23Pollution reduction targets

23 Pollution reduction targets

23 Pollution reduction targets

(1) The Corporation must adopt targets (as developed and determined in accordance with this section) to effect significant reductions, by 30 June 2000, of Schedule 10 substances present in waters as a result of the conduct of the Corporation’s sewerage services under an operating licence.

(2) The targets are to be developed as follows—

(a) The Corporation is to publish in the Gazette a statement, in a form approved by the Environment Protection Authority, showing—

(i) the range of concentrations and total load of those Schedule 10 substances that were monitored at the Corporation’s sewage treatment plants, and

(ii) the total volumes of sewage discharged from its sewage treatment plants to waters as monitored by the Corporation,

for the year ended 30 June 1994.

(b) The statement is to be published within 14 days after the initial operating licence is granted to the Corporation.

(c) The Corporation is to conduct ecological risk assessments in relation to Schedule 10 substances discharged into waters from each of the Corporation’s sewage treatment plants.

(d) Ecological risk assessments are to be carried out in accordance with a methodology for the time being approved by the Environment Protection Authority in accordance with section 24.

(e) Reports on ecological risk assessments are to be provided to the Environment Protection Authority as follows—

(i) reports on assessments for the ocean are to be provided by 31 December 1995, and

(ii) reports on assessments for the Hawkesbury–Nepean catchment are to be provided by 30 June 1996, and

(iii) reports on the remaining assessments are to be provided by 30 June 1997.

(f) Copies of the reports on ecological risk assessments are to be placed on display for public comment by the Corporation in accordance with section 25.

(3) The Environment Protection Authority is, within 3 months after the expiration of the period for public comment referred to in section 25 (2), to determine the targets for the Corporation that are referred to in subsections (1) and (2), having regard to the following—