Environmental Register

Criteria for Classifying the Level of Environmental Impact of Regulated Activities

On the basis of the information provided in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and in accordance with Section 98 of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000, the Minister, using a set of publicly developed and disclosed criteria, must classify the level of environmental impact of any proposed activity.

Criteria for Classifying the Level of Environmental Impact of Regulated Activites (PDF 232KB)

If an activity is deemed by the Energy Resources Division in consultation with relevant co-regulatory agencies, to be of Medium Impact according to the criteria for classifying the level of environmental impact of regulated activities then public comment will be sought on the associated EIR and draft Statement of Environmental Objectives.

To see copies of written submissions made in response to invitation for public comment, please click here.

SEO, EIR and ESA Reports

Copies of current Environmental Impact Reports (EIR), Statements of Environmental Objectives (SEO) and Environmental Impact Classifications (EIC) prepared by licensees are contained here, grouped in types of regulated activity. In some cases Other Documentation (OTH), including addendums to EIRs, Risk Assessments, Hydrogeological Assessments and any other relevant documentation, where required to be submitted by the licensees and have been included in the listings below where relevant.

For more information on EIR, SEO and EIC please refer to the Activity Approvals Process.

To see copies of written submissions made in response to invitation for public comment for SEO's please see the Written Submissions Received section.

* - Please note that gazetted dates with an asterisk indicate an extension of time for the 5-year review has been granted for that particular Statement of Environmental Objectives in accordance with Section 134 (1) of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000. All extensions of time can be accessed via the Licence Register. Please note until such time that the review is undertaken and the revised documents (if required) are approved by the Minister or his delegate and formally gazetted, the current approved SEO remains in effect and all relevant activities must remain compliant with the current version available on the Environmental Register.

^ - Please note that dates with this symbol indicate the Operator has initiated their review or submitted an updated Statement of Environmental Objectives to the Energy Resources Division in accordance with Part 12 of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000. Please note until such time that the review is undertaken and the revised documents (if required) are approved by the Minister or his delegate and formally gazetted, the current approved SEO remains in effect and all relevant activities must remain compliant with the current version available on the Environmental Register.

+ - Please note that gazetted dates with this symbol (+) indicate that a Statement of Environmental Objectives has undergone a review pursuant to section 14 of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Regulations 2013 and as a result of the review, it has been determined by the Minister or his delegate that a revision of the document is not required.

Archived Reports

Archived activity reports have either reached their 5 year review period and have not been reviewed, or have been superseded by updated versions.

To access archived activity reports for activities which include (but not limited to) seismic surveying, drilling, production, geothermal, pipelines and facilities please See Archived reports

Fitness-for-Purpose Assessments

Section 86A of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000 requires a licensee to carry out fitness-for purpose (FFP) assessments of their facilities at least once each 5 years. Such assessments must include a statement of the state of the current, and expected (over an ensuing 5 year period), fitness-for-purpose of the facility. The report must also detail the grounds on which the statement was made, including  the physical condition of the facility; the effectiveness of management systems for the operation and management of the facility; and any other factors which may adversely affect or compromise the fitness-for-purpose of the facility, including environmental factors and the adequacy and reliability of utilities. The assessments must assess the risks of the facilities on public health and safety; the environment; and the security of supply of natural gas (so far as this maybe relevant). A report on the assessment must be prepared in accordance with Regulation 30 and submitted to the Energy Resources Division.

This section of the register contains list of the most recent reports on such assessments prepared by the licensee and submitted to the Energy Resources Division that are available to the public on request.  Details of any current extensions of time granted, pursuant to Section 134 of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000, are located on the Licence Register. Historical reports are not listed on the website, but are available to the public on request.

For any questions or to request a copy of any Fitness-For-Purpose Report, please use the contact details located at the bottom of this webpage.

Low Level Official Surveillance Activities

Section 74 of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000 requires a mandatory licence condition which divides regulated activities carried out under a licence into those requiring 'high level surveillance' by the regulator and those requiring 'low level surveillance'. Activities for which a licensee demonstrates a high level compliance culture, the ability to comply with legislation, will be classified as low surveillance.

The criteria used by the Energy Resources Division to assess surveillance status is outlined in the Guidelines for Operator Classification (PDF 103 KB).

This section of the register contains Low level official surveillance classification letters.