Three independent delegates have begun assessing the proposed Browse Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Precinct strategic proposal.
Chairman Gerard Early PSM, Dr Tom Hatton and newly appointed Environmental Protection Authority member Glen McLeod are assessing the Minister for State Development’s strategic proposal for the establishment of a multi-user gas hub precinct to enable the processing of up to 50 million tonnes of LNG per year from the Browse Basin near James Price Point, 60 kilometres north of Broome.
Mr Early said the delegates would undertake the assessment in an impartial and independent manner.
He said the delegates would review the environmental review report prepared by the proponent, additional available scientific information as well as public submissions received to date.
The delegates will not be considering the EPA’s previous assessment report or any of the decisions arising from processes which followed, including the appeal committee’s report.
“The delegates and I are assessing this proposal with fresh eyes. We are meeting regularly and will carefully review all the public submissions as well as undertake our own examination of the environmental issues,” Mr Early said.
“Together, we will determine the sufficiency of the information currently available and then if necessary what further information is required for our assessment.”
Once the delegates have completed their assessment, they will report to the Minister for Environment with a recommendation as to whether the future proposals identified in the strategic proposal should proceed, and, if so, under what conditions.
The Delegates’ report to the Minister for Environment will be open for a two-week public appeal period. Appeals will be administered by the Appeals Convenor. The Minister for Environment will consult with other decision-making authorities before making the final decision.
Background:
Following an August 2013 Supreme Court finding that there had been no valid assessment of the Minister for State Development’s strategic proposal and no valid report on that assessment, the EPA, with the approval of the Minister for Environment, delegated its powers under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 to assess the strategic proposal, to three delegates, who had no previous involvement in this matter.
Mr Early, who was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2007 for service in the protection and conservation of Australia's natural environment and cultural heritage, is based in Canberra and was Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Environment, before he retired to run his own consultancy in 2010. He has more than fifteen years experience in the management and implementation of environmental impact assessment.
Dr Hatton recently retired as Group Executive of Energy at the CSIRO. He has more than 25 years of national and international research experience and chairs the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority.
Mr McLeod is a lawyer with 36 years of national and international experience in environmental, planning and government law; the climate change and renewable energy sectors; ports, probity and procurement. He is a member of the Waste Authority and has been co-chairing its Strategic Waste Infrastructure Planning Group. Mr McLeod was appointed to the EPA in October 2013.
Media Contacts: Nadia Miraudo, Fiona Adolph 0400 866 450
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