Subject to a COAG requirement the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) is undertaking a Review of Harmonisation of Environmental Regulation across Australia.  This is being run jointly by the NSW and Victorian environmental agencies, of which the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water invited ASBG to provide comment on the scope of this review.  The main issues ASBG put forward for inclusion in the scope of the review includes:

• Environmental reporting; streamlining, duplication reduction and harmonisation.
• Standardisation of:  measurement, monitoring, accounting, verification across the following areas:
  • Greenhouse emissions
  • Air emissions (other than greenhouse)
  • Water
  • Waste
  • Land
• Harmonisation of waste issues including: measurement, data collation, waste management type and improving the design of waste levies.
• Improvements to licenses, authorities and permits.
• National recognition of specific processes and systems which are Nationally recognised as best practice to assist in controversial projects.
• Pathways and timetables to address these issues.

ASBG looks forward to the next phase of this review and the possible processes that can be included to really improve the above issues for members, especially environmental reporting.

Attachments:

ASBG's Response to EPHC's Harmonisation of Enviro. Regulation

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