Australian Capital Territory Numbered Acts

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT 1997 (NO. 92 OF 1997)

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

   PART I--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Short title  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Objects  
   4.      Interpretation  
   5.      Things taken to have an impact causing environmental harm  
   6.      Relationship with Bushfire Act 1936 and Fire Brigade Act 1957  
   7.      Construction consistent with certain other laws  
   8.      Application in respect of people and certain things is limited  
   9.      Civil remedies and common law not affected  
   10.     Criminal liability of Crown agents  

   PART II--ADMINISTRATION

   11.     Appointment  
   12.     Functions and powers  
   13.     Delegations  
   14.     Authorised officers  
   15.     Analysts  
   16.     Identity cards  
   17.     Disclosure of interests  
   19.     Inspection of documents  
   20.     Copies of documents  
   21.     Exclusion of material  

   PART III--ENVIRONMENTAL DUTIES

   22.     General environmental duty  
   23.     Duty to notify of actual or threatened environmental harm  

   PART IV--ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION POLICIES

   24.     Contents  
   25.     Consultation  
   26.     Promulgation  
   27.     Formal changes  
   28.     Revocation  
   29.     Inspection  
   30.     Legal character  

   PART V--ACCREDITED CODES OF PRACTICE

   31.     Accrediting codes of practice  
   32.     Notification of accredited codes of practice  
   33.     Deemed compliance with general environmental duty  

   PART VI--ECONOMIC MEASURES

   34.     Schemes for economic measures  
   35.     Bubble licences  
   36.     Tradeable permits  
   37.     Regulations may make provision for schemes  

   PART VII--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGREEMENTS

   38.     Entering agreements  
   39.     Form and terms of agreements  
   40.     Effect of agreements  
   41.     Notification of environmental protection agreements  

   PART VIII--ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATIONS

   42.     Conducting prescribed classes of activities  
   43.     Authority may require an environmental authorisation  
   44.     Conducting activities other than prescribed activities  
   45.     Compliance with an authorisation  
   46.     Kinds of authorisation  
   47.     Application  
   48.     Public consultation  
   49.     Grant  
   50.     Notification of grant  
   51.     Kinds of conditions  
   52.     Period of authorisation  
   53.     Authorisation fees  
   54.     Determination of fee instalments  
   55.     Non-payment of fees  
   56.     Refund and remission of fees  
   57.     Annual review of certain authorisations  
   58.     Review of accredited environmental authorisations  
   59.     Notification of review of environmental authorisations  
   60.     Variation  
   61.     Matters required to be taken into account for certain decisions under this  
   62.     Notice of intention to vary an authorisation  
   63.     Suspension and cancellation  
   64.     Notice of intention to suspend or cancel an authorisation  
   65.     Effect of suspension  
   66.     Surrender of environmental authorisation  
   67.     Notification of ceasing activity  

   PART IX--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

   68.     Contents of an environmental improvement plan  
   69.     Authority may require an environmental improvement plan  
   70.     Submission of environmental improvement plan  
   71.     Approval of environmental improvement plan  
   72.     Accreditation of voluntary improvement plans  
   73.     Interpretation  
   74.     Conduct of audits  
   75.     Certain auditors to be approved  
   76.     Authority may require an environmental audit  
   77.     Authority's response to environmental audit report  
   78.     Protection for reports of voluntary audits  
   79.     Protection does not extend to environment protection orders  
   80.     Interpretation  
   81.     Contents of an emergency plan  
   82.     Authority may require an emergency plan  
   83.     Submission of emergency plan  
   84.     Approval of emergency plan  
   85.     Authority may require a financial assurance  
   86.     Show cause why financial assurance should not be provided  
   87.     Non-provision of financial assurance  
   88.     Claim on or realisation of a financial assurance  
   89.     Notice before claim on or realisation of a financial assurance  
   90.     Recovery of extra costs  

   PART X--FUNCTIONS OF THE MINISTER

   92.     Decisions by Minister  
   93.     Directions of Minister  
   94.     Environmental Assessments and Inquiries  

   PART XI--AUTHORISED OFFICERS' POWERS

   95.     Interpretation  
   96.     Entry of premises—routine inspections  
   97.     Entry of premises—search warrants  
   98.     Identity cards must be produced  
   99.     Inspection of premises—routine inspections  
   100.    Inspection of premises—search warrant  
   101.    Inspection of premises—seriousness and urgency  
   102.    Procedure where samples taken  
   103.    Consent to entry  
   104.    Search warrants  
   105.    Emergency situations  
   106.    Taking or directing action  
   107.    Entry and exercise of powers  
   108.    Seizure  
   109.    Retention to adduce evidence  
   110.    Disposal  
   111.    Power to require name and address  

   PART XII--ANALYSTS' POWERS

   112.    Entry of premises  
   113.    Evidence of analysis  

   PART XIII--ENFORCEMENT

   114.    Interpretation  
   115.    Infringement notices  
   116.    First notice  
   117.    Final notice  
   118.    Discharge of liability  
   119.    Application for withdrawal of infringement notices  
   120.    Withdrawal of infringement notices  
   121.    Prosecution of minor environmental offences  
   122.    Non-antecedent value of infringement notice offences  
   123.    Service of notices  
   124.    Evidence  
   125.    Environment protection orders  
   126.    Contravention of an environment protection order  
   127.    Application for order  
   128.    Making of order  
   129.    Interim order  
   130.    Costs—public interest  
   131.    Security for costs etc.  
   132.    Compensation  
   133.    Information discovery orders  
   134.    Contravention of information discovery order  

   PART XIV--ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW

   135.    Review of decisions  
   136.    Review of Minister's decisions  

   PART XV--OFFENCES

   137.    Causing serious environmental harm  
   138.    Causing material environmental harm  
   139.    Causing environmental harm  
   140.    Person may be found guilty of lesser charge  
   141.    Causing an environmental nuisance  
   142.    Placing a pollutant where it could cause harm  
   143.    No offence committed  
   144.    Liability limited to harm caused by excess pollutants  
   145.    Offences in Schedule 2  
   146.    Conduct of directors, servants and agents  
   147.    Criminal liability of officers of body corporate  
   148.    (1) Before transferring ownership of an activity or place in respect of which an instrument is in effect, the transferor shall not, without reasonable excuse, fail to notify the transferee of the existence and content of the instrument.  
   149.    Notice to Authority of alteration to equipment and works  
   150.    Self-incrimination  
   151.    Obstructing etc. authorised officers  
   152.    False or misleading statements  
   153.    Due diligence  
   154.    Defence of emergency  
   155.    Strict liability offences  
   156.    Continuing offences  
   157.    Additional court orders  
   158.    Matters to be considered in imposing penalty  

   PART XVI--MISCELLANEOUS

   159.    Authorised acts and omissions  
   160.    Recovery of clean-up costs  
   161.    Assessment of reasonable costs and expenses  
   162.    Statutory declarations  
   163.    Environmental record of directors, servants and agents  
   164.    Evidentiary matters  
   165.    Determination of fees  
   166.    Regulations  
   167.     Review of Act  
           SCHEDULE 1
           SCHEDULE 2