All proposed Australian Antarctic activities must apply for environmental approval by submitting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), in accordance with the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 (ATEP Act) and the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1993.

Introduction

The following information, regarding environmental protection under Australian legislation, is provided as general guidance only. Australian citizens proposing to undertake activities in Antarctic regions must ensure they understand and will comply with all other legal requirements before commencing any activities.

For more information:

1. Application

EIA applications should be submitted at least 3 months before the proposed start date of any activities in the Antarctic region, to allow adequate time for assessment and authorisation by the Minister for the Environment and Water (or the Minister’s Delegate).

EIA applications must include comprehensive details about all proposed activities, dates, locations, environmental impacts and mitigation measures (EIA application form available in key documents and forms).

Please submit completed and signed EIA applications to eia@aad.gov.au.

Note:

  • Large and complex proposals requiring higher level of assessment should be submitted at least 5 months before the proposed start date of activities.
  • Requests to vary an existing environmental authorisation should be submitted at least 2 months before any proposed changes to activities (via eia@aad.gov.au).
  • Late or incomplete applications will delay the assessment process, and activities may not be authorised by the proposed start date (if any issues adhering to timeframes, contact eia@aad.gov.au).

2. Assessment

The Minister for the Environment and Water (or the Minister’s Delegate) will determine the appropriate level of assessment and authorisation for the potential environmental impacts of proposed activities, in accordance with the ATEP Act:

1. Preliminary Assessment (PA)

  • Required for all proposed activities.
  • Environmental impacts of proposed activity are likely to be less than minor or transitory (lowest level of EIA).
  • Approximately 3 months to assess and authorise.

2. Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE)

  • Environmental impacts of proposed activity assessed to be minor or transitory.
  • IEE process:
    • Requires more comprehensive consideration of the elements of an activity and likely environmental impacts.
    • Must consider alternatives to the proposed activity.
    • Includes a public consultation period.
  • At least 5 months to assess and authorise.
  • Final IEE documents are publicly available on the ATS EIA Database.

3. Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE)

  • Environmental impacts of proposed activity determined to be greater than minor or transitory (highest level of EIA).
  • CEE process:
    • Requires thorough examination of the activity, environmental outputs, receiving environment and alternatives.
    • Requires wide public consultation – must be circulated to other Antarctic Treaty Parties and discussed at a meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP).
  • Up to 2 years to complete CEE process.
  • Final CEE documents are publicly available on the ATS EIA Database.

For more information about EIA requirements, please refer to the Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment in Antarctica (2016) PDF.

3. Authorisation

The Minister for the Environment and Water (or the Minister’s Delegate) will consider proposed Antarctic activities, as detailed in the EIA.

If approved, the proponent will be granted and issued an Environmental Authorisation, and Permit(s) where applicable.

4. Conduct activities and report

Proposed activities must be conducted in accordance with conditions of the environmental authorisations, permits and any variations. Authorisation conditions must be understood and followed by all persons undertaking the activities.

Proponents must maintain accurate records (including photographs) of all activities associated with their environmental authorisation.

A Report of Activities must be submitted after completion of activities, at the end of every Antarctic season, as a legal requirement of the environmental authorisation conditions. Failure to submit report by the due date will be considered non-compliance and may impact future applications and/or authorisation conditions.

The AAD has a compliance and enforcement framework, which seeks to ensure all activities comply with relevant environmental legislation and international obligations.

Additional reporting may be required for the following:

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