EPA publishes new Compliance Policy

The NSW Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA’s) new Compliance Policy is now available on its website, www.epa.nsw.gov.au. The EPA says the policy will provide additional transparency to the public about the way it regulates industry in NSW.

According to EPA Chair and CEO Barry Buffier, the policy reflects the EPA’s core values of an independent, accountable and modern regulator that will protect the environment and the people of NSW.

“This new policy aims to set out the range of regulatory tools the EPA has at its disposal when considering an environmental incident and to provide information to the public on how the EPA makes its regulatory decisions,” Buffier said.

“There are a number of tools the EPA can use to achieve environmental compliance, including formal warnings, licence conditions, notices and directions, mandatory audits, enforceable undertakings, penalty notices, legally binding pollution reduction programs and prosecutions.

“The EPA must also take a range of factors into account before delivering a proportionate regulatory response, including the degree of environmental harm, whether or not there are any real or potential health impacts, if the action of the offender was deliberate, compliance history, public interest and best environmental outcomes.”

The document provides additional information about the EPA’s approach to compliance and enforcement, ensuring that compliance activities and actions are consistent, fair and credible, Buffier said.

“When the EPA was re-established in February 2012, we committed to being a strong and transparent regulator; the release of this policy is further evidence of that commitment,” Buffier said.

“The EPA will also support this policy with sector-specific strategies such as the new Compliance Strategies for the Crown and Private Native Forestry sectors.”

The EPA Compliance Policy and the associated forestry section compliance strategies can be found here.