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ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACT 1999 - SECT 505D

Functions of the Committee

  (1)   The Committee has the following functions:

  (a)   within 2 months of a request by the Minister (the Environment Minister )--to provide scientific advice to the Environment Minister in relation to proposed unconventional gas developments or large coal mining developments that are likely to have a significant impact on water resources, including any impacts of associated salt production and/or salinity;

  (b)   within 2 months of a request by an appropriate Minister of a declared State or Territory--to provide scientific advice to the Minister in relation to proposed unconventional gas developments or large coal mining developments in the relevant State or Territory that are likely to have a significant impact on water resources, including any impacts of associated salt production and/or salinity;

  (c)   at the request of the Environment Minister--to provide advice to the Environment Minister about:

  (i)   how bioregional assessments should be conducted in areas where unconventional gas development or large coal mining development is being carried out or is proposed; and

  (ii)   priority areas in which bioregional assessments should be undertaken; and

  (iii)   bioregional assessments commissioned by the Minister;

  (d)   at the request of the Environment Minister--to provide advice to the Environment Minister about:

  (i)   priorities for research projects to improve scientific understanding of the impacts of unconventional gas developments and large coal mining developments on water resources, including any impacts of associated salt production and/or salinity; and

  (ii)   research projects commissioned by the Minister in relation to the impacts of unconventional gas developments and large coal mining developments on water resources, including any impacts of associated salt production and/or salinity;

  (e)   to publish information about improving the consistency and comparability of research in relation to the impacts of unconventional gas developments and large coal mining developments on water resources, including any impacts of associated salt production and/or salinity;

  (f)   to publish information relating to the development of standards for protecting water resources from the impacts of unconventional gas development and large coal mining development, including from any impacts of associated salt production and/or salinity;

  (g)   to collect, analyse, interpret and disseminate scientific information in relation to the impacts of unconventional gas development and large coal mining development on water resources, including any impacts of associated salt production and/or salinity;

  (h)   any other functions prescribed by the regulations;

  (i)   to do anything incidental to, or conducive to, the performance of the above functions.

  (2)   The Committee also has the following functions:

  (a)   at the request of the Environment Minister--to provide scientific advice to the Environment Minister in relation to a matter that is protected by a provision of Part   3;

  (b)   at the request of the appropriate Minister of a declared State or Territory and with the written agreement of the Environment Minister--to provide scientific advice to the Minister of the State or Territory in relation to the matters specified in the request, if the Committee has sufficient scientific expertise.


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