Environment Report - Santos

2. Regulatory Framework
2. Regulatory Framework
2.1 Approval Process
Overview
The proposed Casino Gas Field Development
will impact on three jurisdictions
including Commonwealth waters, Victorian
State waters and onshore Victoria.
Consequently, the project will require
permits and licences under the Commonwealth
Petroleum (Submerged
Lands) Act 1967, the Victorian Petroleum
(Submerged Lands) Act 1982 and
the Victorian Pipelines Act 1967, respectively.
Where a project displays the potential to
significantly impact upon matters of national
environmental significance, as defined
under the Commonwealth
Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) (Section
2.2.1), an assessment under the
EPBC Act may be required. Similarly,
where a project displays a potential for
significant environmental impacts or community
concern, the provisions of the
Victorian Environment Effects Act 1978
may also be triggered.
In November 2003, Santos sought
determinations from the Commonwealth
Environment and Heritage Minister and
the Victorian Minister for Planning regarding
the required level of environmental
assessment under the respective
acts. Santos was subsequently advised
that Commonwealth environmental assessment
under the EPBC Act will be
undertaken through Preliminary Documentation
and that the Victorian environmental
assessment will require the
preparation of an Environment Report
under the Pipelines Act 1967. Both the
Preliminary Documentation and the Environment
Report (this document) are
required to be available for public review
and comment.
Figure 2.1 provides a flow chart of the
approval processes applied to the Casino
Gas Field Development.
In addition, a number of technical approvals
are required under a range of
Commonwealth and State legislature.
These are summarised in Table 2.1 and
discussed in detail in the following sections.
2.2 Planning and
Environmental Approvals
2.2.1 EPBC Act 1999
The EPBC Act enables the Commonwealth
to join with the States and Territories
in a national approach to
environment protection and biodiversity
conservation. Under the EPBC Act, actions
that are likely to have a significant
Table 2.1
impact on a matter of national environmental
significance will trigger Commonwealth
assessment.
Matters defined as nationally significant
include the presence of:
• A World Heritage property.
• A Ramsar wetland of international
importance.
• Nationally threatened animal and
plant species and ecological communities.
• Internationally protected migratory
species.
Summary of key regulatory approvals
Element Legislation Approval
Offshore well
drilling
Completion of
offshore
production wells
Offshore
pipeline
HDD shore
crossing
Onshore
pipeline
(includes HDD)
Commonwealth Petroleum
(Submerged Lands) Act 1967
Commonwealth Petroleum
(Submerged Lands) Act 1967
Victorian Petroleum
(Submerged Lands) Act 1982
Victorian Coastal Management
Act 1995
Commonwealth Petroleum
(Submerged Lands) Act 1967
Victorian Coastal Management
Act 1995
Victorian National Parks Act
1975
Victorian Land Act 1958
Victorian Pipelines Act 1967
Victorian Land Act 1958
Approval to drill
Environment plan acceptance
Drilling rig safety case
Production licence
Consent to construct and install a
facility
Consent to use a facility
Pipeline licence
Consent to construct a pipeline
Consent to operate a pipeline
Consent for the use or development of
coastal crown land
Pipeline licence
Consent to construct a pipeline
Consent to operate a pipeline
Consent for the use or development of
coastal crown land
Consent to enter a National Park
Authority to cross crown land
Pipeline permit to own and use
pipeline
Pipeline licence to construct and
operate a pipeline
Authority to cross crown land
Casino Gas Field Development 5