5Environmental management plan

5 Environmental management plan

5 Environmental management plan

(1) The relevant Ministers may, on application by Snowy Hydro Limited, approve an environmental management plan (an EMP) in relation to the cloud seeding operations authorised by this Act.

(2) The EMP is to comply with any requirements imposed by the relevant Ministers and notified to Snowy Hydro Limited.

(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the relevant Ministers may require the EMP to provide for the following:

(a) a public review and approval process that must be undertaken before any aerial cloud seeding operations or changes to seeding agents or tracing agents,

(b) a process for the resolution of disputes about cloud seeding operations between Snowy Hydro Limited and others (such as community members, Ministers or NSW Government agencies).

(4) An application for approval of an EMP must be accompanied by an independent scientific assessment of any proposed cloud seeding operations that differ from the operations currently authorised. Any such scientific assessment must comply with any requirements imposed by the relevant Ministers and notified to Snowy Hydro Limited.

(5) The relevant Ministers may, on application by Snowy Hydro Limited:

(a) approve an amendment to an approved EMP, or

(b) revoke an approval of an EMP and approve a new EMP.

(6) This section applies in respect of an application for approval of amendment of an approved EMP in the same way as it applies in respect of an application for approval of an EMP.

(7) An approval of an EMP remains in force until it is revoked by the relevant Ministers.

s 5: Am 2008 No 21, Sch 1 [1]. Subst 2012 No 73, Sch 1 [10].