GN1344-Environmentplancontentrequirements-Rev2.PDFVIP

Guidance note N04750-GN1344 Revision No 2 September 2015 Environment plan content requirements Environment plan core concepts • The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009 (the Environment Regulations) require a titleholder to have an accepted environment plan (EP) in place 1 for any petroleum activity or greenhouse gas activity . • The Environment Regulations define the regulatory requirements relating to environmental management that must be met when undertaking a petroleum activity in Commonwealth waters. • The object of the Environment Regulations, as set out in regulation 3, is to ensure that any petroleum activity or greenhouse gas activity carried out in an offshore area is carried out in a manner consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) as set out in section 3A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), and carried out in a manner by which the environmental impacts and risks of the activity will be reduced to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) and acceptable levels. • The required content of an EP is detailed within the Environment Regulations; an EP must include all elements specified. • NOPSEMA must accept an EP if it is reasonably satisfied that the EP meets the criteria for acceptance outlined in regulation 10A. • NOPSEMA’s role is one of assessing and deciding to ‘accept’ or ‘refuse to accept’ the titleholder’s EP and subsequently monitoring the titleholder’s compliance with the EP, the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (the OPGGS Act) and the Environment Regulations. • The Environment Regulations are: - objectiv