Environmental Factor Guideline

The purpose of this guideline is to communicate how and when the Greenhouse Gas Emissions factor is considered by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process.

Background

The EPA published the first Environmental Factor Guideline – Greenhouse Gas Emissions (EFG-GHG) in April 2020, with a further revision published in April 2023.

In October 2024, the State Government updated its Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policy for Major Projects to allow certain proposals in WA to be regulated under the Commonwealth’s Safeguard Mechanism and not by the State.

The EPA notes the Safeguard Mechanism presents an opportunity to streamline information requirements to support the EPA’s consideration, and that the Safeguard Mechanism is likely to meet the EPA’s expectations for this factor in most cases.

The EPA has revised its EFG-GHG to ensure compatibility with existing frameworks and outline how and when the GHG environmental factor will be considered by the EPA in the environmental impact assessment process.

Revised Environmental Factor Guideline – Greenhouse Gas Guidelines (EFG-GHG)

The current guideline (November 2024):

• describes why the EPA has published the guideline and how they should be applied
• defines greenhouse gases (GHG) and describes the different scopes of emissions
• outlines the international and national framework and how this factor links with other environmental factors
• outlines when the EPA may apply this guideline and the EIA considerations for this factor
• provides a summary of the information required by the EPA to undertake EIA related to this factor (including consideration of scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions)
• outlines expected information from proponents on how greenhouse gas emissions will be avoided, reduced and mitigated
• outlines expectation of EPA decision-making
• identifies issues commonly encountered by the EPA during EIA of this factor

The purpose of this guideline is to communicate how the factor Air Quality is considered by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process.

Specifically, the guideline:

• describes Air Quality
• explains the associated objective
• describes how this factor links with other environmental factors
• describes EIA considerations for this factor
• discusses the environmental values of good air quality, and their significance
• identifies activities that may be considered under this factor
• provides a summary of the type of information that may be required by the EPA to undertake EIA related to this factor.
• describes issues commonly encountered by the EPA during EIA of this factor.

In the current version (Version 2.0), the guideline has been updated to remove references to greenhouse gas emissions as Greenhouse Gas Emissions is now a separate environmental factor.

The purpose of this guideline is to communicate how the factor Benthic Communities and Habitats is considered by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process. It has superseded EAG 7.

Specifically, the guideline:

• describes the factor Benthic Communities and Habitats and explains the associated objective
• describes EIA considerations for this factor
• discusses the environmental values of benthic communities and habitats, and their significance
• describes issues commonly encountered by the EPA during EIA of this factor
• identifies activities that can impact on benthic communities and habitats
• provides a summary of the type of information that may be required by the EPA to undertake EIA related to this factor.

The purpose of this guideline is to communicate how the factor Social Surroundings is considered by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process.

Specifically, the guideline:

• defines the factor Social Surroundings and explains the associated objective
• describes EIA considerations for this factor
• describes issues commonly encountered by the EPA during EIA of this factor
• identifies activities that can impact social surroundings
• provides a summary of the type of information required by the EPA to undertake EIA related to this factor.

Update: Adjustments have been made to the EPA’s (June 2023) EFG-Social Surroundings and related Technical Guidance to account for the repeal of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 (ACH Act) and the restoration and amendment of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (AH Act).

The purpose of this guideline is to communicate how the factor Human Health is considered by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process.

Specifically the guideline:

• describes the factor Human Health and explains the associated objective
• describes EIA considerations for this factor
• describes issues commonly encountered by the EPA during EIA of this factor
• identifies activities that can impact on human health
• provides a summary of the type of information that may be required by the EPA to undertake EIA related to this factor.

The purpose of this guideline is to communicate how the factor Inland Waters is considered by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process.

Specifically, the guideline:

• describes the factor Inland Waters and explains the associated objective
• describes how this factor links with other factors
• describes EIA considerations for this factor
• discusses the environmental values supported by or dependent on Inland Waters, and their significance
• identifies activities that can impact inland waters
• provides a summary of the type of information that may be required by the EPA to undertake EIA related to this factor
• describes issues commonly encountered by the EPA during EIA of this factor.

The guideline replaces the following documents:

• Environmental Protection Authority 2016, Environmental Factor Guideline: Hydrological Processes, EPA, Western Australia.
• Environmental Protection Authority 2016, Environmental Factor Guideline: Inland Waters Environmental Quality, EPA, Western Australia

The purpose of this guideline is to communicate how the factor Marine Fauna is considered by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process.

Specifically, the guideline:

• describes the factor Marine Fauna and explains the associated objective
• describes EIA considerations for this factor
• discusses the environmental values of marine fauna, and their significance
• describes issues commonly encountered by the EPA during EIA of this factor
• identifies activities that can impact on marine fauna
• provides a summary of the type of information that may be required by the EPA to undertake EIA related to this factor.

The purpose of this guideline is to communicate how the factor Marine Environmental Quality is considered by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process. In simple terms, the intent is to prevent or minimise pollution and protect the environmental values associated with the marine environment. Specifically, the guideline:

• defines the factor Marine Environmental Quality and explains the associated environmental objective
• describes EIA considerations for this factor
• discusses the environmental values supported by the factor Marine Environmental Quality, and their significance
• describes issues commonly encountered by the EPA during EIA of this factor
• identifies activities that can impact on marine environmental quality
• provides a summary of the type of information that may be required by the EPA to undertake EIA related to this factor.

The purpose of this guideline is to communicate how the factor Coastal Processes is considered by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process. Specifically, the guideline:

• defines the factor Coastal Processes and explains the associated objective
• describes EIA considerations for this factor
• discusses the environmental values supported by coastal processes, and their significance
• describes issues commonly encountered by the EPA during EIA of this factor
• identifies activities that can impact on coastal processes
• provides a summary of the type of information required by the EPA to undertake EIA related to this factor.

The purpose of this guideline is to outline how the factor Terrestrial Fauna is considered by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process.

Specifically, the guideline:

• describes the factor Terrestrial Fauna and explains the associated objective
• describes EIA considerations for this factor
• discusses the environmental values of terrestrial fauna, and their significance
• describes issues commonly encountered by the EPA during EIA of this factor
• identifies activities that can impact on terrestrial fauna
• provides a summary of the type of information that may be required by the EPA to undertake EIA related to this factor.