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14/11/08 Litter Management in Australia
The EPHC recently considered a report on Litter Management in Australia which looked at the wide range of activity being undertaken by the community and governments at all levels to reduce litter. Despite a growth in overall waste volumes driven by strong economic growth, an assessment of the National Litter Index since 2005–06 suggests that litter volumes may have been decoupled from waste generation, in that they are stable or in decline. While it is important to continue to work to reduce littering behaviour, the report demonstrates the value of the concerted efforts by a wide range of people and organisations and the need to work within current frameworks to ensure this progress continues.
The report on litter management can be downloaded below.
13/11/08 Report on Impediments to Wind Farm Development
Wind energy has the potential to deliver a significant proportion of Australia’s future
electricity needs and contribute to national greenhouse gas abatement objectives. Building
community acceptance of this technology is vital to the continued development of renewable
energy in Australia. EPHC agreed to work cooperatively with the Local Government and
Planning Ministers Council to develop a set of national guidelines for wind farm development.
The guidelines will address community concerns about wind farm development such as turbine noise
and impacts on landscapes and threatened species, and applies greater national consistency in the
way they are examined.
A report on the impediments to wind farm development can be downloaded below.
13/11/08 Plastic Bags Reports
A trial in which retailers voluntarily applied a charge of 10c to all lightweight plastic carry bags was recently conducted in Victoria. The reports can be downloaded here.
10/11/08: National Framework for Chemicals Environmental Management First Progress Report
The NChEM Working Group has made significant progress since endorsement of the NChEM Ministerial Agreement and Action Plan in June 2007. The attachment below outlines the achievements of NChEM in its first year of operation. Click here for the report.
10/11/08: Statement on end-of-life televisions and computers
At its meeting on 7 November 2008, EPHC released a statement on the current status of product stewardship work relating to end-of-life televisions and computers. The statement recognises the high level of concern in some parts of the community regarding the disposal of end-of-life televisions and computers, and acknowledges the extensive work by the television and computer industries to develop product stewardship schemes.
Download the statement below.
7/11/08: EPHC Communique from meeting - Friday, 7 November 2008
At the 17th meeting of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council in Adelaide, Australian environment ministers agreed to the development of a national waste policy to provide a coherent, efficient and environmentally responsible approach to waste management in Australia.
To help inform the development of this national waste policy, the Council also agreed to the compilation of a comprehensive report on waste.
The national waste policy proposal was one of several initiatives embraced by the Council to address key environmental challenges relating to climate change, waste management and chemicals in a national context.
Download the Communique below for more information on the meeting.
18/09/08: Minor Variation of the Diesel NEPM - Comments close 27 October 2008
The NEPC intends to vary the Diesel Vehicle Emissions Measure. Click here for further details and download of the draft documents.
16/09/08: Vehicle Fuel Efficiency public discussion paper - Comments close 7 November 2008
The Australian Transport Council and the Environment Protection and Heritage Council Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Working Group, with support from the Australian Government, have released a public discussion paper - Vehicle Fuel Efficiency: Potential measures to encourage the uptake of more fuel efficient, low carbon emission vehicles. Click here for further details from the Department of the Environment, Water and the Arts website.
18/06/08: Draft NPI Variation Documents available for public comment
Click here to access the reports.
29/05/08: National Packaging Coveneant and Complementary Economic Mechanisms Study
Click here to access the reports.
26/05/08: Tyres Draft NEPM public consultation meeting dates are now available
Public consultation meetings on the draft Tyres NEPM will be held around Australia. Click here to access the meeting schedule*, or click here to access the consultation package. Submissions are due on Friday 11 July 2008.
*Please note that some venues are yet to be confirmed.
23/05/08: VOCs from Surface Coatings - Request for Tender
The EPHC is calling for tenders to undertake a consultancy to survey coating products in the Australian market. Click here for further information.
8/05/08: Plastic Bags Decision RIS and Plastic Retail Carry Bag Use - 2006 and 2007 Consumption report released
Click here to access the Decision Regulatory Impact Statement and the Plastic Retail Carry Bag Use - 2006 and 2007 Consumption report.
7/05/08: Tyres Draft NEPM released for public consultation
The draft Tyres NEPM has been released for public consultation Click here to access the consultation package. Submissions are due on Friday 11 July 2008. A public consultation meeting schedule is also available.
7/05/08: EPHC / NEPC Filter Criteria for National Environment and Heritage Issues
Click here to access the EPHC / NEPC Filter Criteria for National Environment and Heritage Issues document.
7/05/08: NEPC Service Corporation Statement of Intent released
Click here to access the NEPC Service Corporation Statement of Intent.
7/05/08: NEPC response to second review of the NEPC Act
Click here to access the response to the second review of the NEPC Act.
6/05/08: NWQMS Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling Phase 2: Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse and Managed Aquifer Recharge - Draft for Public Comment
Click here to access the draft guidelines. Consultation Meeting Schedule is also available.
17/04/08: EPHC Communique from Council meeting 17 April 2008
At the 16th meeting of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council in Melbourne, Australian environment ministers and their counterparts from New Zealand and Papua New Guinea focused on key environmental challenges relating to climate change, water and waste management. EPHC has always had a strong focus on waste management issues, and today’s meeting marked progress on end-of-life tyres and plastic bags. See the Communique below for more information.
14/4/08: 2006-07 NEPC Annual Report Released
The National Environment Protection Council Annual Report for 2006-07 is now available. Click here for more details.
17/08/07:
Environmental Risk Assessment Guidance Manuals
released for public consultation
Public comment is invited on
Environmental Risk Assessment Guidance Manuals for both industrial and agvet
chemicals. The closing date for submissions is Friday 23 November 2007. Click here to access the manuals.
19/07/07: NWQMS Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling Phase 2: Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies - Draft for Public Comment
Click here to access the draft guidelines. Consultation Meeting Schedule is also available.
10/07/07: National Environment Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure - Review Report - April 2007 released
The report of the review of the National Environment Protection (diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure has been released. Click here to access the report.
02/07/07: Second review of the National Environment Protection Council Act 1994 - Report released
The report of the second review of the National Environment Protection Council Act 1994 has been released. Click here to access the report.
13/06/07: EPHC Communique from Council meeting 2 June 2007
At the 15 th meeting of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) in Cairns, Australian environment ministers discussed key environmental priorities relating to climate change, product stewardship, air quality, chemicals management, nationally protected areas and heritage conservation. More details in below Communique.
04/06/07: Ambient Air Quality NEPM - Discussion Paper Released
In June 2007, the NEPC endorsed the release of a discussion paper for the Ambient Air Quality NEPM.
Submissions on the Discussion Paper are due by Friday 27 July 2007. For a copy of the Discussion Paper and associated documents, click here.
08/5/07: Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reporting proposal for inclusion in the NPI NEPM variation
NEPC Committee (with the Commonwealth dissenting) has directed that greenhouse gas emissions reporting be included in the proposed NPI NEPM variation as an option for consideration by NEPC at its June 2007 meeting (noting that this does not change the commitment by all parties to work towards a new purpose-built system).
Click here for more details.
A series of forums is proposed in Perth (14 May), Melbourne (16 May), Sydney (17 May) and Brisbane (18 May) to consider this proposal. Click here for forum details. The primary focus of the forums will be to explain how the NPI proposal will work and to receive feedback in relation to this on the day. Due to time constraints, written comments, if any, must be received no later than COB on Monday 21 May 2007 if they are to be considered by the project team (comments should be emailed to mgilbey@ephc.gov.au.
19/2/07: 2005-06 NEPC Annual Report
Released
The National Environment Protection Council Annual Report for 2005-06 is now
available. Click here for more details..
17/1/07: Plastic Bags Consultation
Regulatory Impact Statement
EPH Standing Committee has released a Consultation Regulatory
Impact Statement (RIS) on options to reduce the environmental impact
of plastic bags. The consultation RIS considers the costs and benefits of potential
options to address the negative impact of plastic bag litter on the Australian
environment. Information on how to make a submission on the consultation RIS
is included in the documentation, which can be accessed here.
The closing date for submissions is Monday 26 February 2007.
24/11/06: Climate
Change and Water top priorities for Ministers
Australian and New Zealand environment ministers today agreed on their top priorities
for the coming year – transport and climate change, water and waste management,
heritage conservation, and air quality. See Communique below for full details.
24/11/06: National Water Quality Guidelines
(Phase 1)
Ministers endorsed phase one of the National Guidelines for Water Recycling
in collaboration with the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council and
the Australian Health Ministers Conference. The new Guidelines represent a significant
advance on existing guidelines and, by improving flexibility and innovation,
are likely to encourage increased water recycling over the longer term. In endorsing
the Guidelines, Ministers recognised the importance of safeguarding water supplies
for the future, particularly in the face of challenges such as drought, climate
change, and the inefficient and wasteful use of water. Further information
and a download copy of the Phase one guideline are available here.
Phase one of the Guidelines focuses on sewage effluent and grey water. Development
of phase two is already underway and is expected to be completed by the end of
2007. Phase two will address stormwater reuse, managed aquifer recharge and recycled
water for drinking.
National Guidelines for Residential Customers' Water Accounts - 2006 (NRMMC)
Ministers also endorsed the 'National Guidelines for Residential Customers'
Water Accounts - 2006. Developed as part of the National Water Initiative, these
guidelines are voluntary and provide a significant opportunity to engage customers
in water conservation through informative water bills.
These Guidelines are available here.
24/11/06: Review of
the Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM
Ministers supported the preparation of a NEPM variation proposal based on the
recommendations contained in the National Environment Protection (Assessment
of Site Contamination) Measure Review Report. They agreed the NEPM had provided
many benefits since its introduction in 1999. Since then significant advances
had been made in technology and knowledge in relation to soil and water contamination.
Council supported recommendations to prepare a proposal to vary the NEPM. This
will ensure that the NEPM continues to protect human health and the environment
by incorporating the latest methodologies for assessing contaminated sites and
updating guidance on site assessment methods in line with technological changes
in Australia and overseas. Report is available here.
16/11/06: Air Quality
Standard Setting
Approaches to Hazard Assessment- An Advisory document has been developed
by the health and environment sectors on a nationally agreed approach to hazard
assessment as part of an approach to setting air quality standards in Australia.
The process of developing the document has formed strong linkages between the
health and environment sectors and provides a strong basis for ongoing collaborative
work. This document that has been endorsed by NHMRC, enHealth committee and Australian
Health Protection Council forms an important input to the work of the EPHC Standards
Setting Working Group. EPHC Standing Committee endorsement of the Advisory document
was obtained in October 2006. This document is available for download here.
20/10/06:
Review of Diesel NEPM
In June 2006, the
NEPC initiated a review of the Diesel NEPM. The discussion paper
has been released by NEPC Committee to seek stakeholder input on the effectiveness
of the NEPM, identify issues and where possible make recommendations for NEPC
to consider. Comments are sought by Close of Business Friday
15 December 2006. Further information and documents are available here.
13/09/06: Plastic Bag
Reports
The Environment Protection and Heritage Council commissioned an analysis of possible
costs and benefits of a range of voluntary and regulatory options for reducing
the impact of plastic shopping bags on the environment.
EPHC is releasing this analysis for information purposes only and has made
no decision to introduce any of the options described, either in the form depicted
or otherwise.
Further information and documents are available here.
13/09/06: Industrial Residues
- A National Approach
The Environment
Protection and Heritage Council has developed a national approach to the reuse
and recycling of industrial wastes, focusing primarily on their application to
land. The national approach focuses on those materials generated at industrial
facilities which may be considered
for use as a fertiliser, soil ameliorant, soil conditioner and/or soil stabiliser
in agriculture. Click here for more details.
13/09/06: EPHC Strategic
Plan 2006-08
On the 23 June 2006, Council approved it's Strategic Plan for 2006-08. This
document is available here.
1/08/06: Review of the National Environment Protection Council Act 1994 - Call for Submissions
A review of the NEPC Act 1994 is currently underway. Submissions are due on Friday 25 August 2006. For further details and a copy of the terms of reference for the review click here.
25/07/06: Release of Discussion Paper on a proposal for a framework for National Chemicals Environmental Management
In June 2006, the EPHC endorsed the release of a discussion paper, developed
by the National Chemicals Working Group, which describes proposals for the development
of a National Framework for Environmental Chemicals Management in Australia.
Submissions on the Discussion Paper are due by Friday 29 September 2006.
For a copy of the Discussion Paper and associated documents, click here.
26/06/06: NPI Variation released
for public consultation
On Friday 23 June 2006, NEPC resolved
to release the draft NPI Variation for public consultation. Further details and
a copy of the documents for download click here.
Public consultation dates, times
and venues can be accessed here.
26/06/06: Ministers
tackle environmental points of urban living
Australian and New Zealand environment ministers and the Australian Local Government
Association agreed that air quality, waste management and water recycling are
key issues for the coming year. More details available in the communique below.
23/5/06: ANRA
Plastic Bags Reports presented to Chair of EPHC
The Australian National Retail Association has presented their report to the
Chair of EPHC. Click
here for for more details and a copy of the associated documents.
22/2/06: NEPC Annual
Report 2004-05
The National Environment Protection Council Annual Report for 2004-05 is now
available. Click
here for more details.
Last Modified:
20/11/08
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