify and resubmit the proposed revision.
(5)If, after the operator has had a reasonable opportunity to modify and resubmit the proposed revision, the Minister is still not reasonably satisfied that the proposed revision meets the criteria set out in subregulation (3), the Minister must refuse to approve the proposed revision.
(6)The Minister must give the operator written notice of a decision by the Minister —
(a)to approve the proposed revision; or
(b)not to approve the proposed revision.
(7)A notice under subregulation (6) must set out the terms of the decision and the reasons for it.
(8)If the Minister approves a proposed revision of an oil spill contingency plan included in an environment plan, the environment plan is taken to be revised in accordance with the proposed revision.
(9)To avoid doubt, a revision under this regulation of an oil spill contingency plan included in an environment plan does not affect any other requirement to revise the environment plan under regulation 18, 19 or 20.
24.Effect of non‑approval of proposed revision
If the Minister refuses to approve a proposed revision of an environment plan, or of an oil spill contingency plan included in an environment plan, the provisions of the environment plan in force for the pipeline activity immediately before the proposed revision was submitted remain in force, subject to these regulations (in particular, the provisions of Division 5), as if the revision had not been proposed.
Division 5 — Withdrawal of approval of environment plan
25.Withdrawal of approval of environment plan
(1)The Minister, by written notice given to the operator of a pipeline activity, may withdraw the approval of the environment plan for the pipeline activity on any of the following grounds —
(a)that the operator or instrument holder for the pipeline activity has not complied with a direction given by the Minister under section 41 of the Act;
(b)that the operator has not complied with regulation 7, 8, 18, 19, 20 or 23;
(c)that the operator has not complied with a condition imposed under regulation 11(4)(c);
(d)that the Minister has refused to approve a proposed revision of —
(i)the environment plan; or
(ii)the oil spill contingency plan included in the environment plan.
(2)A notice under subregulation (1) must set out the reasons for the decision.
26.Steps to be taken before withdrawal of approval
(1)Before withdrawing the approval of an environment plan for a pipeline activity the Minister must comply with subregulations (2), (5) and (6).
(2)The Minister must give the operator at least 30 days’ written notice of the Minister’s intention to withdraw approval of the plan.
(3)The notice must set out the ground for withdrawal of the approval.
(4)The Minister may give a copy of the notice to such other persons (if any) as the Minister thinks fit.
(5)The Minister must specify in the notice a day (the specified day) on or before which the operator (or any person to whom a copy of the notice has been given) may submit to the Minister, in writing, any matters for the Minister to take into account.
(6)The Minister must take into account —
(a)any action taken by the operator or instrument holder for the pipeline activity to remove the ground for withdrawal of approval or to prevent the recurrence of that ground; and
(b)any matter submitted to the Minister before the specified day by the operator or a person to whom a copy of the notice has been given.
27.Withdrawal of approval not affected by other provisions
(1)The Minister may withdraw the approval of an environment plan for a pipeline activity on the ground that the operator or instrument holder for the pipeline activity has not complied with —
(a)a direction given by the Minister under section 41 of the Act; or
(b)regulation 7, 8, 18, 19 or 20,
even though the operator or instrument holder has been convicted of an offence because of the failure to comply with that direction or provision, as the case requires.
(2)The operator or instrument holder for a pipeline activity for which the approval of an environment plan has been withdrawn by the Minister on the ground that the operator or instrument holder has not complied with —
(a)a direction given by the Minister under section 41 of the Act; or
(b)regulation 7, 8, 18, 19 or 20,
may be convicted of an offence because of the failure to comply with that direction or provision, as the case requires, even though the approval of the environment plan has been withdrawn.
Part 3 — Incidents, reports and records
28.Notifying reportable incidents
(1)The operator of a pipeline activity must notify a reportable incident in accordance with this regulation.
(3)The notification —
(a)must be given to the Minister as soon as practicable, and in any case within 2 hours after —
(i)the first occurrence of the reportable incident; or
(ii)if the reportable incident is not detected by the operator at the time of the first occurrence — the time the operator becomes aware of the reportable incident;
and
(b)may be oral or in writing; and
(c)must specify —
(i)all material facts and circumstances concerning the reportable incident that the operator knows or is able, by reasonable search or inquiry, to find out; and
(ii)any action taken to avoid or mitigate any adverse environmental impacts of the reportable incident.
29.Written report of reportable incidents
(1)The operator of a pipeline activity must submit a written report of a reportable incident in accordance with this regulation.
(3)The report —
(a)must be submitted to the Minister as soon as practicable, and in any case —
(i)within 3 days after the first occurrence of the reportable incident; or
(ii)if the Minister specifies, within 3 days after the first occurrence of the reportable incident, another period within which the report must be submitted — within that period;
and
(b)must specify —
(i)all material facts and circumstances concerning the reportable incident that the operator knows or is able, by reasonable search or inquiry, to find out; and
(ii)any action taken to avoid or mitigate any adverse environmental impacts of the reportable incident; and
(iii)any action taken, or proposed to be taken, to prevent a similar reportable incident.
30.Written report of recordable incidents
(1)The operator of a pipeline activity must, for each month, submit a written report of recordable incidents in accordance with this regulation.
(3)The report must be submitted to the Minister as soon as practicable, and in any case within 15 days, after the end of the month to which it relates.
(4)If one or more recordable incidents occurred during the month, the report —
(a)must include a record of each of those recordable incidents; and
(b)must specify —
(i)all material facts and circumstances concerning those recordable incidents that the operator knows or is able, by reasonable search or inquiry, to find out; and
(ii)any action taken to avoid or mitigate any adverse environmental impacts of those recordable incidents; and
(iii)any action taken, or proposed to be taken, to prevent similar recordable incidents.
(5)If no recordable incidents occurred during the month, the report under subregulation (1) must include a statement to that effect.
31.Storage of records
(1)The operator of a pipeline activity must store and maintain each document or record mentioned in subregulation (2) —
(a)for the period of 5 years from the making of the document or record; and
(b)in a way that makes retrieval of the document or record reasonably practicable.
Penalty: a fine of $4 000.
(2)For subregulation (1), the documents and records are the following —
(a)the environment plan for the pipeline activity;
(b)revisions and proposed revisions of the environment plan (including revisions and proposed revisions of the oil spill contingency plan included in the environment plan);
(c)written reports (including monitoring, audit and review reports) about environmental performance, or about the implementation strategy, under the environment plan;
(d)records of monitoring and test results made under regulation 33;
(e)records of calibration and maintenance of monitoring devices used in accordance with the environment plan;
(f)records and copies of —
(i)notifications mentioned in regulation 28; and
(ii)reports mentioned in regulation 29; and
(iii)reports mentioned in regulation 30.
32.Making records available
(1)In this regulation —
records means the documents and records mentioned in regulation 31(2).
(2)The operator of a pipeline activity must make available, in accordance with this regulation, copies of the records for the pipeline activity.
Penalty: a fine of $4 000.
(3)The operator must make copies of the records available to —
(a)the Minister, on request in writing by the Minister; and
(b)an inspector, on request in writing by the inspector.
(4)If the person making a request under subregulation (3) states that copies of the records must be made available to an agent of the person, the operator must make the copies available to the agent.
(5)However, if —
(a)a request is made under subregulation (3)(a) by a delegate of the Minister and the operator requests written evidence of the delegation; or
(b)a request is made under subregulation (3)(b) and the operator requests the inspector to produce written evidence of the inspector’s appointment; or
(c)a person making a request under subregulation (3) states that copies of the records must be made available to an agent of the person and the operator requests the agent to produce written evidence of the appointment of the agent,
the operator is not required to make the copies of the records available unless the evidence is produced to the operator.
(6)The copies of the records must be made available —
(a)in the case of an emergency relating to the pipeline activity — as soon as possible (whether or not that is during the emergency); or
(b)in any other case — during normal business hours on any day (other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday).
(7)The copies of the records must be made available at the operator’s nominated address or, if agreed between the operator and the Minister, at any other place (including by means of electronic transmission to a person at that place).
(8)If the records are stored on a computer, the records must be made available in paper form or, if agreed between the operator and the Minister, in electronic form.
Part 4 — Environmental requirements
33.Monitoring and reporting on emissions and discharges
(1)In this regulation —
reporting period, in relation to a pipeline activity, means —
(a)the period of 3 months commencing when the environment plan for the pipeline activity is approved; and
(b)each subsequent period of 3 months.
(2)The operator of a pipeline activity must, in accordance with subregulation (3), monitor all emissions and discharges to the environment that —
(a)occur in the course of the pipeline activity (whether during normal operations or otherwise); and
(b)are specified in the environment plan for the pipeline activity in accordance with regulation 15(7)(a).
(3)The monitoring mentioned in subregulation (2) must be done either continuously, or at specified intervals, in accordance with the environment plan for the pipeline activity.
(4)The operator of a pipeline activity must, in accordance with subregulation (5), conduct tests to assess the performance of monitoring equipment used for the purposes of subregulation (2).
(5)Tests performed under subregulation (4) must —
(a)be sufficient to verify the accuracy of the monitoring equipment; and
(b)be conducted at intervals specified in the environment plan for the pipeline activity in accordance with regulation 15(7)(c).
(6)The operator of a pipeline activity must record the results of —
(a)the monitoring mentioned in subregulation (2); and
(b)the tests mentioned in subregulation (4).
(7)The operator of a pipeline activity must, for each reporting period, submit a written report of emissions and discharges in accordance with subregulation (9).
(8)It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subregulation (7) if the operator has a reasonable excuse.
(9)A report under subregulation (7) —
(a)must be submitted to the Minister as soon as practicable, and in any case within 15 days, after the end of the reporting period; and
(b)must include a summary of the results of the monitoring mentioned in subregulation (2).
34.Application of chemical dispersant to oil spills
A person must not apply chemical dispersant to an oil spill that has arisen as a result of a pipeline activity unless —
(a)the Minister, or the appropriate hazard management agency prescribed under the Emergency Management Act 2005, has given written consent to the application of chemical dispersant; and
(b)if the consent under paragraph (a) is given subject to any conditions — those conditions are complied with.
Part 5 — Operators of pipeline activities
35.Term used: contact details
In this Part —
contact details, for an operator or agent, means the name and address within Australia, telephone number, facsimile number and email address (if any) of the operator or agent.
36.Requirement for, and notification of, operator
(1)The instrument holder for a pipeline activity must ensure that, at all times, there is an operator of the pipeline activity.
(2)The operator of a pipeline activity is the person responsible to the instrument holder for the overall management and operation of the pipeline activity.
(3)The instrument holder must notify the Minister, in writing, of the contact details of the operator of the pipeline activity before the first submission in relation to the pipeline activity is made under Part 2.
(4)The instrument holder must notify the Minister, in writing, of any change of operator of the pipeline activity —
(a)if it is practicable to do so — at least 28 days before the change takes effect; or
(b)otherwise — at the earliest practicable opportunity.
(5)Nothing in this regulation affects any duty or responsibility of the instrument holder, under the Act, in relation to a pipeline activity carried out under the instrument.
37.Operator to give details
(1)The operator of a pipeline activity must, within 7 days after —
(a)the appointment of an agent of the operator in relation to the environmental management of the pipeline activity — give the Minister written notice of the appointment and of the contact details of the agent; or
(b)any change of agent of the operator in relation to the environmental management of the pipeline activity — give the Minister written notice of the change and of the contact details of the new agent; or
(c)any change of contact details (where there is no change of identity) of the operator or the operator’s agent — give the Minister written notice of the new contact details.
(3)The operator of a pipeline activity must include, in any submission to the Minister under Part 2 or 3, the contact details of the operator or the operator’s agent.
(4)The operator of a pipeline activity, at all times after the pipeline activity has commenced, must maintain —
(a)an address of the operator for communications on matters relating to the environmental management of the pipeline activity; and
(b)a facsimile number, or email address, within Australia at which a request for records may be made under regulation 32.
(5)The operator of a pipeline activity, at all times after the pipeline activity has commenced, must ensure that the Minister has notice of —
(a)the address maintained by the operator under subregulation (4)(a); and
(b)the facsimile number or email address maintained by the operator under subregulation (4)(b).
38.No requirement to give information more than once
(1)Despite any other provision of this Part, an instrument holder for a pipeline activity or operator of a pipeline activity is not required to give information to the Minister under this Part if, at the relevant time, the information has already been given in accordance with the Act or another written law.
(2)Subregulation (1) does not apply if —
(a)the information already given has been lost or destroyed; and
(b)the instrument holder or operator has been notified of the loss or destruction.
39.Minister may decline to consider submission if information not given
(1)The Minister may decline to consider a submission made under Part 2 by the operator of a pipeline activity until —
(a)the instrument holder for the pipeline activity complies with regulation 36; or
(b)the operator of the pipeline activity complies with regulation 37.
(2)Subregulation (1) does not apply if the information has already been given in accordance with the Act or another written law.
40.Minister to keep register
The Minister must maintain a register or other record of information about an operator of a pipeline activity or agent, where the information is —
(a)mentioned in this Part; and
(b)given (whether under this Part or otherwise) to the Minister.
Part 6 — Transitional provisions
41.Terms used
In this Part —
commencement day means the day on which these regulations (other than regulations 1 and 2) come into operation;
environmental management plan means an environmental management plan required under a condition to which a pipeline instrument is subject immediately before commencement day;
transitional period means the period of 12 months beginning on commencement day.
42.Environmental management plans in force before commencement day
(1)An environmental management plan that is in force for a pipeline activity immediately before commencement day is taken —
(a)to be an environment plan approved under these regulations; and
(b)to have been approved on —
(i)the day on which the environmental management plan was accepted by the Minister; or
(ii)if the environmental management plan has been revised — the day on which the last revision of the environmental management plan was accepted by the Minister.
(2)If —
(a)subregulation (1) applies to an environmental management plan; and
(b)the Minister accepted the environmental management plan, or a revision of the environmental management plan, subject to the imposition of any limitations or conditions; and
(c)those limitations or conditions applied immediately before commencement day,
the limitations or conditions are taken to be limitations or conditions imposed under regulation 11(4)(b).
(3)If —
(a)subregulation (1) applies to an environmental management plan (the transitioned plan) for a pipeline activity; and
(b)the transitioned plan does not meet the criteria set out in regulation 11(1),
the operator of the pipeline activity must submit a proposed revision of the transitioned plan to the Minister before the end of the transitional period.
(4)If, apart from subregulation (3), an operator is required to submit a proposed revision of the transitioned plan during the transitional period under regulation 18, 19 or 20, subregulation (3) does not impose an additional obligation on the operator to submit a proposed revision of the transitioned plan.
(5)Regulations 10 and 11 apply to a proposed revision submitted under subregulation (3) as if —
(a)a reference in those regulations to the submission, approval or non‑approval of the environment plan were a reference to the submission, approval or non‑approval of the proposed revision; and
(b)any other reference in those regulations to the environment plan were a reference to the plan as revised by the proposed revision.
(6)If a proposed revision submitted under subregulation (3) is approved by the Minister, regulation 20(1)(b) applies in relation to the approval of the proposed revision as if the proposed revision had been submitted under regulation 20.
43.Environmental management plans submitted before commencement day
If, immediately before commencement day, the operator of a pipeline activity had submitted an environmental management plan for the pipeline activity to the Minister, but the Minister had not accepted or refused to accept the plan before that day —
(a)the environmental management plan is taken to be submitted under regulation 9 as an environment plan for the pipeline activity; and
(b)the Minister must give the operator a reasonable opportunity to modify and resubmit the environmental management plan to meet the requirements for environment plans under these regulations.
44.Pipeline activities for which no environmental management plan in force before commencement day
(1)If —
(a)a pipeline activity was being carried out before commencement day; and
(b)no environmental management plan was in force, or required to be in force, for the pipeline activity immediately before commencement day,
the operator of the pipeline activity must submit an environment plan for the pipeline activity to the Minister before the end of the transitional period.
(2)Regulations 6, 7, 8, 9, 28, 29 and 33 do not apply to the pipeline activity during any period before the Minister approves, or refuses to approve, an environment plan mentioned in subregulation (1).
(3)An environment plan submitted under this regulation may be submitted for one or more stages of the pipeline activity if the operator and the Minister so agree.
(4)An environment plan submitted under this regulation —
(a)must be in writing in a form approved by the Minister; and
(b)if the Minister approves — may relate to a specified activity in one or more identified locations specified in the plan.
(5)Regulations 10 and 11 apply to an environment plan submitted under this regulation in the same way they apply to an environment plan submitted under regulation 9.
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Notes
This is a compilation of the Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Pipelines (Environment) Regulations 2012 and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation see the compilation table.
r. 1 and 2: 28 Aug 2012 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 29 Aug 2012 (see r. 2(b))
Mines and Petroleum Regulations Amendment Regulations 2026 Pt. 8
SL 2026/82 27 May 2026
28 May 2026 (see r. 2(b) and SL 2026/70 cl. 2)
Other notes
1Now known as the Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Pipelines (Environment) Regulations 2012; citation changed (see note under r. 1).
Defined terms
[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]
Defined termProvision(s)
approved4
commencement day41
contact details35
environment4
environment plan4
environmental impact4
environmental management plan41
environmental performance4
environmental performance objective4
environmental performance standard4
environmental risk4
instrument holder4
nominated address4
operator4
pipeline activity4
pipeline instrument4
recordable incident4
records32(1)
reportable incident4
reporting period33(1)
revise4
specified day26(5)
transitional period41
transitioned plan42(3)
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