EPA to consult companies

The Environmental Protection Authority has announced companies will be consulted on the conditions recommended for their developments.

Deputy Chairman of the EPA, Chris Whitaker, said the EPA had introduced the measure to pick up any technical deficiencies in conditions before a final recommendation was made to the Environment Minister.

"Projects are increasingly complex and there can sometimes be simple errors of fact, mistakes in interpretation or perceived difficulties with the implementation of a condition. If these are not addressed before the EPA report is finalised, then companies often have to resort to lodging an appeal which can add months before they get a final decision," he said.

Dr Whitaker said the EPA's aim was to achieve a timely and rigorous environmental impact assessment process that delivered enforceable conditions so companies could meet their environmental obligations.

"This new step is not about negotiating the merits or otherwise of environmental conditions. It is solely an opportunity to identify technical deficiencies that would make the condition difficult to implement or enforce," said Mr Whitaker.

Environment Minister Donna Faragher has endorsed new procedures to streamline environmental assessments.

"This move is about resolving technical deficiencies and other potential issues up front," she said.

"At the moment, the only avenue for proponents to raise issues with recommended conditions is through the appeals process."

"Sometimes these appeals involve simple errors of fact, mistakes in interpretation or perceived difficulties with the implementation of a condition. These relatively simple matters will now be able to be resolved through the new consultation period," said Ms Faragher.

The outcome of the consultation with companies will be published in the final EPA report and will still be subject to appeal.

The consultation period will be 5 days to ensure the EPA's reporting process is not unduly lengthened.