1999 nepc ar 07-08 text fa2 v2[online]

2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8

a nnua l r epor t

N a t i o n a l E n v i r o n m e n t P r o t e c t i o n C o u n c i l

Annual Report 2007–08

© Copyright vests in the Commonwealth of Australia and each

Australian State and Territory.

ISBN 978–1–921173–37–0

This work is copyright. It has been produced by the National Environment

Protection Council (NEPC). Apart from any use as permitted under the

Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without

prior permission from the NEPC. Requests and enquiries concerning

reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Executive Officer, NEPC

Service Corporation, Level 5, 81 Flinders Street, Adelaide SA 5000.

Acknowledgement for photographs to Patrick Logistics, Tasman District

Council (NZ), Craig Arnold, Bronwyn Gobbett, David Whittenbury,

and Scott Brooks

a n n u a l r e p o r t2 0 0 7 • 2 0 0 8

Foreword

Australian governments share the community’s concerns about air quality, water quality

and the management of commercial and household waste. All governments are working

cooperatively through the Environment Protection and Heritage Council, which incorporates

the National Environment Protection Council, to tackle these and other key concerns about

the environment.

As the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts and Chairperson of the Council,

I fully appreciate the urgent need to address these significant issues. I am therefore pleased to be able to report

on the good progress made over the past year by the Council.

During 2007-08, Council continued its work on waste management, air and water pollution, water recycling

and the environmental management of chemicals.

Council has had a strong focus on waste management issues and advanced a number of initiatives to tackle

the growing volume of waste in Australia. Council released a public consultation package (including a draft

agreement with industry and a draft National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM)) for a co-regulatory

framework for the management of end-of-life tyres, and is working towards arrangements for end-of-life

computers and television sets. A particular priority for the year ahead will be the development of a national

waste policy to provide a coherent framework for waste management in Australia.

Packaging waste continues to be a key issue for Council and I am pleased to report an increase in the

packaging recycling rate for this year. This is due to the collaborative action of governments and industry under

the National Packaging Covenant and the underpinning legislation provided by the Used Packaging Materials

NEPM. Council also commenced an investigation of the merits of a national container deposit system.

The diversion of industrial wastes to productive uses can benefit industry and the farming community if

properly managed, and Council, together with the Primary Industries Ministerial Council is investigating

an approach to assessing contaminant types and levels in industrial residues and fertilisers. The Assessment

of Site Contamination NEPM provides a nationally harmonised approach to assessing cleanup requirements

for contaminated sites, and Council is developing a variation to this NEPM, taking account of advances in

scientif ic knowledge and technology.

The quality of the air we breathe is vital to our health. Council has advanced the review of the Ambient Air

Quality NEPM, which is the nation’s major tool for managing ambient air quality. The review is considering

the latest health evidence and international trends in air quality policy to recommend actions needed to ensure

that Australians are adequately protected from air pollution.

Meeting the air quality challenge in many of Australia’s urban areas requires an increasing focus on all key

sources of emissions. Recognising the signif icant contribution diesel vehicles make to air pollution, the

Council has taken steps to vary the Diesel Vehicle Emissions NEPM to ensure it adequately reflects changes

to Australia’s diesel fleet and the availability of new technologies. Council is also investigating management

options to reduce emissions from marine outboard and garden equipment engines, as well as from paints.

Following the introduction of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (Commonwealth),

Council commenced work to remove overlapping provisions in the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) NEPM.

The NPI now includes reporting of transfers of NPI substances in wastes going to f inal destinations, such

as landfills and tailings dams, and work is underway to incorporate these requirements into industry

reporting handbooks.

With water conservation and management becoming a critical issue, Council continues to work with the

Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council on water recycling and reuse without risking human health

or the environment. Council endorsed the guidelines for the Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies, part

of the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling, and released draft guidelines for stormwater reuse and

managed aquifer recharge for public consultation.

National Environment Protection Council annual report 2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8 iii

Managing the environmental impacts of the considerable number of chemicals in use in Australia (more than

40,000) is a signif icant challenge. Council has worked with the Productivity Commission in its enquiry into

chemicals and plastics regulation, from which is expected to emerge recommendations for an enhanced role

for Council in the management of environmental impacts of chemicals.

Following the review of the National Environment Protection Council Acts, Council published its response

to the review and is now developing amendments to the Acts designed to strengthen the NEPC system.

I would like to thank all Council members and those working with the Council for their efforts during 2007-08

in furthering the national environmental protection agenda.

Peter Garrett AMChairmanNational Environment Protection Council

National Environment Protection Council annual report 2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8iv

Foreword (continued)

Members of the National Environment Protection Council

2 0 0 7 – 0 8

N E W S O U T H WA L E S

The Hon. Verity Firth MP

Minister for Climate Change

and the Environment

(from 4 April 2008)

N E W S O U T H WA L E S

The Hon.

Philip Koperberg MP

Minister for Climate Change,

Environment and Water

(to 4 April 2008)

V I C TO R I A

The Hon. John Thwaites MP

Minister for Environment

and Water

(to 27 July 2007)

V I C TO R I A

The Hon. Gavin Jennings MP


and Climate Change

(from 18 February 2008)

Q U E E N S L A N D

The Hon.

Lindy Nelson-Carr MP


(to 13 September 2007)

Q U E E N S L A N D

The Hon.

Andrew McNamara MP

Minister for Sustainability,

Climate Change and Innovation

(from 6 November 2007)

W E S T E R N AU S T R A L I A

The Hon.

David Templeman MLA

Minister for the Environment,

Climate Change, Peel

S O U T H AU S T R A L I A

The Hon. Gail Gago MLC


and Conservation

N O R T H E R N

T E R R I TO RY

Ms Marion Scrymgour MLA

Minister for Natural Resources,

Environment and Heritage

(to 12 August 2007)

C O M M O N W E A LT H

The Hon. Peter Garrett AM MP

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

Chairman

(from 28 January 2008)

C O M M O N W E A LT H

The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources

Chairman

(to 3 December 2007)

TA S M A N I A

The Hon. Paula Wriedt MHA

Minister for Tourism, Arts

and the Environment

(to 9 April 2008)

TA S M A N I A

The Hon.

Michelle O’Byrne MP

Minister for Environment,

Parks, Heritage and the Arts

(from 9 April 2008)

AU S T R A L I A N

C A P I TA L T E R R I TO RY

Mr Jon Stanhope MLA

Minister for the Environment,

Water and Climate Change

National Environment Protection Council annual report 2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8 v

vi

N O R T H E R N T E R R I TO RY

The Hon. Delia Lawrie MLA



(from 12 August 2007

to 4 January 2008)

N O R T H E R N T E R R I TO RY

The Hon. Len Kiely MLA



(from 4 January 2008)


2 0 0 7 – 0 8 (continued)

Foreword iii

Members of the National Environment Protection Council 2007–08 v

About NEPC 1

Executive Officer’s Report 2

NEPC — Major Activities 3

NEPC Committee — Major Activities 5

NEPC Act Review 7

Relationships with Other Bodies 8

NEPC Service Corporation — Operations Report 9

NEPMs — Activities 14

EPHC Activities 17

Assessment of the Implementation and Effectiveness of NEPMs 21

NEPC Reports on the implementation of NEPMsAir Toxics 23Ambient Air Quality 29Assessment of Site Contamination 35Diesel Vehicle Emissions 41Movement of Controlled Waste between States and Territories 47National Pollutant Inventory 57Used Packaging Materials 65

Statement by Auditor 72

Statement by Executive Officer 74

Financial Statements 75

Appendix 1: NEPC Committee — Membership 99

Appendix 2: Project Teams and Working Groups — Membership 101

Appendix 3: Publications (since 1996) 112

Appendix 4: NEPM Development — How NEPMs Are Made 119

Appendix 5: NEPM Development Model — Flow Chart 122

Appendix 6: Implementation and Effectiveness of NEPMs 123

Air Toxics 125Commonwealth 127New South Wales 129Victoria 132Queensland 137Western Australia 140South Australia 143Tasmania 146Australian Capital Territory 148Northern Territory 149

Ambient Air Quality 151Commonwealth 153New South Wales 155Victoria 164Queensland 171Western Australia 177South Australia 183Tasmania 189Australian Capital Territory 192Northern Territory 194

Contents

National Environment Protection Council annual report 2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8 vii

Contents (continued)

National Environment Protection Council annual report 2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8

Assessment of Site Contamination 197

Commonwealth 199

New South Wales 201

Victoria 203

Queensland 206

Western Australia 208

South Australia 209

Tasmania 211

Australian Capital Territory 212

Northern Territory 213

Diesel Vehicle Emissions 215

Commonwealth 217

New South Wales 219

Victoria 225

Queensland 228


South Australia 236

Tasmania 240



Movement of Controlled Waste between States and Territories 243

Commonwealth 245

New South Wales 247

Victoria 250

Queensland 253


South Australia 258

Tasmania 260



National Pollutant Inventory 265

Commonwealth 267

New South Wales 272

Victoria 276

Queensland 281


South Australia 290

Tasmania 294



Used Packaging Materials 301

Commonwealth 303

New South Wales 304

Victoria 308

Queensland 311


South Australia 319

Tasmania 322



Appendix 7: Glossary 330

viii


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About NEPC

The National Environment Protection Council

(NEPC) stems from the Special Premiers’ Conference

held in October 1990, at which the Prime Minister,

Premiers and Chief Ministers agreed to develop an

Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment.

The Agreement came into effect on 1 May 1992.

The Agreement includes provision for the establishment

of a national body with responsibility for making

National Environment Protection Measures (NEPMs)

with the objectives of ensuring that:

• the people of Australia enjoy the benefit of

equivalent protection from air, water and soil

pollution and from noise wherever they live

• decisions by businesses are not distorted and

markets are not fragmented by variations

between jurisdictions in relation to the adoption

or implementation of major environment

protection measures.

All participating jurisdictions (i.e. the Commonwealth

and all state and territory governments) have

complementary legislation establishing the National

Environment Protection Council, which is a statutory

body with law-making powers.

Members of the NEPC are ministers, although not

necessarily environment ministers, appointed by the

principal ministers of participating jurisdictions.

The NEPC and the NEPC Committee are assisted and

supported by the NEPC Service Corporation, which

is managed by the NEPC Executive Officer.

The NEPC has two primary functions:

• to make National Environment Protection

Measures (NEPMs)

• to assess and report on their implementation and

effectiveness in participating jurisdictions.

NEPMs are broad framework-setting statutory

instruments defined in the National Environment

Protection Council Act 1994 (Cwlth). They outline

agreed national objectives for protecting or managing

particular aspects of the environment. NEPMs are

similar to Environmental Protection Policies at the

state level. NEPMs may consist of any combination

of environmental protection goals, standards,

protocols and guidelines.

More information about NEPMs, the areas of

environmental protection that they may address,

and the process for developing them are outlined

in Appendices 4 and 5.

Implementation of NEPMs is the responsibility of

each participating jurisdiction, and each minister

on the NEPC reports to the NEPC each year on the

implementation of each NEPM in his/her jurisdiction.

EX

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The NEPC and the EPHC continued to devote signif icant resources in 2007–08 to environmental protection

issues, particularly air quality, waste management, assessment of site contamination, reporting of emissions

of substances to the environment, chemicals management, and water reuse and recycling.

The Council developed a response to the second review of the National Environment Protection Council Acts

and has commenced work on implementing outcomes—in particular, amendments to the NEPC Acts to enable

NEPC to broaden the environmental issues for which NEPMs may be developed, and reviewing its NEPM

development and implementation processes and working protocols with a view to their enhancement.

I should like to acknowledge the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, all of which are members

of NEPC and NEPC Committee, as well as the other members and observers on the Environment Protection

and Heritage Standing Committee for their cooperation in managing the national environmental protection

agenda throughout 2007–08. I should also like to thank members of the NEPC/EPHC project teams and working

groups who deliver the work program.

The staff of the NEPC Service Corporation has continued to provide highly regarded project management and

support services to the Council, NEPC Committee, EPH Standing Committee and the project teams and working

groups, as well as secretariat services to the Council and its principal committees. My staff has ensured the

efficient organisation of meetings as well as the implementation of the Council’s work program.

I should also like to acknowledge our many stakeholders for their efforts and input into the NEPC/EPHC over

the past year.

Dr Bruce Kennedy

Executive Officer

Executive Officer’s Report

NEPC — Major Activities


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The Environment Protection and Heritage Council

(EPHC) incorporates the National Environment

Protection Council.

As the National Environment Protection Council

is established under statute (the NEPC Acts of the

Commonwealth, states and territories) and has the

ability to make national regulatory instruments

(National Environment Protection Measures), it

retains its distinct status within EPHC. All members

of NEPC are members of EPHC.

The National Environment Protection Council met

once in 2007–08, as part of the Environment Protection

and Heritage Council. A meeting scheduled for

November 2007 did not take place because of the

Federal election held at that time.

Major activities undertaken by NEPC and EPHC

in 2007–08 are summarised below.

COUNCIL MEETING — MELBOURNE,

17 APRIL 2008

NEPC

• Legislation and administration

– endorsed and published the NEPC Response

to the Review of the NEPC Acts

– requested advice from NEPC Committee and

EPH Standing Committee on amendments

to the NEPC Acts and on means by which

improvements to implementation, and reporting

on implementation, of NEPMs may be made

– requested an independent review of NEPC

protocols and process documentation

– endorsed and published a Statement of

Expectation by the Council and a Statement

of Intent by the NEPC Executive Officer

• Climate change

– initiated a minor variation to remove greenhouse

gas reporting provisions from the National

Pollutant Inventory NEPM, following passage

of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting

Act 2007

• Air quality

– initiated a minor variation to the Diesel Vehicle

Emissions NEPM

– requested NEPC Committee to provide advice

on performance indicators for compliance

programs for the Diesel Vehicle Emissions NEPM

• Product stewardship and waste management

– approved the release of the draft NEPM for Tyres

for public consultation as part of a package for

the management of scrap tyres (in conjunction

with EPHC)

– initiated a minor variation to the Diesel Vehicle

Emissions NEPM

– requested NEPC Committee to provide advice

on performance indicators for compliance

programs for the Diesel Vehicle Emissions NEPM

• Amenity

– noted the Engine Brake Noise Standard developed

jointly with the National Transport Commission

EPHC

• Strategic issues

– considered the draft EPHC Strategic Plan

2008–10, and suggested enhancements for

consideration at its next meeting in November

2008. The plan reinforces priority areas

previously established by Council, for example:

– vehicle fuel eff iciency and travel demand

strategies

– ancillary environmental effects of climate

change policies

– world heritage sites

– resource eff iciency/life cycle analysis

• Climate change

– recognised the role of the National Reserve

System in conserving Australia’s biodiversity in

the face of climate change, and that the Natural

Resources Management Ministerial Council

would manage these issues

– requested EPH Standing Committee to consider

how impediments to the development of wind

power may be addressed, and invited the

participation of the Local Government and

Planning Ministers’ Council in this exercise

– requested an investigation on whether there was

a need for a national approach to the control

of emissions of landfill gas


– released a consultation package on the

management of end-of-life tyres (in conjunction

with NEPC)


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– reviewed the scope of the mid-term review

of the National Packaging Covenant

– published a report on complementary economic

mechanisms for the National Packaging

Covenant, and requested the National Packaging

Covenant Council to provide advice on those

economic mechanisms which it considered

would best support the current Covenant

– requested EPH Standing Committee to make

a submission to the upcoming review of the

Commonwealth’s Product Stewardship for

Oil Program

– published a Regulatory Impact Statement on

options to reduce the impacts of plastic bags

and a research report on the use of retail plastic

bags, and noted actions being taken by Victoria

and South Australia in relation to the management

of plastic bags

– approved a proposal to assess potential options

for national measures (including container

deposit legislation) to address resource

eff iciency, environmental impacts and the

reduction of litter from packaging wastes such

as beverage containers

• Water

– endorsed and published the National Water

Quality Management Strategy Australian

Guidelines for Water Recycling—(Phase 2)

Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies

as a supplement to the Phase 1 Guidelines

approved by Council in 2006–07

– released the draft documents National Water

Quality Management Strategy Australian

Guidelines for Water Recycling—(Phase 2)

Managed Aquifer Recharge and Stormwater

Re-use for public consultation

– noted that the uptake of water recycling has

not been signif icantly impeded by a lack

of standards for water recycling products

• Amenity

– requested EPH Standing Committee to investigate

the need for a national approach to noise

labelling of portable equipment

• Heritage

– for world heritage matters, created a new national

advisory body comprising representatives from

all property-specif ic former World Heritage

Ministerial Councils (except the Great Barrier

Reef Ministerial Council) following a decision

by the Council of Australian Governments

(COAG) that EPHC would provide the umbrella

for such activities in Australia

– noted that principles for management and

funding for world heritage areas, as well

as an intergovernmental agreement for their

management, would be developed

– adopted, as part of the Cooperative National

Heritage Agenda, principles for consistent

heritage criteria across all jurisdictions

– noted issues raised by the Productivity

Commission in its Report on Historic Heritage


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NEPC Committee — Major Activities

The National Environment Protection Council

Committee (NEPC Committee) is incorporated within

the Environment Protection and Heritage Standing

Committee (EPH Standing Committee). As with the

NEPC, the NEPC Committee retains its identity and

statutory functions. All members of the NEPC Committee

are members of the EPH Standing Committee.

The NEPC Committee met four times in 2007–08

(September, December, March and June) as part of

the EPH Standing Committee. Two meetings were

face-to-face and two were by teleconference.

The activities of the NEPC Committee and the EPH

Standing Committee included the following.

NEPC Committee

• developed a draft NEPC Response to the Review

of the NEPC Acts for consideration by the Council

• developed draft proposals for implementation of

the outcomes of the Review of the NEPC Acts for

consideration by the Council

• refined a draft Statement of Expectation for

consideration by the Council and provided advice

on a draft Statement of Intent by the NEPC

Executive Officer

• approved funding for the review of NEPC protocols

and f ilter criteria

• conducted national consultation on a discussion paper

for the review of the Ambient Air Quality NEPM

• accepted the Annual Report of the Ambient Air

Quality NEPM Peer Review Committee, and received

reports from all jurisdictions on compliance with

the Ambient Air Quality NEPM for 2006–07

• endorsed, under delegation from the Council, the

Reports by the National Environment Protection

Council of its overall assessments of the

implementation and effectiveness of all NEPMs

for the reporting year ended 30 June 2007

• approved, under delegation from the Council, the

2006–07 NEPC Annual Report.

EPH Standing Committee

• Strategic issues

– held its biennial strategic planning day and

developed a draft EPHC Strategic Plan for

consideration by the Council

– considered red tape and regulatory reform issues

in the context of national policy development, in

particular the role of the Office of Best Practice

Regulation in relation to environmental policy

– agreed to develop an implementation plan for a

coordinated Australian Environmental Reporting

System, in conjunction with the Natural

Resources Management Standing Committee

– noted a scoping study for an Alps to Atherton

Landscape Connectivity project and issues

associated with the management of protected

areas (subsequently referred to the Natural

Resources Management Ministerial Council)

– reinforced its previous endorsement of Project

Planning and Budgeting requirements for EPHC

project teams and working groups

• Climate change

– noted the progress of work by the Vehicle Fuel

Efficiency and the Travel Demand Management

Strategy Working Groups

– agreed to carry out a greenhouse audit of its

own activities

– released the report Disposal of Mercury-

containing Lamps to stakeholders, and supported

the planning of further research into disposal

and recycling options for end-of-life compact

fluorescent lamps

– approved funding for the development of

a national wind farm code

• Air quality

– approved funding for a consultancy to determine

the volatile organic compound content and sales

volumes of paints sold in Australia, and approved

a review of national policy options for managing

emissions from paints containing volatile

organic compounds

– approved funding for the development of

a cost–benefit analysis for regulatory and

non-regulatory approaches to the management

of emissions from small engines (including

garden equipment and marine outboards)

– recognised the need for a nationally consistent

approach to the management of emissions from

wood heaters


– provided continued f inancial support to the

National Packaging Covenant


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– endorsed enforcement procedures for the


– noted the proposed trials for the collection,

recovery and recycling of batteries by the industry-

based Australian Battery Recycling Initiative

– noted a proposal by the electronics and electrical

industry to develop a voluntary industry-led

Restriction of Hazardous Substances Code of

Practice for Australia, in order to harmonise with

the European Union Restriction of Hazardous

Substances directive

– approved a project to determine the degradability

of plastic bags

• Chemicals management

– approved a submission on the National Chemicals

Environmental Management Framework to the

Productivity Commission for its study into

Chemicals and Plastics Regulation

• Heritage

– noted that the Australian Government was

f inalising the report on World Heritage and

Climate Change, and provided advice on the

development of the world heritage tentative list

– noted the continuing development of the

Comprehensive National Heritage Inventory

and Information Portal under the Cooperative

National Heritage Agenda

– supported a project on local government

involvement in heritage matters

– noted issues associated with the UNESCO

Convention on the Protection of the Underwater

Cultural Heritage.


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NEPC Act Review

The second review of the NEPC Acts was initiated by

NEPC to give effect to the requirement under section

64 of the National Environment Protection Council

Act 1994 (Cwlth) (mirrored in the NEPC Acts of all

states and territories) for f ive-yearly reviews of the

operation of the Acts and the extent to which the

Acts’ objectives have been achieved. Since the f irst

review of the NEPC Acts in 2001, NEPC has become

incorporated in the Environment Protection and

Heritage Council (EPHC)—a national environment

and heritage policy making body.

The Ramsay Report recognised the benefits and costs

of jurisdictional participation in NEPC activities

and concluded that the core aspects of the NEPC

system are sound. It found that NEPMs are a useful,

streamlined, reasonably cost-effective mechanism to

achieve nationally consistent environmental regulation.

The review made recommendations for enhancing

an already robust national system.

The review was tabled in the parliaments of all

participating jurisdictions during June–August 2007.

NEPC endorsed and published a Response to the

Review at its f irst subsequent meeting in April 2008.

As a result, NEPC Committee and EPH Standing

Committee commenced the development of

proposals for:

• amendment of the Acts to enable NEPMs to be

made on any environmental protection matter

• further streamlining of the process for developing

minor variations to NEPMs

• improved NEPM implementation by jurisdictions

• the development of measurable performance

indicators for inclusion in NEPMs, in order to

facilitate better identif ication of the national

outcomes produced by NEPMs

• a review of NEPC protocols and process

documentation.

Relationships with Other Bodies

NATIONAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL

RESEARCH COUNCIL AND ENHEALTH

COUNCIL

To maintain relationships with the health sector at

a senior level, an observer from the Australian Health

Ministers’ Advisory Council attends EPH Standing

Committee meetings.

Health sector representation continues on relevant

EPHC/NEPC working groups and project teams

(including joint work on the (air quality) Standards

Setting Working Group).

NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMMISSION

The NEPC and the National Transport Commission

(NTC) pursue their common goals through a

Memorandum of Understanding, which establishes

the Land Transport Environment Committee (LTEC).

Following f inalisation of a proposal by LTEC on

managing engine brake noise, the proposal was

endorsed by the Australian Transport Council and

the NEPC.

LTEC continues to develop a decision-making tool

for prioritising strategic issues in the transport

context, for consideration by EPHC and NTC.

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Mr Peter Dolan of the South Australia Environment

Protection Authority is the EPHC representative on

the Standards Sector Board for Environment Safety

and Materials. The NEPC and EPHC continued to

liaise with Standards Australia on matters such as

degradable plastic bags.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TESTING

AUTHORITIES

The Executive Officer is a member of the Reference

Materials Accreditation Advisory Committee of the

National Association of Testing Authorities.

OTHER AGENCIES

The Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination

Assessment and Remediation of the Environment

(CRC CARE) provides signif icant opportunities for

research that may assist in providing information

useful for the development of future policy for site

contamination assessment and remediation. CRC

CARE has undertaken several projects which will

directly provide information for the variation to the

Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM. The

Executive Officer chairs the CRC CARE Policy

Advisory Committee, which links regulators,

industry and research providers.

A National Air Quality Database has been established

under a three-way Memorandum of Understanding

between the Service Corporation, the Commonwealth

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and

the Arts, and the Bureau of Meteorology. The Service

Corporation oversees the interests of jurisdictions

regarding publications that may arise from use of

the database.

The Service Corporation continues to liaise with

the Office of Best Practice Regulation over the

interpretation of the COAG requirements for Impact

Statements and Regulatory Impact Statements, amid

concerns that the requirements engender unwarranted

expense and time in developing national policy

proposals. The Council has initiated an investigation

into ‘choice modelling’, as a possible means of

quantifying environmental benefits.

The Service Corporation continues to work with the

Primary Industries Standing Committee in managing

a consultancy for scientif ic research on contaminants

in fertilisers and industrial residues, which may be

applied to agricultural land, in order to underpin the

development of assessment methods and guidelines.

The cooperative development (with the Natural

Resource Management Ministerial Council) of water

recycling guidelines has been especially useful.


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National Environment Protection Council annual report 2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8 9

NEPC Service Corporation — Operations Report

MAJOR ACTIVITIES

The NEPC Service Corporation provides project

management and support services to the EPHC and

the EPH Standing Committee in which are incorporated

the NEPC and the NEPC Committee respectively.

The NEPC Service Corporation depends on the

quality and stability of its team of professional and

administrative people and its funding resources to

ensure that effective and efficient project management

and business services add value to the joint work

program of the NEPC and EPHC.

The following activities were carried out in 2007–08:

• provision of executive and business services

to NEPC, NEPC Committee, EPHC and EPH

Standing Committee

• provision of project management services to

NEPC, NEPC Committee, EPHC and EPH

Standing Committee, as well as to working

groups/project teams

• provision of support services for

– Ambient Air Quality NEPM Peer Review

Committee

– Land Transport Environment Committee

(Chair and Secretariat in 2007)

• liaison with

– National Health and Medical Research Council

– enHealth

– National Transport Commission

– Standards Australia

• preparation and publication of the 2006–07 NEPC

Annual Report

• preparation of preliminary budget estimates

of expenditure and revenue for 2008–09

• management of the EPHC website at

<www.ephc.gov.au>

• audit of greenhouse gas emissions for meetings of

Council and EPH Standing Committee in 2007–08.

All emissions are offset—some jurisdictions have

an offset policy covering all of their agencies and,

for others, individual agencies offset their own

emissions. Several meetings of EPH Standing

Committee were held by teleconference, thereby

constraining emissions.

FINANCIAL ISSUES

Budget issues

The Service Corporation operational budget at

30 June 2008 had an operating surplus of $67 721.14.

This surplus is predominantly due to increased

income from higher investment interest rates and

some savings in operational expenditures.

Policies and procedures

The NEPC Service Corporation Best Practice Manual

(Policies and Procedures) continues to be reviewed

by the Business Manager.

Staff meetings

Staff meetings are held on a monthly basis.

OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Risk management and governance

NEPC Audit Committee

The purpose of the NEPC Audit Committee is to

provide advice to the Executive Officer on matters

related to prudential management, governance and

risk management.

Membership of the NEPC Audit Committee

comprises:

Mr Mick Bourke—Victoria (Chair)

Ms Anthea Tinney—Commonwealth

Dr Paul Vogel—South Australia/Mr Warren Jones—

Tasmania

Ms Sally Barnes—New South Wales

Support for the Audit Committee is provided by the

NEPC Service Corporation.

The NEPC Audit Committee met twice during 2007–08.

Risk Management Plan

The NEPC Service Corporation has a Risk

Management Plan which is reviewed and refreshed

annually by the Business Manager in liaison with

Service Corporation staff. The Plan clearly identif ies,

assesses and responds to potential risk faced by the

NEPC Service Corporation.

The NEPC Service Corporation tabled its updated

Risk Management Plan at the October 2007 NEPC

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Audit Committee meeting and, following acceptance,

has now adopted and implemented its updated strategy.

Audit report

The NEPC Service Corporation received an

unqualif ied audit report from the Australian National

Audit Office (ANAO) for the 2007–08 financial year.

The audit highlighted only one management issue

requiring attention—the creation of a more detailed

Asset Register which identif ies all of the Service

Corporation’s assets with an individual asset number.

A more comprehensive Asset Register has now

been created.

Claims against the NEPC Service Corporation

(breaches of duties of skill or care and

statutory duties)

The NEPC Service Corporation has insurance cover

for General Liability, Directors’ and Officers’ Liability

(the policy covers the NEPC Executive Officer and

Service Corporation staff, NEPC Committee members

(who are also covered by their own governments) and

the members of committees established by NEPC

(including Section 33 committees).

There were no claims during the 2007–08

financial year.

Property loss or damage

The office and contents of the NEPC Service

Corporation are appropriately insured for destruction

and loss or damage (e.g. f ire, theft).

There were no claims during the 2007–08

financial year.

Banking arrangements

The NEPC Service Corporation completed the

transfer of its operational banking arrangements

to Suncorp Metway Ltd (Suncorp). The decision

to change was based on sound business principles

(e.g. a lower fee structure, superior internet banking

arrangements, better-quality customer service and

easier day-to-day accessibility to the bank than

previously provided).

The services and facilities provided by Suncorp are

meeting the requirements of the Service Corporation.

Information technology—Spam filtering

The NEPC Service Corporation utilises a third party

to provide an e-mail f iltering service, isolating

potential spam and other ‘offensive’ material before

it is delivered to the NEPC Service Corporation

servers. Statistics show that this service has reduced

spam e-mails through NEPC Service Corporation

servers by over 99%.

Occupational health safety and welfare

All occupational health, safety and welfare

(OHS&W) policies were reviewed and updated

as a part of the review of the NEPC Service

Corporation Best Practice Manual.

OHS&W is a standing item at all monthly staff meetings

and regular OHS&W inspections are undertaken.

During 2007–08, the NEPC Service Corporation

continued its record of never having an OHS&W claim.

Environment management system

The NEPC Service Corporation has an Environmental

Management System in place to enhance the

environmental sustainability of its operations.

Human resource issues

The NEPC Service Corporation has a comprehensive

Human Resource Management Framework, including

Performance Management and Feedback, Induction,

Diversity and Code of Conduct provisions.

All staff actively participate in formal performance

management sessions.

Industrial relations

No industrial disputes occurred during 2007–08.

Recruitment and retention

Mr Mike Krasowski resigned as Business Manager

on 1 April 2008. He was replaced by Mr David

Whittenbury on 7 April 2008.

In order to minimise the risk of lost corporate

knowledge through staff turnover, all policies are

documented and reviewed annually.


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Annual leave strategy

The NEPC Service Corporation Terms and

Conditions of Employment for 2007–09 requires that

staff members strive to take their annual leave in the

year in which it is accrued, and to the extent that this

is not possible, that the approval of the Executive

Officer be sought for any carry-forward. This matter

is also addressed as part of the annual performance

management and feedback review process. Mutually

agreed leave management plans for all staff have

resulted in considerable reductions in contingent

liabilities for annual leave.

The Executive Officer approved the carry-over of

29.1 days of annual leave as at 30 June 2008 (32 days

as at 30 June 2007).

Sick leave

The annual entitlement to paid sick leave for full time

staff is 15 working days per annum. During 2007–08,

sick leave taken per FTE was 6.4 days (5.5 days in

2006–07). Sick leave levels are not considered to be

an issue for the NEPC Service Corporation.

Staff training and development

The NEPC Service Corporation is a small

organisation, and recruits applicants who already

possess the training, skills and abilities to do the

tasks required of them. Nevertheless, specialist

training is undertaken by staff when appropriate.

In 2007–08, training focused primarily on increasing

skill levels in the use of the MYOB Accounting system

for the Accounting and Finance Officer. In addition,

a Project Manager attended a three-day National

Water Recycling and Re-use Technology Conference

as part of staff development.

Misconduct

There were no formal misconduct issues during the

2007–08 f inancial year.

FUNDING

NEPC Service Corporation—Operations

The Commonwealth, states and territories fund the

operations of the NEPC Service Corporation

according to the agreed funding formula (50% from

the Commonwealth and 50% from states and territories

based on population).

The net budget approved by NEPC for the operations

of the NEPC Service Corporation in 2007–08

(excluding Priority Projects and Peer Review

Committee) was $911 900.

Contribution from some jurisdictions for the 2008–09

financial year were prepaid in 2007–08. These

prepayments are reflected in the Financial Statements

but not in Table 1.

Figure 1 and Table 1 illustrate the allocation of funding

by jurisdictions for the operations of the NEPC

Service Corporation.

Table 1: Funding by jurisdiction for NEPC

Service Corporation operations 2007–08

Jurisdiction $

Commonwealth 455 950

New South Wales 151 102

Victoria 112 683

Queensland 89 704

Western Australia 45 385

South Australia 34 406

Tasmania 10 815

Australian Capital Territory 7 277

Northern Territory 4 578

Total 911 900

Commonwealth50.000%

NT0.502%

Vic12.357%

NSW16.570%

ACT0.798%

SA3.773%

Qld9.837%

Tas1.186%

WA4.977%

Figure 1: Funding mix

NEPC Service Corporation—Operations 2007–08

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NEPC AND EPHC RELATED ACTIVITIES

The 2007–08 budget allocated for NEPC and EPHC

related activities and projects was $623 361. The funds

were distributed between major projects ($606 281),

EPHC Priority Projects ($15 080), and Peer Review

Committee ($2000).

In most cases, funding for NEPC and EPHC related

activities is provided by jurisdictions according to the

NEPC funding formula.

For NEPM development and variation projects,

contributions by those jurisdictions providing officers

to project teams are adjusted to allow for the in-kind

contributions made by those jurisdictions.

Table 2 and Figure 2 illustrate the distribution

of funding (including in-kind contributions) by

jurisdictions for NEPC and EPHC related activities.

EPHC WEBSITE

The EPHC website at <www.ephc.gov.au> incorporates

information relating to both NEPC and EPHC.

The EPHC website is currently being redeveloped.

The new site will use innovative software that enables

all PDFs within the site to be searched. This enhanced

search function will provide a much more user

friendly and powerful tool than that available on the

current website.

The EPHC website:

• is compliant with World Wide Web Consortium

standards

• has META data for reference to documents and

hyper text mark-up language (html) which are

compliant with the Dublin Core specif ications.

Almost 5.3 million hits were recorded for the

2007–08 f inancial year; a 15% increase over the

previous year.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

AND STAFFING

The organisation structure of the NEPC Service

Corporation is set out in Figure 4.

CONFERENCES

The Executive Officer made a presentation at the

Ecoforum: Residual Risk Stream conference held

on the Gold Coast.

The Executive Officer attended the following

conferences:

• NATA Reference Material Producers Gas Forum,

Sydney

• CRC CARE Communicate08 Conference, Adelaide.

Table 2: Funding by jurisdiction for NEPC

and EPHC related activities 2007–08

Jurisdiction $

Commonwealth 369 358

New South Wales 103 780

Victoria 55 046

Queensland 39 467

Western Australia 24 252

South Australia 20 970

Tasmania 4 661

Australian Capital Territory 2 694

Northern Territory 3 133

Total 623 361

Figure (2): Funding Mix

NEPC and EPHC Related Activities 2006–07

Commonwealth59.253%

ACT0.503%

Qld6.331%

Vic8.831%

NSW16.648%

NT0.432%

SA3.364%

WA3.890%

Tas0.748%


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Figure 4: NEPC Service Corporation organisation chart as at 30 June 2008

Project Officer

Haemish Middleton

Project Officer

Monina Gilbey

Admin Officer

Susan Whitehead

Admin Officer

Andrea Gill

Project Manager

Ian Newbery

Project Manager

Kerry Scott

Executive Officer

Bruce Kennedy

Business Manager

David Whittenbury

Admin Officer

Bronwyn Gobbett

0

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2 000 000

3 000 000

4 000 000

6 000 000

5 000 00019

98–9

9

1999

–00

2000

–01

2001

–02

2004

–05

2005

–06

2006

–07

2007

–08

2003

–04

2002

–03

561,515

787,9631,103,259

1,390,391

2,799,301

4,648,636

5,287,306

3,763,085

2,661,504

2,136,369

Year

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its’

Figure 3: EPHC website statistics — ‘Hits’

NEPMs — Activities

AIR QUALITY

Ambient Air Quality NEPM—Review

The Ambient Air Quality NEPM sets national standards

and goals for air quality and provides a nationally

consistent framework for the monitoring and reporting

of six criteria pollutants—nitrogen dioxide (NO2),

ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide

(SO2), particles (as PM10) and lead (Pb). Criteria air

pollutants are widely distributed in ambient air in

Australian cities. They are also associated with

photochemical smog and secondary particle haze

formation, and with adverse health effects.

In June 2007, NEPC released a Discussion Paper

on the policy framework, monitoring and reporting

aspects of the NEPM.

A second Discussion Paper, focusing on the

standards, is being developed for public release early

in 2009. This Discussion Paper will review the basis

of deriving standards, the form of the standards, the

selection of health outcomes on which the standards

are focused and how Australian air quality standards

fit in relation to trends and practices overseas.

Ambient Air Quality NEPM—Peer ReviewCommittee

The Peer Review Committee was established to assist

in the development and assessment of jurisdictional

monitoring plans for the Ambient Air Quality NEPM.

The Peer Review Committee comprises two nominees

from industry, two from the environment movement,

and one from each jurisdiction. Dr Mike Manton of

Monash University chairs the committee. Executive

support is provided by the NEPC Service Corporation.

The Peer Review Committee has an important role in

quality assurance for monitoring and other methods

used to assess air quality and on the national consistency

of technical reporting under the NEPM, as well as

any proposed variations to monitoring plans. These

activities will help to deliver a scientif ically robust,

consistent national database of ambient air quality

performance for the Australian community.

The Peer Review Committee met once during 2007–08.

Activities undertaken included:

• providing advice to the NEPC Committee on the

national consistency of technical reporting under

the NEPM

• providing advice to the Review of the Ambient Air

Quality NEPM.

All technical papers developed by the Peer Review

Committee are available on the EPHC website.

Diesel Vehicle Emissions NEPM—Variation

During 2007–08, NEPC initiated a variation to the

National Environment Protection (Diesel Vehicle

Emissions) Measure. The variation is considered to

be a Minor Variation under section 22A of the NEPC

Act as there are no major policy implications or

signif icant associated costs.

The proposed variation will:

• revise Schedule A (1) Guideline on Smoky Vehicle

Programs to include additional guidance and

information

• revise Schedule A (2) Guideline on Diesel Vehicle

Emission Testing and Repair Programs by

simplifying reference to the in-service emissions

standards and tests

• update Schedule A (4) Guideline on Diesel Retrofit

Programs to include additional information

and guidance

• delete Schedule A (5) Guideline on Diesel Engine

Rebuild Programs.

In addition, the project team developing the variation

will make recommendations relating to

implementation that include developing:

• performance indicators for assessing and reporting

on compliance programs

• a proposal for periodic national testing

• evaluation techniques that jurisdictions could

incorporate into the delivery of information and

training programs

• a detailed proposal on in-service emissions standards

and tests.

It is anticipated that NEPC will consider making

the proposed variation and recommendations related

to implementation at its f irst meeting in 2009.

PM2.5 Equivalence Program

When the variation to the Ambient Air Quality NEPM

was made in 2003 to incorporate advisory reporting

standards for PM2.5, provision was made for a

program to determine whether gravimetric methods

of monitoring PM2.5 (the reference method) and

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continuous methods (such as the Tapered Element

Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM)) can be considered

equivalent.

During 2007–08, a consultant was commissioned to

review current Australian and international evaluations

of appropriate monitoring mechanisms for PM2.5.

The f indings of this review will be considered in

conjunction with collocation studies being undertaken

by jurisdictions to determine the appropriate methods

for PM2.5 monitoring under the NEPM.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Tyres Product Stewardship Agreement andTyres NEPM—Development

In 2005, NEPC initiated the development of a generic

Product Stewardship NEPM. In June 2007, NEPC

resolved to narrow the scope of the NEPM to a stand-

alone NEPM in relation to end-of-life tyres.

In April 2008, EPHC and NEPC released a consultation

package on end-of-life tyres for public comment.

This package consisted of the following documents:

• the draft Tyres Product Stewardship Agreement

• a brochure outlining an innovative proposal by the

Australian Tyre Industry Council for addressing

the issue of end-of-life tyres

• a Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement for

End-of-Life Tyres Management

• the draft Tyres NEPM

• the Tyres NEPM Impact Statement

• Tyres NEPM Threshold Study.

Under the proposed co-regulatory model, the Tyres

Product Stewardship Agreement is the primary

instrument for bringing about improved performance

in the management of end-of-life tyres. The Agreement

provides for the establishment of at least one product

stewardship scheme. The tyre industry proposes to

introduce a scheme that focuses on stimulating demand

for tyre derived products via the application of an

advanced recycling fee/benefit payment arrangement

as a market-pull initiative. The Agreement also

includes performance targets, establishes governance

arrangements and provides for the collection and

reporting of data. The Tyres NEPM will guide

jurisdictions in the creation of a nationally consistent

regulatory safety net affecting tyre producers who are

not part of any scheme/s approved under the Agreement.

Public forums were held in all capital cities

throughout June 2008. The forums were attended by

a total of 175 people, representing tyre producers, tyre

recyclers, industry groups, community organisations

and governments. Thirty-eight written submissions

were received.

The co-regulatory proposal will be reviewed in the

light of submissions, and documents amended if

warranted. It is anticipated that EPHC will consider

endorsing the Agreement and NEPC consider making

the NEPM at the f irst Council meeting in 2009.

SITE CONTAMINATION

Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM—Review

The Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM was

made in 1999 and is the premier guidance document

in Australia for the assessment of land contamination.

It addresses a complex area that is particularly

subject to new developments in scientif ic knowledge

and new technologies.

A review of the NEPM was f inalised in October

2006. It was clear from the review report that the

NEPM delivered benefits to its users. However,

the review demonstrated that NEPM had potential

to meet these needs better and to deliver greater

benefits to jurisdictions and their stakeholders. For

example, it was evident that there were concerns

about inappropriate use of investigation levels as

clean-up criteria. Misuse of these levels result in

unwarranted cost in site remediation and insufficient

guidance regarding asbestos matters.

In June 2007, NEPC initiated a variation to the

NEPM and its schedules, which addresses the 27

recommendations made in the review report.

Development of the variation is due for completion

in early 2010. The variation process includes a revision

of the methods for Deriving Health Investigation

Levels and Ecological Investigation Levels, as

well as improved guidance on the assessment and

management of asbestos products contamination and

clearer guidance on a range of investigation and

assessment procedures.


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INNOVATIVE POLICY TOOLS AND

INFORMATION

National Pollutant Inventory NEPM—Variation

The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) NEPM

has been in place for ten years and the Australian

community is increasingly aware of its ability to

provide information on emissions of substances

to air, land and water.

NEPC varied the NPI NEPM in 2007 to enhance the

NEPM as a major tool for environmental management

and cleaner production. One such change was the

inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions reporting as

an interim measure, pending the establishment of a

new national purpose-built greenhouse gas reporting

mechanism.

In April 2008, NEPC initiated a minor variation

process for the NPI NEPM to remove the greenhouse

gas and energy reporting provisions in the NEPM, in

order to minimise any confusion faced by industries

in reporting to the NPI following the introduction of

the Commonwealth National Greenhouse and Energy

Reporting Act 2007. A draft NEPM variation and

explanatory statement were released for public

consultation in June 2008.

Removal of greenhouse gas reporting provisions will

have no practical impact on the existing NPI program.

The minor variation is an administrative action, the

effect of which will be to provide NPI stakeholders

with an unambiguous version of the NEPM. NEPC

is expected to consider making the NEPM variation

at its meeting in November 2008.


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AIR QUALITY

Air Quality Working Group

The Air Quality Working Group reports to EPH

Standing Committee. Its role is to advise EPH Standing

Committee on projects related to the following:

• strategic and emerging air quality issues

• national and joint Australian–New Zealand air

quality research priorities

• collaborative work on air quality projects, such

as the development of inventories, modelling,

monitoring techniques, approaches to monitoring

infrastructure/equipment and options for addressing

emission risks

• developing closer cooperation with sectors and

agencies with an interest in air quality issues,

including those responsible for health, transport,

land use planning and greenhouse policy.

High priority project areas facilitated by the Air

Quality Working Group during 2007–08 include:

• developing an Australian approach to air quality

standard setting

• air pollution and health research studies

• national air quality database.

Air quality standard setting

In the past, standard setting processes in Australia

used a variety of frameworks and methods, each one

with its own merits and disadvantages. The non-

existence of an overall agreed methodology was

reflected in the considerable debate across the health

and environment sectors about standard setting.

EPHC established the standard setting working group

to develop an agreed approach to setting Australian

air quality standards. The working group comprises

equal representation of health and environment sectors

and is jointly chaired by a representative from the

Environment Protection and Heritage Council and from

the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council.

A draft framework has been developed that builds

on the Risk Assessment Task Force Report but

extends beyond risk assessment to take into account

health, social, economic and environmental impacts

and exposure assessment, together with a review

of international approaches to standard setting. A

workshop involving health and environment experts

from around Australia and overseas was held in July

2006 to f inalise an agreed approach to health risk

assessment.

During 2007–08, work was undertaken to develop the

exposure assessment component of the risk assessment

framework and it is anticipated that the recommended

approach will be presented to EPHC for release for

public consultation in early 2009.

Air quality database

In 2005, the EPH Standing Committee agreed to

establish a national air quality database, to be housed

and implemented by the Bureau of Meteorology with

the Commonwealth providing funding support and

jurisdictions supplying their monitoring data collected

under the National Environment Protection (Ambient

Air Quality) Measure and the National Environment

Protection (Air Toxics) Measure.

The database structure has been established, though

work is continuing on refinements and improved

functionalities, such as systems for data validation

and upload. During 2007–08, a key focus has been

on obtaining and uploading historical (i.e. 2002–06)

monitoring data collected by each jurisdiction under

the Ambient Air Quality NEPM.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between

the then Commonwealth Department of Environment

and Heritage, the Bureau of Meteorology and the

NEPC Service Corporation was signed in 2006. The

MOU sets out arrangements for the development and

maintenance of the national database.

Children’s Health and Air Pollution Study

EPHC, in collaboration with the University of

Queensland and the Woolcock Institute of Medical

Research, is undertaking a three-year study to determine

whether current air quality standards adequately

protect the health of Australian schoolchildren.

Current Australian air quality standards have been

based on overseas data. Such studies have demonstrated

adverse health effects, but effects may be different

in Australian populations.

The primary purpose of the study is to obtain

quantitative effect estimates for the association

between air pollutants and adverse health outcomes,

such as increases in respiratory symptoms and

EPHC Activities


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decreases in lung function in school-aged children

across Australia. The pollutants of concern are those

for which standards are set in the Ambient Air

Quality NEPM. The study outcomes will inform the

review of the NEPM.

During 2006–08 almost 3000 children were tested

from selected study sites in ACT, Victoria, Queensland,

South Australia, Western Australia and New South

Wales. Sites were chosen for range and variability

in air pollution levels and for proximity to long-term

monitoring stations.

The data are currently being analysed and the report

on the study f indings will be presented to EPHC in

mid 2009.

Multi-city Mortality and Morbidity Study

As reported last year, positive responses to the study

report have been received from international peer

reviewers, with the main focus of comment being

on interpretation and presentation of results. The

researchers have addressed the comments made by

the peer reviewers in f inalising the report. The report

will be presented to EPHC in early 2009.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Plastic bags

A voluntary Code of Practice agreed between major

retailers and the Council was developed to achieve a

reduction in plastic bag use in Australia in the period

2003–05. The Code of Practice committed major

retailer signatories to achieving a 50% reduction in

plastic bag use by 2005. Major retailers reduced bag

use by 44% and, nationally, Australians reduced bag

use overall by 34%. In June 2006, given the limited

potential for subsequent voluntary initiatives to

signif icantly reduce plastic bag use, Council resolved

to consider regulatory options to phase out plastic

bags by the end of 2008.

A consultation regulatory impact statement (RIS)

was released for public consultation in January 2007.

The consultation RIS found that regulatory options

for a phase out had economic costs that signif icantly

outweighed the environmental benefits. Notwithstanding

this, however, Council reaff irmed its phase out

objective in June 2007.

A decision RIS analysing the economic, social

and environmental impacts of four options—litter

management, mandatory retailer charge at point

of sale, a government levy and a ban—was considered

by Council in April 2008. After considering all

options, Council did not endorse uniform national

regulatory action to ban or place a charge on plastic

bags at that time.

End-of-life televisions and computers

In 2005, NEPC initiated the development of a generic

Product Stewardship NEPM. At that time, it was

envisaged the generic NEPM would include a schedule

addressing the management of end-of-life televisions.

In June 2007, NEPC resolved to narrow the scope

of the NEPM to a stand-alone NEPM in relation to

end-of-life tyres.

However, work has continued on researching the

nature and scale of the problems associated with

putting end-of-life televisions and computers into

landfill and the benefits of recycling them. Options

for tackling the environmental problems created by

disposal of televisions and computers have been

identif ied and an analysis of the costs and benefits

of each possible solution commenced. A key aim

of this work is to establish whether the problems

caused by end-of-life televisions and computers

are signif icant enough to justify government

intervention in the market.

The Council of Australian Governments guidelines

on regulatory impact statements now require more

quantitative evidence of impacts and benefits to

determine if government intervention would result

in a net benefit to the community. Research into

valuation methods that have not been previously

used for waste issues has been completed, and it is

envisaged that Council will utilise this research to

gather primary data to facilitate a robust cost benefit

analysis of regulatory options.


The National Packaging Covenant (NPC) contains

a provision that the NPC Council report to EPHC

on the f indings of a comprehensive, independent

evaluation of the progress of the Covenant against

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Council endorsed the scope of this mid-term review,

which will involve independent consultants undertaking

various components of the work. The scope of the

review includes:

• quantitative results against the three overarching

targets and 2003 baseline

• quantitative and qualitative performance against

other key performance indicators

• prediction of quantitative achievements by 2010

• quantity and quality of action plans and annual

reports and the contribution signatories are making

to the Covenant

• assessment of NPC projects and their contribution

to NPC targets and goals

• stakeholder views about the Covenant’s effectiveness

• evaluation of the Covenant in the current

economic/social/political environment

• Covenant coverage in terms of signatories, by

number and sector

• effectiveness of the underpinning Used Packaging

Materials NEPM.

It is anticipated that Council will consider the

report of the mid-term review at its meeting in

November 2008.

In April 2008, Council also noted a report on

complementary economic mechanisms, which

identif ied instruments that could be complementary

to the objectives of the Covenant. The instruments

identif ied are to be available for consideration should

the mid-term review show that the Covenant is unlikely

to deliver satisfactory outcomes, and could potentially

be considered in the design of future covenants.

WATER QUALITY

Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling—Phase two

During 2007–08, EPHC in cooperation with the

Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council

and the National Health and Medical Research Council,

made considerable progress on the development of

Phase 2 of Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling.

Phase 2 builds on the risk management approach

outlined in Phase 1 of the guidelines (released in

November 2006) by providing specif ic advice on:

• Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies

• Managed Aquifer Recharge

• Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse.

A draft Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies

module was released for public comment in July

2007. Consultation meetings were held in each state

and territory capital in August and September 2007

with 30 written submissions received on the draft

module. The EPHC approved the f inal version of the

module at its meeting in April 2008.

Draft modules on Managed Aquifer Recharge and

Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse were released for

public comment in April 2008 with consultation

meetings held in each state and territory capital in

May and June 2008. It is expected that EPHC will

consider the f inal versions of the modules at its f irst

meeting in 2009.

All documents related to Australian Guidelines for

Water Recycling are available on the EPHC website.

COOPERATIVE NATIONAL HERITAGE

AGENDA

There were several advances made for world heritage

and the Cooperative National Heritage Agenda in

2007–08.

Following a decision by COAG that EPHC would

provide the umbrella for world heritage management

in Australia, Council created a new national advisory

body comprising representatives from all property-

specif ic former World Heritage Ministerial Councils

(except the Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Council).

Principles for the management and funding for world

heritage areas, as well as an intergovernmental

agreement for their management, are being developed.

The Australian Government is f inalising a report on

World Heritage and Climate Change, and provided

advice on the development of the world heritage

tentative list.

Council f inalised and adopted principles for

consistent heritage criteria across all jurisdictions

as part of the Cooperative National Heritage Agenda.

The comprehensive National Heritage Inventory and

Information Portal is under continuing development.


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CLIMATE CHANGE

Wind energy

In April 2008, the EPHC agreed to examine how

impediments to the uptake of wind energy might be

addressed, including the possibility of establishing

a national code for wind farms. Addressing

impediments to the uptake of wind energy is vital to

building community acceptance of a technology that

has the potential to deliver a considerable part of

Australia’s future electricity needs and greenhouse

gas abatement.

The EPH Standing Committee established a working

group to investigate the issues and consult with a

stakeholder reference group. The working group met

in June 2008 to finalise membership of the stakeholder

reference group and begin drafting a report on the

issues for EPHC.

PUBLICATIONS RELEASED IN 2007–08

All publications produced up to 30 June 2008 are

listed in Appendix 3.


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NEPC is required by the National Environment

Protection Council Act 1994 (section 24) to report on

the overall assessment of the implementation and

effectiveness of NEPMs and to have regard to reports

on NEPM implementation from the Commonwealth,

states and territories.

Assessments by NEPC of the implementation

and effectiveness for the following NEPMs are

provided below:

• Air Toxics

• Ambient Air Quality

• Assessment of Site Contamination

• Diesel Vehicle Emissions

• Movement of Controlled Waste between States

and Territories

• National Pollutant Inventory

• Used Packaging Materials.

Assessment of the Implementation

and Effectiveness of NEPMs

N E P C R e p o r t o n t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e

Air Toxics NEPM

2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8

‘Based on monitoring datasubmitted by jurisdictions, air toxicslevels in Australia are low comparedto levels internationally.’

PART 1 — GENERAL INFORMATION

NEPM details

Title: National Environment Protection

(Air Toxics) Measure

Made by Council: 3 December 2004

Commencement Date: 20 December 2004

(advertised in Commonwealth of Australia Special

Gazette No. S 52904, 20 December 2004)

NEPM goal (or purpose)

The goal of the National Environment Protection

(Air Toxics) Measure is set out in clause 5 of the

Measure as follows:

5. National environment protection goal

The national environment protection goal

of this Measure is to improve the information

base regarding ambient air toxics within the

Australian environment in order to facilitate

the development of standards following a

Review of the Measure within eight years

of its making.

Desired environmental outcomes

The desired environmental outcome of the National

Environment Protection (Air Toxics) Measure is set

out in clause 6 of the Measure as follows:

6. Desired environmental outcome

The desired environmental outcome of this

Measure is to facilitate management of air

toxics in ambient air that will allow for the

equivalent protection of human health and well

being, by –

(1) providing for the generation of comparable,

reliable information on the levels of toxic

air pollutants (‘air toxics’) at sites where

signif icantly elevated concentrations of one

or more of these air toxics are likely to occur

(‘Stage 1 sites’) and where the potential for

significant population exposure to air toxics

exists (‘Stage 2 sites’).

(2) establishing a consistent approach to the

identif ication of such sites for use by

jurisdictions.

(3) establishing a consistent frame of reference

(‘monitoring investigation levels’) for use

by jurisdictions in assessing the likely

significance of levels of air toxics measured

at Stage 2 sites.

(4) adopting a nationally consistent approach

to monitoring air toxics at a range of

locations (eg. near major industrial sites,

major roads, areas affected by wood smoke).

Evaluation criteria

The assessment of the effectiveness of the National

Environment Protection (Air Toxics) Measure is

based on the following criteria:

General criteria (specified in the NEPC

Implementation Reporting Protocol)

• progress in implementing the NEPM

• compliance by parties bound by the NEPM

with NEPM protocols and/or other NEPM

reporting requirements

• progress toward achievement of the NEPM goal,

the desired environmental outcomes and any

NEPM standards

• issues arising that reflect on the eff iciency and

simplicity of NEPM administration.


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NEPC Report on the implementation of the

Air Toxics NEPM


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Table 1: Summary of implementation frameworks

Jurisdiction Summary of implementation frameworks

Commonwealth • The NEPM is implemented administratively under the National

Environment Protection Measures (Implementation) Act 1998.

New South Wales • The NEPM is implemented by the Protection of the Environment

Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2002 and Protection of the Environment

Operations (General) Regulation 1998 under the Protection of the

Environment Operations Act 1997.

Victoria • The key legislative instrument is the State Environment Protection Policy

(Air Quality Management).

Queensland • The NEPM is implemented under the Environmental Protection Act 1994,

Environmental Protection (Air) Policy 1997 and programs under the South

East Queensland Regional Plan 2005–2026.

Western Australia • The NEPM is implemented under the National Environment Protection

Council (Western Australia) Act 1996 and by programs in the Perth Air

Quality Management Plan.

• The Environmental Protection Authority has f inalised a draft State

Environmental (Ambient Air) Policy.

South Australia • The transitional provisions in the Environment Protection (Miscellaneous)

Amendment Act 2005, enable the NEPM to continue to operate as an

Environment Protection Policy.

Tasmania • The NEPM is a state policy under the State Policies and Projects Act 1993

and is given effect under the Environment Management and Pollution

Control Act 1994. The management of air toxics is included in the

Tasmanian Air Quality Strategy 2006.

Australian Capital Territory • The NEPM is implemented under the Environment Protection Act 1997.

Northern Territory • The key legislative instruments are the Waste Management and Pollution

Control Act 1998 and the National Environment Protection Council

(Northern Territory) Act 2004.

PART 2 — IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEPM, AND ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

This part provides a summary of jurisdictional reports on implementation and the Council’s overall assessment

of the implementation of the NEPM.

Legislative, regulatory and administrative framework


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Jurisdiction Summary of implementation activities

Commonwealth • To assist targeting future management strategies, the Commonwealth

commissioned the following studies:

– urban-scale population exposure

– particles, ozone and air toxics in rural communities during prescribed

burning seasons

– indoor air pollutants.

• The Commonwealth established a pollution prevention strategy which

identif ies priority pollutants to be managed on Defence sites.

New South Wales • New South Wales undertook preparatory work to enable commencement

of new air toxics monitoring in 2008-09.

Victoria • Victoria focused on:

– monitoring all f ive air toxics at a number of sites including a regional

site; monitoring commenced at an additional site.

– obtaining NATA accreditation for the analysis methods for benzene,

toluene and xylenes.

Queensland • Queensland focused on:

– improving the information base on local air toxics

– implementing a new program, ‘Clean and Healthy Air for Gladstone’,

to help address community concerns regarding industrial emissions

– monitoring a range of air toxics at Springwood.

Western Australia • Western Australia progressed a number of initiatives to improve the

information base regarding ambient air toxics:

– the Background Air Quality (Air Toxics) Study

– the Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) Air Emissions Monitoring Project

– Kwinana Background Air Quality Study

– air toxics sampling in Collie

– the Midland Background Air Quality Study.

South Australia • South Australia focused on:

– completing the ‘Review of Air Toxics Desktop Analysis for the National

Environment Protection (Air Toxics) Measure 2008’

– modelling air toxics for the Adelaide airshed

– incorporating ‘The Air Pollution Model’ (TAPM) to allow for

meteorological and topographical influence on pollutant movements

– reviewing monitoring instrumentation permitted under the NEPM

to monitor air toxics

– conducting a study in collaboration with the National Research Centre

for Environmental Toxicology (EnTox) on polyaromatic hydrocarbon

measurements.

Tasmania • Tasmania focused on:

– improving the information base for air toxics under the ‘Tasmanian Air

Quality Strategy 2006’

– collaborating with industrial and local government partners to establish

an air monitoring station in George Town

– sourcing funding for air toxics monitoring programs

– undertaking preliminary monitoring to confirm Stage 2 sites in Hobart

and Launceston.


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Council evaluation and assessment ofjurisdictional implementation activities

A number of jurisdictions conducted air toxics

monitoring and modelling to establish baseline data

following previously undertaken desktop analyses.

Some jurisdictions have undertaken monitoring

studies of air toxics to gather further information,

such as epidemiological effects, monitoring methods

and equipment.

Jurisdictions continue to raise concerns about the

funding and resources available for monitoring

networks and reporting against the monitoring

investigation levels set out in the NEPM.

PART 3 — ASSESSMENT OF NEPM

EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM allows for the collection of national data

on the levels of ambient air toxics, which informs

subsequent government programs for abatement and

management. The criteria and guidance set out in the

NEPM enable jurisdictions to assess the likelihood of

signif icant population exposure. Based on monitoring

data submitted by jurisdictions, air toxics levels in

Australia are low compared to levels internationally.

Some jurisdictions continued to identify and

prioritise Stage 1 and Stage 2 sites, with ongoing

monitoring at some of these sites.

Due to resource constraints in some jurisdictions, no

monitoring has been undertaken. The lack of national

monitoring data presents diff iculties in developing

a comprehensive national picture of the state of air

toxics. Therefore, the effectiveness of the NEPM

in protecting human health and well-being cannot

be established.

In April 2007, the NEPC Committee agreed to postpone

the mid-term review of the NEPM for a twelve-month

period to allow for the collection of sufficient data

to inform the review.

PART 4 — REPORTING REQUIRED BY

THE NEPM

Each jurisdiction is required to submit a report in

accordance with clause 13 of the NEPM. For the

reporting period ended 31 December 2007, these

reports include the results of desktop analyses

identifying sites and any monitoring that had been

undertaken.

PART 5 — REPORTING ON

IMPLEMENTATION BY JURISDICTIONS

The Annexes to this report are in Appendix 6:

Annex 1: Commonwealth 127

Annex 2: New South Wales 129

Annex 3: Victoria 132

Annex 4: Queensland 137

Annex 5: Western Australia 140

Annex 6: South Australia 143

Annex 7: Tasmania 146

Annex 8: Australian Capital Territory 148

Annex 9: Northern Territory. 149


Australian Capital Territory • Australian Capital Territory focused on completing a desktop analysis to

identify Stage 1 and Stage 2 sites. Only one Stage 1 site was identif ied,

which was not subsequently identif ied as a Stage 2 site.

Northern Territory • The Northern Territory did not undertake any further implementation

activities during the reporting period.


Ambient Air Quality NEPM

2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8

‘Monitoring results indicate that the NEPM standards are being metand that air quality in Australia isgenerally good by internationalstandards.’


NEPM details


(Ambient Air Quality) Measure

Made by Council: 26 June 1998

Commencement Date: 8 July 1998

(advertised in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette

No. GN 27, 8 July 1998, p. 2211)



(Ambient Air Quality) Measure is set out in clause 6

of the Measure as follows:


The National Environment Protection Goal

of this Measure is to achieve the National

Environment Protection Standards as assessed

in accordance with the monitoring protocol

(Part 4) within ten years from commencement

to the extent specif ied in Schedule 2 column 5.



Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure

is set out in clause 5 of the Measure as follows:



Measure is ambient air quality that allows for

the adequate protection of human health and

well–being.

Evaluation criteria


Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality)

Measure is based on the following criteria:




• compliance by parties bound by the NEPM with

NEPM protocols and/or other NEPM reporting

requirements



NEPM standards




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Commonwealth • The Commonwealth implements the NEPM administratively. However,

it is not required by the NEPM to undertake monitoring as it does not have

authority over regions with a population of 25 000 or more.

New South Wales • The NEPM is implemented under the Protection of the Environment

Operations Act 1997, Clean Air Regulation 2002, and through programs

in the NSW government’s 25–year Air Quality Management Plan, ‘Action

for Air’.

Victoria • The key legislative instruments are the State Environment Protection Policy

(Ambient Air Quality) and the State Environment Protection Policy (Air

Quality Management) made under the Environment Protection Act 1970.

Queensland • The NEPM is implemented under the Environmental Protection Act 1994,

the Environmental Protection (Air) Policy 1997 and by programs under the

South–east Queensland Regional Plan 2005–26.

Western Australia • The NEPM is implemented under the National Environment Protection

Council (Western Australia) Act 1996 and by programs under the Perth Air

Quality Management Plan.

• Fuel quality standards are set through the Environmental Protection (Diesel

and Petrol) Regulations 1999.


Amendment Act 2005 enable the NEPM to continue to operate as an


Tasmania • The NEPM is a state policy under the State Policies and Projects Act 1993.

The NEPM standards are also incorporated under the Tasmanian Air

Quality Strategy 2006.

• The Environment Protection (Air Quality) Policy 2004 was made under the

Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994.

• Control of the import, sale and installation of wood heaters is administered

through the Environmental Management and Pollution Control (Distributed

Atmospheric Emissions) Regulations 2007.

Australian Capital Territory • The NEPM is implemented by the Environment Protection Regulation 1997

under the Environment Protection Act 1997.


Control Act 1998 and the National Environment Protection Council

(Northern Territory) Act 2004.

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Table 2: Summary of implementation activities


Commonwealth • The Commonwealth focused on:

– implementing new vehicle emission and fuel quality standards, including

compliance and enforcement activities, to ensure that pollutant emissions

from vehicles continue to decline

– taking a lead role in efforts to reduce emissions from other priority

sources, such as non-road engines

– developing a nationally consistent approach to woodheater management,

including conducting a survey of woodheater operator behaviour

– funding a woodheater buy-back program for the Tamar Valley

– undertaking research on priority air quality issues so that pollution

management strategies can be better targeted

– developing tools, such as the national air quality database, to assist

future decisions on standard setting and management strategies.

New South Wales • New South Wales focused on:

– releasing the NSW Air Emissions Inventory which, together with

stakeholder consultation, supported the review of the ‘Action for Air’

Air Quality Management Plan

– campaign monitoring at a number of regional sites

– releasing the NSW Cleaner Vehicles and Fuels Strategy, including ‘Vapour

Recovery at Service Stations’ and the ‘NSW Diesel Retrofit Program’

– implementing a woodheater strategy under the Clean Air, Healthy

Communities Program.


– continuing programs aimed at reducing the impact of domestic woodheaters

– implementing the Protocol for Environmental Management for the

mining and extractive industries

– working with other government agencies to reduce the impact of

prescribed burning

– reducing pollution from motor vehicle use

– increasing data capture through improving monitoring systems

and instruments.


– amending the Environmental Protection Act 1994 to introduce

environmental controls for all special agreement mine operations,

including the Mt Isa smelters

– re-evaluating the need for the monitoring of nitrogen dioxide and ozone

at some sites

– releasing the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program

2008–2026 aimed at reducing transport-related emissions

– establishing a lead monitoring program at Mt Isa.


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Western Australia • Western Australia focused on:

– commencing work to relocate the monitoring laboratory

– continuing to liaise with local governments and other organisations

on the location of ambient monitoring stations

– developing strategy papers and methods to assist the Peer Review

Committee to achieve nationally consistent NEPM monitoring and

reporting information

– continuing with work to obtain NATA accreditation of NEPM

monitoring activities

– continuing to implement the Perth Air Quality Management Plan

– expanding ambient air monitoring networks

– improving community access to air quality monitoring data via real-time

information on the internet

– finalising a draft State Environmental (Ambient Air) Policy.


– developing f ine scale air emissions inventories commencing with

a comprehensive motor vehicles inventory for metropolitan Adelaide

– investigating the role of biogenic emissions in the formation of

photochemical oxidants across the Adelaide airshed

– continuing to review the Environment Protection (Air Quality) Policy,

the Environment Protection (Burning) Policy and the Environment

Protection (Motor Vehicle Fuel Quality) Policy

– continuing the Port Pirie Lead Implementation Program and the

‘tenby10’ program, which aim to reduce blood lead levels in children

– continuing the ‘Smoke Watch Challenge’ program in partnership with

the Adelaide Hills Council to encourage eff icient woodheater use.


– implementing the Environmental Management and Pollution Control

(Distributed Atmospheric Emissions) Regulations 2007

– developing air monitoring capability for PM2.5 and upgrading the

existing PM10 monitoring systems

– continuing the air quality awareness program in schools, including the

development of relevant teaching materials

– improving public access to air quality monitoring data via internet access.

Australian Capital Territory • The Australian Capital Territory focused on:

– continuing PM2.5 monitoring at Monash

– reducing woodheater emissions through public education, licensing

of f irewood merchants, and implementing a woodheater replacement

program and ongoing compliance programs.

Northern Territory • The Northern Territory focused on:

– working with other government agencies to address fire management issues

– investigating options to improve the air quality monitoring systems

in Darwin.


In this reporting year, jurisdictions have:

• strengthened legislation and regional air

quality strategies

• worked with local government, industry and

the community to reduce emissions

• initiated and continued a number of programs

to reduce woodsmoke emissions.

These activities demonstrate that jurisdictions are

committed to achieving the NEPM goals.

When the variation to the Ambient Air Quality NEPM

was made in 2003 to incorporate advisory reporting

standards for PM2.5, provision was made for a

program to determine whether gravimetric methods

of monitoring PM2.5 (the reference method) and

continuous methods (such as the TEOM) can be

considered equivalent.

During 2007–08 a consultant was commissioned to

review current Australian and international evaluations

of appropriate monitoring mechanisms for PM2.5.

The f indings of this review will be considered in

conjunction with collocation studies being undertaken

by jurisdictions to determine appropriate methods for

PM2.5 monitoring under the NEPM.


EFFECTIVENESS

Monitoring results indicate that the NEPM standards

are being met and that air quality in Australia is

generally good by international standards. Some

jurisdictions have reported increases in particulate

pollution. Bushfires, controlled burning and dust are

the major causes of these standards being exceeded.

Other causes include f ireworks, increasing vehicle

use, localised industrial sources and woodheaters.

Concerns have been raised by some states about

increasing background ozone levels and possible

increased bushfire activity associated with climate

change and the drought, which will subsequently

affect monitoring standards and outcomes. Urban

expansion and the associated increase in motor

vehicle use could present challenges in future

compliance with the ozone standards.

Data collected at NEPM monitoring stations show

that the levels of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide,

sulfur dioxide and lead are generally below the

NEPM standards in all jurisdictions.

A review of the Ambient Air Quality NEPM is in

progress. The review is considering climate change

impacts and the NEPM monitoring standards, among

other things.


THE NEPM

Jurisdictions have submitted reports in accordance

with clause 18 of the NEPM. These reports have

been prepared in accordance with the Peer Review

Committee’s Technical Paper No. 8 Annual Reports

for Ambient Air Quality NEPM.

Annual compliance reports have been reviewed for

national consistency and technical rigour by the Peer

Review Committee. The reports provided clear and

valuable information. The Peer Review Committee

reported that:

• the overall quality of the reports for this reporting

year is very high

• the reports demonstrate a high degree of national

consistency in the implementation of the NEPM

• the overall level of data availability is good.

More detailed monitoring data are available in

jurisdictional compliance reports which are available

from <www.ephc.gov.au>.














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Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM

2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8

‘The NEPM guidelines have raisedpublic awareness of site contaminationissues and improved standards for sitecontamination assessments.’


NEPM details


(Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure




No GN 51, 22 December 1999, p 4246)



(Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure is set

out in clause 5 (1) of the Measure as follows:

5.(1) National environment protection goal

The purpose of the Measure is to establish

a nationally consistent approach to the

assessment of site contamination to ensure

sound environmental management practices

by the community which includes regulators,

site assessors, environmental auditors,

landowners, developers and industry



Environment Protection (Assessment of Site

Contamination) Measure is set out in clause 5 (2)


5.(2) Desired environmental outcome

The desired environmental outcome for this

Measure is to provide adequate protection

of human health and the environment, where

site contamination has occurred, through the

development of an eff icient and effective

national approach to the assessment of

site contamination.

Evaluation criteria

The assessment of the effectiveness of the

National Environment Protection (Assessment

of Site Contamination) Measure is based on the

following criteria:






requirements



NEPM standards



Specific criteria

No specif ic criteria are set out in the Measure.


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Commonwealth • The NEPM is implemented as guidelines under the National Environment

Protection Measures (Implementation) Act 1998.

New South Wales • The NEPM operates under guidelines issued under the Contaminated Land

Management Act 1997.

• The Protection of the Environment Operations (Underground Petroleum

Storage Systems) Regulation 2008 commenced in this reporting year.

Victoria • The key legislative instruments for administering the NEPM are:

– the State Environment Protection Policy (Prevention and Management

of Contamination of Land)

– the State Environment Protection Policy (Groundwaters of Victoria)

– the Industrial Waste Management Policy (Prescribed Industrial Waste)

– the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

• The Environmental Audit System (Contaminated Land) provides the

administrative framework for assessing site contamination.

Queensland • The Integrated Planning Act 1997 and the Environment Protection Act

1994 are the key legislative instruments.

• The NEPM is applied through the Guidelines for the Assessment and

Management of Contaminated Land in Queensland, May 1998. All site

investigations and reporting must comply with the NEPM requirements when

statutory decisions are sought from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Western Australia • The NEPM is implemented through the Contaminated Sites Act 2003 and

the Contaminated Sites Regulations 2006.




• The Environment Protection (Site Contamination) Amendment Act 2007

is now in force.

Tasmania • The NEPM is a state policy under the State Policies and Projects Act 1993.

• Amendments were made to the Environmental Management and Pollution

Control Act 1994 to address contaminated sites issues.

Australian Capital Territory • The NEPM is implemented by the Contaminated Sites Environment

Protection Policy made under the Environment Protection Act 1997.

Northern Territory • The NEPM is implemented by audits of contaminated sites, the pollution

control provisions of the Waste Management and Pollution Control Act

1998 and, in some cases, the Planning Act 1999.

• An Environment Protection Objective has been drafted for implementation

in 2008–09.









– implementing various actions to assess contaminated sites, including

environmental management systems, compliance audits, national

environment assessment processes, surveys and audits of properties

and environmental management plans

– developing an agency based contaminated land strategy and a contaminated

sites register

– using databases to record property information to assist in the risk

assessment process

– using contaminated sites database information to prioritise remediation

activities and identify risks associated with underground fuel tanks.


– progressing amendments to the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997

– finalising 29 signif icant risk-of-harm assessments

– implementing Protection of the Environment Operations (Underground

Petroleum Storage Systems) Regulation 2008

• Accredited site auditors have issued 170 (118 statutory and 52 non-statutory)

site audit statements.


– administering the environmental audit system

– incorporating the NEPM into statutory instruments and guidelines

– providing public information about sites that have been through the

environmental audit process.


– reviewing 59 site assessment reports for NEPM compliance

– reviewing 498 development applications for contaminated land issues

– determining 151 sites as adequately assessed according to the NEPM

– issuing 182 permits for transport and disposal of contaminated soil.

• There were 64 sites placed under statutory audit by third party reviewers.


– the f irst year of operation of the new legislation

– introducing an accredited contaminated sites auditor system in

conjunction with the new legislation

– assessing and classifying 363 sites. The presence of contamination

was confirmed at 163 of these sites. This information has been

publicly released.

South Australia • South Australia focused on f inalising and implementing the Environment

Protection (Site Contamination) Amendment Act 2007.


– implementing the amended Environmental Management and Pollution

Control Act 1994

– developing a procedure for management of underground petroleum

storage systems

– continuing to develop a standard planning schedule.


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The NEPM provides a nationally consistent approach

to the assessment of site contamination and is a useful

reference document. Jurisdictions have reported that

the NEPM guidelines encourage sound environmental

practices and give clear direction when assessing site

contamination. The NEPM guidelines have also

succeeded in raising greater public awareness of site

contamination issues and improved standards for site

contamination assessments.

The increased focus on site contamination has led

to legislative changes within some jurisdictions to

reinforce NEPM implementation.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM is the primary guidance document for the

assessment of site contamination in Australia and has

increased consistency between jurisdictions. The

NEPC Service Corporation website statistics show

that the NEPM and the guidelines continue to be the

most downloaded of all NEPC documents. This

indicates a high awareness and use of the NEPM

guidelines.

Jurisdictions identif ied a need for guidance on the

assessment of hydrocarbon-affected sites. Further

development is required to broaden the health and

ecological investigation levels for soil and ground-

water. Concern was also raised regarding the misuse

of these levels as default cleanup criteria, leading

to unwarranted remediation or underestimation

of environmental risk.

There are other concerns about excessive conservatism

in site clean-up, in particular, related to small residual

quantities of bonded asbestos material in development

sites. Remediation of these sites generates signif icant

costs associated with removal and disposal of large

quantities of essentially uncontaminated soil.

There are also complex issues concerning the use of

appropriate soil criteria for petroleum hydrocarbons

and volatile organic compounds with regard to their

potential to penetrate into building interiors.

It is anticipated that the current proposed variation to

the NEPM will help to address the issues raised above.

The effectiveness of the NEPM will then be enhanced

and will bring the NEPM up to date with contemporary

technology and assessment methods. Inclusion of

the principles of site management in the NEPM will

strengthen the nationally consistent framework for

site management.


THE NEPM

Clause 9 of the NEPM sets out the information that

jurisdictions are required to report. This information

has been provided by jurisdictions in Part 5 of

this report.















Australian Capital Territory • The Australian Capital Territory focused on implementing the NEPM

through the Contaminated Sites Environment Protection Policy.

Northern Territory • The Northern Territory focused on drafting an Environment Protection

Objective and associated guidance.

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Diesel Vehicle Emissions NEPM

2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8

‘Jurisdictions are continuing toimprove diesel vehicle emissionsthrough better emissions testing,vocational training and awareness-raising activities.’


NEPM details


(Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure




No GN 28, 18 July, 2001 p 2014)



(Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure is set out in

clause 10 of the Measure as follows:


The goal of this Measure is to reduce exhaust

emissions from diesel vehicles, by facilitating

compliance with in-service emissions standards

for diesel vehicles.



Environment Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions)

Measure is set out in clause 11 of the Measure

as follows:



Measure is to reduce pollution from in-service

diesel vehicles.

Evaluation criteria









requirements



NEPM standards



Specific criteria

Reporting requirements set out in clause 15 (1) of the

Measure are as follows:

It is intended that each participating jurisdiction

submit a report to the Council on the following

matters:

a) Assessment of the need to take action to

manage emissions from the in–service diesel

fleet, utilising the criteria specif ied in clause 13

b) Description of actions taken.

A brief report of all programs implemented

during the reporting year to manage emissions

from in–service diesel vehicles, including any

programs implemented that are not covered by

the guidelines in Schedule A of this Measure.

This description should take account of:

– the scope of action required to achieve

the Goal and the Desired Environmental

Outcome specif ied in this Measure; and

– any action taken and progress made to reduce

emissions from in-service diesel vehicles

prior to the commencement of this Measure

(relevant to the f irst year of reporting).

c) Assessment of the effectiveness of any

actions taken.

Participating jurisdictions must assess their

progress in reducing emissions from in–service

diesel vehicles identif ied as signif icant

contributors to air quality problems.

This assessment should include:

– an estimation of any change in the proportion

of diesel vehicles out of compliance with

in–service emissions standards; and

– an estimation of the reduction in diesel

vehicle emissions to ambient air.


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43



Commonwealth • The NEPM is implemented under the National Environment Protection

Measures (Implementation) Act 1998.

• The key legislative, regulatory and administrative frameworks are:

– Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000

– Australian Design Rules (ADRs) under the Motor Vehicle Standards

Act 1989

– incentives and fuel tax credit arrangements.

New South Wales • The key legislative instruments are the Protection of the Environment

Operations Act 1997 and the Protection of the Environment Operations

(Clean Air) Regulation 2002.

• The NEPM is implemented as part of the NSW government’s 25-year air

quality management plan, Action for Air.

Victoria • The primary legislative tools are the Environment Protection (Vehicle

Emissions) Regulations 2003 under the Environment Protection Act 1970.

Queensland • The NEPM is implemented by the National Environment Protection

Council (Queensland) Act 1994 and through programs under the South

East Queensland Regional Plan 2005–2026.

Western Australia • The NEPM is implemented by the National Environment Protection

Council (Western Australia) Act 1996, the Road Traffic (Vehicle

Standards) Rules 2002 and through programs under the Perth Air Quality

Management Plan.


Amendment Act 2005, enable the NEPM to continue to operate as an


Tasmania • The NEPM is a state policy under the State Policies and Projects Act 1993

and the National Environment Protection Council (Tasmania) Act 1995.

Australian Capital Territory • The key legislative instrument is the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration)

Regulation 2000.

Northern Territory • Vehicle performance standards are enforced under the Motor Vehicles Act

and the Australian Vehicle Standard Rules.






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– administering the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000, the Motor Vehicle

Standards Act 1989 and the Alternative Fuels Conversion Program

– implementing the Euro 4 emissions standards for heavy diesel vehicles

– implementing second phase incentives to encourage the early supply

of 10mg/kg sulfur diesel

– continuing funding support to jurisdictions to develop and implement

diesel in-service emissions testing programs and to establish testing

facilities

– maintaining and managing its diesel fleet.


– continuing the Smoky Vehicle Program

– continuing to test the emissions of vehicles volunteered by private and

government fleet operators

– developing maintenance guidelines for fleet operators

– implementing the Clean Fleet Program

– continuing to deliver training courses with TAFE for proper diesel

vehicle maintenance with expansion of the course to regional areas

– commencing the NSW Diesel Retrofit Program, including testing the

effectiveness of retrofit devices on reducing diesel emissions

– conducting trials of alternative fuels to assess emissions benefits.

• There were 495 penalty notices issued to owners of smoky diesel vehicles,

with 23 prosecutions.

• There were 103 warning letters issued to diesel vehicle owners, resulting

from public reports.


– continuing the Smoky Vehicle Program

– delivering formal training courses for diesel mechanics

– construction of a heavy vehicle emissions test facility

– entering into joint agreements with local governments, focusing

on diesel emissions reduction.


– addressing diesel emissions through a number of programs, including

the AirCare Program in South East Queensland

– developing plans to manage transport growth and deliver a sustainable

transport system

– conducting in-service vehicle emissions testing using remote vehicle

sensing technology to inform future policy development

– exploring hybrid diesel-electric bus technology

– supporting the development of biofuels.

• There were 1460 diesel vehicles reported to the Smoky Vehicle Program,

compared to 1312 in the previous year.




– completing the CleanRun—Behaviour Change Initiative

– testing the emissions of 376 diesel and petrol vehicles as part of Phase 2

of the vehicle emissions testing program

– delivering a series of in-service mechanic training short courses at

Swan TAFE

– further enhancing the smoky vehicle reporting program including the

introduction of a new telephone number (1800 0SMOKY).


– implementing a diesel NEPM demonstration test and repair program

at the vehicle emission test facility

– reviewing the Smoky Vehicle Program

– delivering industry-wide training through TAFE SA

– evaluating the results from the test and repair pilot program using the

in-service diesel emission standard and Composite Urban Emission

Drive Cycle

– continuing to use bio-diesel in the public transport fleet.


– running a series of training workshops on diesel engine skill gap training

in rural areas through TAFE Tasmania

– expanding the diesel testing capacity by purchasing testing equipment.

Australian Capital Territory • Australian Capital Territory focused on:

– implementing random on-road and car park inspections

– implementing a public reporting system for smoky and unroadworthy

vehicles

– subscribing to Greenfleet to offset vehicle fleet emissions

– expanding the ACT Government Fleet Efficiency Program by purchasing

55 compressed natural gas powered buses.

Northern Territory • Northern Territory focused on the Smoky Vehicle Program, which operates

as part of the vehicle registration and roadworthiness testing procedures.

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Some jurisdictions are integrating the implementation

of the Diesel Vehicle Emissions NEPM with activities

that also aim to meet their Ambient Air Quality

NEPM requirements.

Jurisdictions continue to implement the NEPM through

their Smoky Vehicle Programs, which are well

supported by the public. Separate reporting systems

for diesel vehicles would provide more meaningful

data on the level of diesel vehicle emissions.

A number of jurisdictions have upgraded their in-

service vehicle testing and training facilities, which

will increase testing capabilities and improve vehicle

maintenance. Some jurisdictions have purchased

alternative fuel powered buses to reduce diesel vehicle

emissions from public transport vehicles.


EFFECTIVENESS

The Fuel Quality Standards and Australian Design

Rules continue to have the greatest effect on reducing

emissions from diesel vehicles. State and territory

programs have complemented this, although the


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nature of the initiatives implemented to date limits

the ability to assess the overall effectiveness of the

NEPM.

Commonwealth funding has enabled states and

territories to progress NEPM objectives. Some TAFE

training courses have been expanded and Smoky

Vehicle Programs in states and territories complement

these activities.

States and territories are continuing to reduce diesel

vehicle emissions through better emissions testing,

vocational training and awareness-raising activities.

Jurisdictional annual reports to date have not provided

adequate information to allow quantitative assessment

of any emissions improvement. Only some jurisdictions

provide statistical data on diesel vehicle numbers,

Smoky Vehicle Program data and a summary of diesel

vehicle emissions test results. This may be attributed

to the lack of a separate reporting system for diesel

vehicles in some jurisdictions.

During this reporting year, the NEPC initiated a

variation to the NEPM. As part of the variation process,

the project team will consider:

• revising and updating of the guidelines

• developing performance indicators for assessing

and reporting on compliance programs

• developing periodic national testing

• evaluating techniques that jurisdictions could

incorporate into the delivery of information and

training programs

• developing in-service emissions standards and tests.

It is anticipated that NEPC will consider making

the proposed variation and recommendations related

to implementation in early 2009.


THE NEPM


jurisdictions are required to report. This information

has been provided by jurisdictions in their individual

reports in Part 5 of this report.














Movement of Controlled Waste betweenStates and Territories NEPM

2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8

‘The application of the NEPMensures that controlled wastes aretransported in a manner thatminimises the potential for adverseimpacts on the environment andhuman health.’


NEPM details

Title: National Environment Protection Council

(Movement of Controlled Waste between States and

Territories) Measure



(advertised in the Commonwealth of Australia

Gazette No. GN 27, 8 July 1998, p 2212)


The desired goal for the National Environment

Protection (Movement of Controlled Waste between

States and Territories) Measure is set out in clause 11


11. The national environment protection goal

of this Measure is to assist in achieving the

desired environmental outcomes set out in

clause 12 by providing a basis for ensuring

that controlled wastes which are to be moved

between States and Territories are properly

identif ied, transported, and otherwise handled

in ways which are consistent with environ-

mentally sound practices for the management

of these wastes.


The desired environmental outcome for the National

Environment Protection (Movement of Controlled

Waste between States and Territories) Measure is set


12. The desired environmental outcomes of this

Measure are to minimise the potential for

adverse impacts associated with the movement

of controlled waste on the environment and

human health.

Evaluation criteria



Waste between States and Territories) Measure is







requirements



NEPM standards



Specific criteria

Clause 13(1) of the NEPM states that:

In order to facilitate reporting on the implement-

ation and effectiveness of the NEPM, the relevant

agency of each participating state and territory

should provide collated summary information

on the:

(i) movement of controlled waste into each

jurisdiction, indicating jurisdiction of origin,

waste code and quantity of waste;

(ii) level of discrepancies (e.g. non-arrival

of a consignment) as a percentage of total

authorised controlled waste movements; and

(iii) benefits arising from the implementation

of the Measure.


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NEPC Report on the implementation of the Movement of

Controlled Waste between States and Territories NEPM


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49






Commonwealth • The NEPM operates administratively under the National Environment

Protection Measures (Implementation) Act 1998.

• Relevant state and territory tracking and reporting systems are used

to move Commonwealth controlled waste.

New South Wales • The key legislative instruments are the Protection of the Environment

Operations Act 1997 and the Protection of the Environment Operations

(Waste) Regulation 2005.

Victoria • The key legislative instruments are the Environment Protection Act 1970,

the Environment Protection (Prescribed Waste) Regulations 1998, and the

Industrial Waste Management Policy (Movement of Controlled Waste

between States and Territories) 2001.

Queensland • The key legislative instruments are the Environmental Protection Act 1994

and the Environmental Protection (Waste Management) Regulation 2000.

Western Australia • The primary legislative instruments are the Environmental Protection

(Controlled Waste) Regulations 2004.

South Australia • The NEPM operates as an Environment Protection Policy under the

Environment Protection Act 1993 and is implemented through conditions

of licences.

Tasmania • The State Policies and Projects Act 1993 and the Environmental Management

and Pollution Control Act 1994 are the key legislative instruments.

Australian Capital Territory • The key legislative instruments are the Environment Protection Act 1997

and the Environment Protection Regulations 2005.


Control Act 1998 and the Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Act.



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Commonwealth • Six Commonwealth portfolios reported activities under the NEPM.

• Commonwealth agencies affected by the NEPM incorporated its

requirements into their environment management systems, waste

management tracking systems or OH&S requirements.

• In some instances, contractors that operate under state and territory

environmental licensing systems were used.


– raising stakeholder awareness of waste tracking requirements

– increasing NEPM compliance using the online waste tracking system

– undertaking a range of targeted compliance campaigns using video

surveillance to prevent illegal dumping and unlawful waste transport.

• There were 102 901 tonnes of controlled waste tracked into NSW in

6312 movements in this reporting year.

• This compares to 83 690 tonnes of controlled waste tracked in

5044 movements in the previous reporting year.

Victoria • There were 649 consignment authorisations issued, involving

55 292 tonnes of controlled waste in 4127 movements.

• This compares to 617 consignment authorisations issued, involving

40 488 tonnes of controlled waste in 3598 movements in the previous

reporting year.

Queensland • There were 150 consignment authorisations issued, involving

11 358 tonnes of controlled waste in 949 movements; 5 consignment

applications were refused.

• This compares to 172 consignment authorisations issued, involving

8784 tonnes of controlled waste in 843 movements in the previous

reporting year; 10 consignment applications were refused.

Western Australia • There were 739 tonnes of controlled waste tracked into Western Australia

in 26 movements.

• This compares to 912 tonnes of controlled waste tracked in 15 movements

in the previous reporting year.

South Australia • There were 11 625 tonnes of controlled waste tracked into South Australia

in 956 movements.



Tasmania • There were 5450 tonnes of controlled waste tracked into Tasmania in

283 movements.



Australian Capital Territory • The Australian Capital Territory issued 54 consignment authorisations,

involving 1018 tonnes of controlled waste in 936 movements.

• This compares to 50 consignment authorisations, involving 1023 tonnes

of controlled waste in 975 movements in the previous reporting year.



Jurisdictions continued to implement and progress the

operation of the NEPM by improving tracking systems

and streamlining administrative processes. Some

jurisdictions undertook compliance campaigns targeting

waste transport to prevent unlawful activities such as

illegal dumping and non-compliant waste transfers.

The Implementation Working Group, with membership

from all jurisdictions, remains a valuable forum for

communicating and discussing controlled waste

management issues.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM effectively monitors the movement

of controlled waste and jurisdictions are working

collaboratively to ensure there is an eff icient and

consistent system for tracking controlled waste.

Continued cooperation between the states and

territories resolves discrepancies and illegal

shipments.

Industry compliance continues to be high as the

NEPM provides clear guidelines on the transport of

controlled waste across state and territory borders.

Some jurisdictions have implemented an online waste

tracking system which prevents unlicensed transport

as well as the use of out-of-date consignment

authorisations, a major problem in the past.

The waste tracking documentation indicates that

a signif icant proportion of waste movements across

jurisdictional boundaries are for reuse, recycling

or energy recovery.

The application of the NEPM ensures that controlled

wastes are transported in a manner that minimises the

potential for adverse impacts on the environment and

human health. It also allows for wastes to be treated

in a proper and satisfactory fashion, thus reducing

stockpiles nationally.


THE NEPM

The jurisdictional reports in Part 5 provide

information from each state and territory. The tables

below provide a national summary of the data for

quantities of each waste category transported between

states and territories; the waste classes group the

73 categories of waste streams and constituents listed

in Schedule A of the NEPM into 15 broader types.


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Northern Territory • The Northern Territory is currently a net exporter of controlled

waste interstate.

• There was no controlled waste tracked into the Northern Territory this

reporting year.

• This compares to 300 tonnes of controlled waste tracked in 1 movement



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Tab

le 3

:S

um

mar

y of

tot

al m

ovem

ents

of

con

trol

led

was

te w

ith

in A

ust

rali

a,

impo

rts

by s

tate

s an

d te

rrit

orie

s fo

r th

e pe

riod

1 Ju

ly 2

007

– 30

Ju

ne

2008

Cod

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escr

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onN

SW

Vic

Qld

WA

SA

Tas

AC

TN

TT

otal

AP

lati

ng &

hea

t tr

eatm

ent

21.4

85.

000.

000.

0012

.75

0.00

0.00

0.00

39.2

3

BA

cids

1132

7.74

357.

3155

.34

0.00

12.8

72.

160.

000.

0011

755.

42

CA

lkal

is72

.76

1810

.56

82.1

10.

0038

.10

0.00

0.00

0.00

2003

.53

DIn

orga

nic

chem

ical

s53

194.

0632

194.

9273

4.67

60.0

068

27.3

153

58.6

50.

000.

0098

369.

61

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eact

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chem

ical

s0.

0710

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1.49

0.00

23.7

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000.

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FP

aint

s, r

esin

s, i

nks,

org

anic

slu

dges

3642

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3789

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495.

2469

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164.

090.

000.

000.

0081

60.8

0

GO

rgan

ic s

olve

nts

1025

.39

3614

.66

1.48

0.00

380.

2818

.20

0.00

0.00

5040

.01

HP

esti

cide

s56

4.35

122.

3995

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18.3

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.87

0.00

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0.00

813.

35

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ils

6425

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1012

8.80

5737

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100.

0036

54.3

24.

8026

9.38

0.00

2632

0.71

KP

utre

scib

le/o

rgan

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aste

2041

0.16

2574

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654.

866.

000.

0030

.21

0.00

0.00

2367

6.09

LIn

dust

rial

was

hwat

er0.

0010

5.95

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

105.

95

MO

rgan

ic c

hem

ical

s14

78.4

731

6.97

350.

050.

002.

500.

0049

0.15

0.00

2638

.14

NS

oil/

slud

ge45

03.1

513

.12

1305

.64

229.

0034

5.26

35.5

40.

000.

0064

31.7

1

RC

lini

cal

& p

harm

aceu

tica

l15

2.80

197.

0518

44.3

60.

0075

.24

0.00

258.

930.

0025

28.3

8

TM

isc.

82.3

251

.05

0.00

256.

7475

.62

0.28

0.00

0.00

466.

01

Tot

al (

ton

nes

)10

2901

.32

5529

2.56

1135

8.25

739.

0411

624.

9654

49.8

410

18.4

60.

0018

8384

.43


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Tab

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:S

um

mar

y of

tot

al m

ovem

ents

of

con

trol

led

was

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ith

in A

ust

rali

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expo

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by s

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s an

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s fo

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e pe

riod

1 Ju

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007

– 30

Ju

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2008

Cod

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SW

Vic

Qld

WA

SA

Tas

AC

TN

TT

otal

AP

lati

ng &

hea

t tr

eatm

ent

0.75

11.5

626

.48

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.44

39.2

3

BA

cids

371.

2611

329.

445.

221.

580.

8821

.43

9.54

16.0

711

755.

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lkal

is18

92.0

30.

0022

.48

0.00

0.00

0.64

50.2

838

.10

2003

.53

DIn

orga

nic

chem

ical

s17

392.

0236

773.

4618

221.

2458

04.8

510

873.

1181

83.2

317

4.60

947.

1098

369.

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s11

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141.

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1.38

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rgan

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676.

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3.53

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9.42

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3229

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3588

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145.

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2.69

52.6

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466.

01

Tot

al (

ton

nes

)44

597.

4763

868.

8038

703.

8666

80.1

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564.

0510

600.

8085

69.4

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99.8

618

8384

.43

Figure 1: Tonnage of controlled waste moved within Australia 2007–08

NSW0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

90000

100000

110000

Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT

Am

oun

t of

was

te (

ton

nes

)


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Imports

Exports

Figure 2: Tonnage of controlled waste moved within Australia 1999–2008

1999–000

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

200,000

2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08

Am

oun

t of

was

te (

ton

nes

)

Reporting year













Figure 3: Number of movements of controlled waste within Australia 2004–08

2004–05

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

10,000

12,000

2005–06 2006–07 2007–08

Am

oun

t of

was

te (

ton

nes

)

Reporting year


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Note: Information regarding number of movements has been provided only since the reporting year 2004–05.


National Pollutant Inventory NEPM

2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8

‘The National Pollutant Inventorywebsite is meeting the goal of theNEPM by providing accessibleinformation on emissions.’

58


NEPM details


(National Pollutant Inventory) Measure

Made by Council: 27 February 1998

Commencement Date: Clauses 1 and 2 of the Measure

commenced on the date of Gazettal 4 March 1998


No. S89, 4 March 1998, p 1) with the remaining

provisions of the Measure commencing on 1 July 1998.


The environment protection goals are established

by clause 6 of this Measure as follows:

6. The national environment protection goals

established by this Measure are to assist in

reducing the existing and potential impacts of

emissions of substances and to assist government,

industry and the community in achieving the


clause 5 by providing a basis for:

(a) the collection of a broad base of information

on emissions of substances on the reporting

list to air, land and water; and

(b) the dissemination of information collected

to all sectors of the community in a useful,

accessible and understandable form.

In summary, the NPI NEPM provides the framework

for the development and establishment of the NPI

which is an Internet database designed to provide

publicly available information on the types and

amounts of certain chemicals being emitted to the

air, land and water.


The desired environmental outcomes, as set out

in clause 5 of the Measure, are:

(a) the maintenance and improvement of:

(i) ambient air quality; and

(ii) ambient marine, estuarine and fresh

water quality;

(b) the minimisation of environmental impacts

associated with hazardous wastes; and

(c) an expansion in the re-use and recycling

of used materials.

Evaluation criteria


Environment Protection (National Pollutant Inventory)







requirements



NEPM standards



Specific criteria

Longer term performance indicators relating to the

effectiveness of the National Pollutant Inventory

(NPI) have been listed in some Memoranda of

Understanding (MOU) between the Commonwealth

and the State and Territories for the years 2005–09.

They have been included to provide jurisdictions

with a guide to the type of information that could

be reported. Indicators could include:

• number of ‘hits’ on data base

• number of facility reports on the database

• feedback/data from industry indicates that the

process of emission estimation and reporting from

the NPI has led to increased consideration of waste

minimisation and cleaner production initiatives

• feedback from users of the database on its usability

and on the relevance of the information for their needs

• total number of reporters in comparison to 2006–07

• range of industry sectors reporting

• number of new reporters

• new industry sectors reporting

• any other indicator identif ied.

Jurisdictions should report on those specif ic criteria

that are appropriate for their responsibilities under

the NPI Measure.


NA

TIO

NA

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OL

LU

TA

NT

IN

VE

NT

OR

Y N

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Commonwealth • The NEPM is implemented by administrative arrangements under the

National Environment Protection Measures (Implementation) Act 1998.

New South Wales • The key legislative instrument is the Protection of the Environment

Operations (General) Regulation 1998 under the Protection of the

Environment Operations Act 1997.

Victoria • The key legislative instrument is the Industrial Waste Management Policy

(National Pollutant Inventory) 1998 under the Environment Protection

Act 1970.

Queensland • The NEPM is implemented under the Environmental Protection Act 1994

and the Environmental Protection Regulation 1998.

Western Australia • The key legislative instrument is the Environmental Protection (NPI

NEPM) Regulation 1998 under the Environmental Protection Act 1986.




• The Environment Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Policy 2008

came into effect in March 2008.

Tasmania • The NEPM is a state policy under the State Policies and Projects Act

1993 and is complied with and enforced through the Environmental

Management and Pollution Control Act 1993.

Australian Capital Territory • The key legislative instrument is the Environment Protection Act 1997.

Northern Territory • The NEPM is implemented by the Environment Protection (National

Pollutant Inventory) Objective established under the Waste Management

Pollution Control Act 2003.

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Commonwealth • Commonwealth activities focused on:

– progressing the staged introduction of the online reporting system for

industry reporters

– improving data quality with revised emission estimation technique

manuals and new calculation tools

– publishing the year nine (2006–07) facility data and other information

on the NPI website

– hosting the inaugural NPI Conference in May 2008

– redesigning the NPI website to improve the database search functionality

– promoting the NPI to raise awareness of the program

– developing guidance materials to assist reporters in determining

their transfers.


– updating diffuse sources data for the Greater Metropolitan Region airshed,

which includes the greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong regions

– delivering training sessions to industry to provide guidance on the new

reporting system and the introduction of transfers reporting

– improving the data quality of facility reports and encouraging new

reporters by maintaining a high level of support for industry.

• There were 769 NPI facility reports received for 2006–07 compared with

757 in the previous reporting year.


– continuing to provide a centralised electronic reporting support role for

the jurisdictions

– conducting industry workshops

– expanding industry participation in the NPI.




– collaborative improvements to industry reporting materials and emission

estimation techniques

– enhancing reporting mechanisms

– conducting ‘hands-on’ training, workshops and conferences, including

for industry reporters

– calculating diffuse source emissions for the Gladstone airshed and the

Burnett–Mary water catchment

– promoting the NPI program to the community and internationally.




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– conducting an industry training session in Bunbury

– continuing the Perth airshed emissions study

– managing study projects of the Swan Canning and Peel–Harvey catchment

areas to estimate aggregated emissions of nutrients

– continuing to ensure that WA industry facilities are well informed about

NPI processes and their obligations to report estimated emissions

– streamlining data processing for facility reports.




– improving the accuracy of the NPI database through contacting new

reporters and through the implementation of a quality systems approach

for validation procedures

– developing communication materials on the changes to the NPI

– updating aggregated water emission data

– providing data for the new EPA licensing fee system, which includes

a resource eff iciency fee component based on emissions of key

NPI pollutants

– developing the Environment Protection (National Pollutant Inventory)

Policy 2008.




– providing one-on-one assistance to industry reporters and identifying

new reporters

– ensuring the accuracy of data and improving the timeliness of returns

– promoting the NPI to potential users.



Australian Capital Territory • The Australian Capital Territory focused on:

– conducting a training session to assist local reporters with the new online

system, as well as several one-on-one sessions with facility operators

– ensuring the accuracy of reporting data

– liaising with local and interstate reporters.



Northern Territory • The Northern Territory focused on:

– ensuring the reliability, accuracy and compliance of facility data

– identifying future reporters and following up on past reporters who

failed to submit a report

– developing a communication strategy to deliver information about the

NPI program.




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Jurisdictions are continuing to improve the data

collected through the NPI by:

• implementing the new online reporting system

• improving desktop and auditing procedures

• increasing industry and community awareness and

participation through workshops, one-on-one training,

communication materials and education programs

• improving emission estimation techniques

• improving procedures for validating and verifying

data

• increasing participation rates for non–reporters,

particularly by targeting specif ic industry sectors

• updating aggregated emissions data for catchments

and airsheds.

Jurisdictions continue to work together through the

NPI Implementation Working Group.


EFFECTIVENESS

Website

In 2007–08, the NPI website had 591 644 new user

sessions compared to 562 391 new user sessions in

the previous year — an increase of 5%. The increase

in website traff ic indicates that the NPI website is

meeting the goal of the NEPM by providing accessible

information on emissions.

In this reporting year, work commenced to develop

an educational resource for students and teachers

exploring sources of pollution. It is anticipated that

this information will be available on the NPI website

in the 2008–09 reporting year.

Variation to the NEPM

The NPI NEPM was varied in June 2007 to include

reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and transfers.

Figure 1: NPI website ‘hits’

600,000

700,000

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

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2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08

Reporting year

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Greenhouse gas emissions

Following the enactment of the National Greenhouse

and Energy Reporting Act 2007 in September 2007,

the greenhouse gas and energy reporting requirements

within the NPI ceased to have effect.

In April 2008, the NEPC commenced the statutory

process to vary the NPI NEPM, to remove

greenhouse gas and energy reporting requirements.

The proposed variation will remove duplicative

reporting requirements in order to minimise any

confusion in reporting to the NPI.

Transfers reporting

The varied NEPM requires reporting of transfers by

facilities that trigger the thresholds set in the NEPM.

Transfers include substances which are transported or

moved to an end use such as containment, destruction,

treatment or energy recovery.

Industry reporters, who report by calendar year,

commenced collection of their data on 1 January

2008. The first year of transfers data will be published

on the NPI website in the 2009–10 reporting year.

Emerging issues

The major emerging issue for jurisdictions relates

to the impact of reporting transfers under the varied

NEPM. This is likely to affect a large number of

reporting facilities. Jurisdictions will require

additional resources to implement the varied NEPM

and to assist industry in understanding the new

reporting requirements.

The online reporting tool has improved and simplified

the reporting process.

Facility reports

The total number of reporting facilities for all

jurisdictions was 3955, compared to 3890 in the

previous year. The graph below shows the number

of facility reports over the last eight years.

Industry reporters have been supportive of the new

online reporting system, as well as improved reporting

materials and emissions factors. The online reporting

system has helped to streamline reporting and improve

data quality. Reporters in some jurisdictions have

indicated that reporting is less onerous as they have

established systems and processes to complete their

reports and have had good support from jurisdictional

NPI officers.

Figure 2: NPI facility reports received by jurisdictions 1999–2007

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Implementation Working Group

During the reporting year, the Implementation

Working Group provided input to the:

• development of a booklet investigating and

discussing waste transfer reporting requirements

• NPI NEPM variation and associated funding

• provision and publication of data for the 2006–07

reporting year

• new NPI online reporting system and improvements

to the NPI website

• industry reporting materials

• development of a marketing strategy to raise

awareness of the NPI, NPI conference and

production of a range of promotional materials.


THE NEPM

This annual report relates to activities in the period

2007–08, for which the NPI relates mainly to the

collecting, assessing and publishing of estimated

emissions of pollutants from industrial facilities that

reported for the 2006–07 year. The timing of these

activities is stipulated in the NPI NEPM.

Reporting information is available on the NPI

website at <www.npi.gov.au>.














Used Packaging Materials NEPM

2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8

‘The NEPM contributes to betterenvironmental outcomes for packagingby encouraging the majority of brandowners to sign the Covenant. Theincrease in signatories indicates thatthe NEPM is achieving its goal.’


NEPM details


(Used Packaging Materials) Measure

Made by Council: 2 July 1999


(advertised Commonwealth of Australia Gazette

No. GN 28, 14 July 1999, p 2114)


The environment protection goal is established by

clause 6 of this Measure as follows:


The goal of the Measure is to reduce

environmental degradation arising from the

disposal of used packaging and conserve virgin

materials through the encouragement of re-use

and recycling of used packaging materials by

supporting and complementing the voluntary

strategies in the National Packaging Covenant.


The desired environmental outcomes from the

combination of the National Packaging Covenant and

the Measure are to optimise resource use and recovery

and encourage the conservation of virgin materials.

Evaluation criteria


Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials)










NEPM standards



Specific criteria

Criteria for assessment and performance

measurement of implementation of the NEPM are

set out in clause 21 of the NEPM which states that

each participating jurisdiction shall provide to

Council the following information:

• information gathered from brand owners whose

records under clause 16 have been audited by

the jurisdiction

• aggregated information received from local

governments under clause 17

• information gathered through the conduct of

surveys under clause 18

• information relating to complaints received,

investigations undertaken and prosecutions

mounted pursuant to the NEPM

• a statement of interpretation of the information.

Note: Clause 15(3) states that a common approach

to the interpretation of data gathered pursuant to

these protocols and to the terminology used with the

data shall be adopted by participating jurisdictions.

Furthermore, that the terminology used shall be in

accordance with definitions set out in the NEPM

as per clause 15(4).


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Commonwealth • The Commonwealth, including Australia Post, is a signatory to the

National Packaging Covenant. As a result, the Commonwealth did not

undertake any other activities to implement the NEPM.

New South Wales • The NEPM is implemented by the Protection of the Environment

Operations (Waste) Regulation 2006.

• Local government reporting is implemented under existing

administrative arrangements.

Victoria • The NEPM is implemented by the Waste Management Policy (Used

Packaging Materials) 2006, under the Environment Protection Act 1970.

Queensland • The NEPM is implemented by the Environmental Protection (Waste

Management) Regulation 2000.

Western Australia • The NEPM is implemented by the Environmental Protection (NEPM Used

Packaging Materials) Regulations 2007 under the Environmental Protection

Act 1986.




• The Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Policy 2007 is the

key legislative instrument.

Tasmania • The NEPM is implemented as a state policy under the State Policies and

Projects Act 1993, which has been given effect by issuing Environment

Protection Notices under the Environmental Management and Pollution

Control Act 1994.

Australian Capital Territory • The NEPM is implemented by the Industry Waste Reduction Plan under

the Waste Minimisation Act 2001.

Northern Territory • The NEPM is implemented by the 2007 Re-thinking Waste Disposal

Behaviour and Resource Efficiency Interim Action Plan.




– encouraging Covenant activities across all Commonwealth organisations

– engaging a consultant to develop a method for determining the tonnage

of packaging recycled by each agency

– participating in the development of the National Packaging Covenant

Council’s annual budget.


– informing and educating brand owners on the advantages and benefits

of signing the Covenant and their obligations under the regulation

– following up non-compliant brand owners

– conducting a brand owners’ survey.

• There were 260 Covenant signatories compared to 235 in the last

reporting year.


– conducting a brand owners’ survey



of signing the Covenant.


reporting year.


– undertaking market development initiatives for materials that are

recovered from the kerbside and away-from-home sectors

– applying product stewardship across all government operations

– raising awareness of the NEPM through presentations to industry

associations and meetings with specif ic companies

– implementing projects that support integrated recycling collection and

reprocessing services.


reporting year.



of signing the Covenant

– conducting a brand owners’ survey.


reporting year.

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Jurisdictions have made progress towards achieving

the goal of the NEPM.

Jurisdictions continued to contact brand owners to

raise awareness of the National Packaging Covenant.

Retail audits have been undertaken to identify brand

owners who may not be signatories to the Covenant.

Most jurisdictions reported an increase in signatories

to the Covenant. This was due to:

• education of brand owners through direct mailing

• brand owners’ surveys

• more effective enforcement action.


EFFECTIVENESS

National Packaging Covenant signatories

By continuing to promote and raise awareness of

the Covenant, jurisdictions have been effective in

encouraging companies to sign-up to the Covenant.

As was intended, the Covenant continues to provide

a more flexible option for potential signatories than

the NEPM. The Covenant also encourages companies

to address environmental impacts of product packaging

and associated activities. The NEPM supports the

Covenant by providing a regulatory safety net and

encouraging non-signatories to sign up to the Covenant.

The increase in signatories indicates that the NEPM

is achieving its goal.

The NEPM contributes to better environmental

outcomes for packaging by encouraging the majority

of brand owners to sign the Covenant, thereby ensuring

that signatories are not disadvantaged by fulf illing

their Covenant obligations.




– implementing the Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials)

Policy 2007


of signing the Covenant


– conducting a brand owners’ audit.


reporting year.


– conducting a brand owners’ audit

– continuing negotiations with local government on data collection and

their reporting obligations.

• There continues to be 15 Covenant signatories.

Australian Capital Territory • The Australian Capital Territory focused on ensuring that brand owners

have signed the Covenant either directly or under their parent company.

Northern Territory • Northern Territory focused on implementing the 2007 Re-thinking Waste

Disposal Behaviour and Resource Efficiency Interim Action Plan. The

action plan included funding for schools and organisations to conduct

projects and operations to reduce waste.

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Kerbside recycling

Local governments have continued to collect data

on the composition of kerbside recycling waste

streams. This is the f irst year of reporting data

in a revised format.

PART 4 — REPORTING REQUIRED BY THE

NEPM


jurisdictions are required to report. Information has

been provided by jurisdictions in their individual

reports in Part 5.













Figure 1: National Packaging Covenant signatories 2001–08

NSW

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2007–08

2 0 0 7 – 0 8

N a t i o n a l E n v i r o n m e n t P r o t e c t i o n C o u n c i l

Financial Statements and Appendicies 1–5

Statement by Auditor

INDEPENDENT AUDIT REPORT


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Statement by Executive Officer

In my opinion, the attached f inancial statements for the year ended 30 June 2008 are based on properly

maintained f inancial records and give a true and fair view of the matters required by the Finance Minister’s

Orders made under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997.

In my opinion, at the date of this statement, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Corporation will

be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable.

This statement is made in accordance with a resolution of the executive officer.

Dr B.P. Kennedy

NEPC Executive Officer

16 September 2008


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Notes 2008 2007

$ $

INCOME

Revenue

Contributions from state, territory, and federal jurisdictions 2A 1 616 869 1 434 809

Interest revenue 2B 181 149 141 506

Other revenue 2C 11 799 15 290

Total revenue 1 809 817 1 591 605

Gains

In-kind contributions 2A 26 586 58 308

Other gains 2D - 21 480

Total gains 26 586 79 788

TOTAL INCOME 1 836 403 1 671 393

EXPENSES

Employee expenses 4A 732 456 727 305

Supplier expenses 4B 1 386 298 1 029 713

Depreciation and amortisation 4C 29 942 27 606

TOTAL EXPENSES 2 148 696 1 784 624

SURPLUS (DEFICIT) (312 293) (113 231)


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Financial Statements

INCOME STATEMENT—FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2008

BALANCE SHEET—AS AT 30 JUNE 2008


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Notes 2008 2007

$ $

ASSETS

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents 5A 3 135 765 2 523 005

Trade and other receivables 5B 337 062 1 075 700

Total financial assets 3 472 827 3 598 705

Non-financial assets

Property, plant and equipment 6C 66 262 91 909

Other non-financial assets 6D 73 394 31 413

Total non-financial assets 139 656 123 322

TOTAL ASSETS 3 612 483 3 722 027

LIABILITIES

Payables

Supplier payables 7A 103 318 51 543

Other payables 7B 1 579 730 1 420 886

Total payables 1 683 048 1 472 429

Provisions

Employee provisions 8A 183 528 195 694

Other provisions 8B 23 950 23 950

Total provisions 207 478 219 644

TOTAL LIABILITIES 1 890 526 1 692 073

NET ASSETS 1,721,957 2 029 954

EQUITY

Reserves 20 557 16 261

Retained surplus 1 701 400 2 013 693

TOTAL EQUITY 1 721 957 2 029 954

Current assets 3 546 221 3 630 118

Non-current assets 66 262 91 909

Current liabilities 1 857 556 1 676 737

Non-current liabilities 14 970 15 336

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY—FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2008


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Accumulated Surplus Asset Total EquityRevaluation Reserve

2008 2007 2008 2007 2008 2007$ $ $ $ $ $

Opening balance 2 013 693 2 126 924 16 261 16 261 2 029 954 2 143 185

Income and expenses

recognised directly in equity

Revaluation of plant

and equipment - - 4 296 - 4 286 -

Subtotal income and

expenses recognised directly

to equity - - 4 296 - 4 296 -

(Deficit) for the period (312 293) (113 231) - - (312 293) (113 231)

Total income and expenses (312 293) (113 231) 4 296 - (307 997) (113 231)

Closing balance at 30 June 1 701 400 2 013 693 20 557 16 261 1 721 957 2 029 954


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Notes 2008 2007$ $

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Cash received

Receipts from state, territory and federal jurisdictions 2 492 874 1 984 430

Interest 142 463 137 501

Other cash received 12 120 14 969

Total cash received 2 647 457 2 136 900

Cash used

Net GST paid to ATO (10 567) (61 863)

Employees (750 036) (682 244)

Suppliers (1 274 094) (1 055 357)

Total cash used (2 034 697) (1 799 464)

Net cash from or (used by) operating activities 9A 612 760 337 436

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Cash used

Purchase of property, plant and equipment - (25 695)

Total cash used - (25 695)

Net cash from or (used by) investing activities - (25 695)

Net increase or (decrease) in cash held 612 760 311 741

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the

reporting period 2 523 005 2 211 264

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the

reporting period 5A 3 135 765 2 523 005

CASH FLOW—AS AT 30 JUNE 2008


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SCHEDULE OF COMMITMENTS—AS AT 30 JUNE 2008

2008 2007$ $

BY TYPE

Commitments receivable

GST recoverable on commitments (42 023) (53 121)

Total commitments receivable (42 023) (53 121)

Other commitments payable

Operating leases[1] 462 253 584 330

Total other commitments 462 253 584 330

Net commitments by type 420 230 531 209

BY MATURITY

GST recoverable on commitments

One year or less (11 283) (11 098)

From one to f ive years (30 740) (42 023)

Total GST recoverable on commitments (42 023) (53 121)

Operating lease commitments

One year or less 124 113 122 078

From one to f ive years 338 139 462 252

Total operating lease commitments 462 252 584 330

Net commitments by maturity 420 229 531 209

NB: Commitments are GST inclusive where relevant.

[1] Operating leases included are effectively non-cancellable and comprise:

Leases for office accommodation.

Lease payments are subject to periodic increases as set out in the lease schedule. The current lease term

is f ive years.

SCHEDULE OF CONTINGENCIES—AS AT 30 JUNE 2008

Consistent with the previous f inancial year, there were nil contingent assets or liabilities at or during the year

ended 30 June 2008.


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NOTES TO AND FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—FOR THE YEAR

ENDED 30 JUNE 2008

Note 1: Summary of Signif icant Accounting Policies

Note 2: Revenues

Note 3: Expenses by Project

Note 4: Expenses

Note 5: Financial Assets

Note 6: Non-Financial Assets

Note 7: Payables

Note 8: Provisions

Note 9: Cash Flow Reconciliation

Note 10: Financial Instruments

Note 11: Related Party Disclosure

Note 12: Remuneration of Executive Officer

Note 13: Remuneration of Auditors

Note 14: Average Staff ing Levels

Note 15: 2008–09 Budget

1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1 Basis of preparation of the financial statements

The f inancial statements are required by clause 1(b) of Schedule 1 to the Commonwealth Authorities and

Companies Act 1997 and are a general-purpose f inancial report.

The National Environment Protection Corporation Service Corporation (‘Service Corporation’) operates under

the provisions of the National Environment Protection Council Act and the Intergovernmental Agreement on

the Environment. The operations of the Service Corporation are funded by contributions from the Commonwealth,

State and Territory governments, which are parties to the Agreement.

The continued existence of the Service Corporation in its present form and with its present programs is

dependent on Government policy and on continuing appropriations by Parliament for the Service Corporation’s

administration and programs.

The Financial Statements and notes have been prepared in accordance with:

• Finance Minister’s Orders (or FMOs) for reporting periods ending on or after 1 July 2007; and

• Australian Accounting Standards and Interpretations issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board

(‘AASB’) that apply for the reporting period.

The financial report has been prepared on an accrual basis and is in accordance with historical cost convention,

except for certain assets at fair value. Except where stated, no allowance is made for the effect of changing

prices on the results or the f inancial position.

The Financial Report is presented in Australian dollars and values are rounded to the nearest dollar unless

otherwise specif ied.

Unless an alternative treatment is specif ically required by an Accounting Standard or the FMOs, assets and

liabilities are recognised in the Balance Sheet when and only when it is probable that future economic benefits

will flow to the Entity and the amounts of the assets or liabilities can be reliably measured. However, assets

and liabilities arising under agreements equally proportionately unperformed are not recognised unless required

by an Accounting Standard.


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Unless alternative treatment is specif ically required by an accounting standard, revenues and expenses are

recognised in the Income Statement when and only when the flow, consumption or loss of economic benefits

has occurred and can be reliably measured.

1.2 Significant accounting judgements and estimates

In the process of applying the accounting policies listed in this note, the Service Corporation has made the

following judgements that have the most significant impact on the amounts recorded in the financial statements:

• The fair value of plant and equipment has been taken to be the market value of similar properties as

determined by an independent valuer.

No accounting assumptions or estimates have been identif ied that have a signif icant risk of causing a material

adjustment to carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next accounting period.

1.3 Statement of compliance

Australian Accounting Standards require a statement of compliance with International Financial Reporting

Standards (IFRSs) to be made where the f inancial report complies with these standards. Some Australian

equivalents to IFRSs and other Australian Accounting Standards contain requirements specif ic to not-for-

profit entities that are inconsistent with IFRS requirements. The Service Corporation is a not for profit entity

and has applied these requirements, so while this f inancial report complies with Australian Accounting

Standards it cannot make this statement.

Adoption of new Australian Accounting Standard requirements

No accounting standard has been adopted earlier than the application date as stated in the standard.

Financial instrument disclosure

AASB 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures is effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January

2007 (the 2007–08 financial year) and amends the disclosure requirements for financial instruments. In general

AASB 7 requires greater disclosure than that previously required. Associated with the introduction of AASB 7

a number of accounting standards were amended to reference the new standard or remove the present disclosure

requirements through 2005–10 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards [AASB 132, AASB 101,

AASB 114, AASB 117, AASB 133, AASB 139, AASB 1, AASB 4, AASB 1023 and AASB 1038]. These changes

have no f inancial impact but will effect the disclosure presented in future f inancial reports.

The following new standards, amendments to standards or interpretations for the current f inancial year have

no material f inancial impact on the Service Corporation.

Amendments:

• 2007–4 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from ED 151 and Other Amendments and

Erratum: Proportionate Consolidation

• 2007–7 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards

Interpretations:

UIG Interpretation 11 AASB 2—Group and Treasury Share Transactions and 2007–1 Amendments to Australian

Accounting Standards arising from AASB Interpretation 11

Future Australian Accounting Standard requirements

The following new standards, amendments to standards or interpretations have been issued by the Australian

Accounting Standards Board but are effective for future reporting periods. It is estimated that the impact of

adopting these pronouncements when effective will have no material financial impact on future reporting periods.


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• AASB Interpretation 12 Service Concession Arrangements and 2007–2 Amendments to Australian

Accounting Standards arising from AASB Interpretation 12

• AASB 8 Operating Segments and 2007–3 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 8

• 2007–6 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 123

• AASB Interpretation 13 Customer Loyalty Programmes

• AASB Interpretation 14 AASB 119—The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements

and their Interaction

Other

The following standards and interpretations have been issued but are not applicable to the operations of the

Service Corporation.

• AASB 1049 Financial Reporting of General Government Sectors by Governments

AASB 1049 specif ies the reporting requirements for the General Government Sector. The FMOs do not refer

to this standard as it contains guidance applicable to the consolidated f inancial statements of the Australian

Government rather than the f inancial reports for the individual Agencies and Authorities.

1.4 Revenue

Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when:

• the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer;

• the seller retains no managerial involvement nor effective control over the goods;

• the revenue and transaction costs incurred can be reliably measured; and

• it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the Entity.

Revenue from rendering of services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion of contracts at the

reporting date. The revenue is recognised when:

• the amount of revenue, stage of completion and transaction costs incurred can be reliably measured; and

• the probable economic benefits with the transaction will flow to the Entity.

The stage of completion of contracts at the reporting date is determined by reference to the proportion that

costs incurred to date bear to the estimated total costs of the transaction.

Receivables for goods and services, which have 30 day terms, are recognised at the nominal amounts due less

any provision for bad and doubtful debts. Collectability of debts is reviewed at balance date. Provisions are

made when collectability of the debt is no longer probable.

Interest revenue is recognised using the effective interest method as set out in AASB 139 Financial Instruments:

Recognition and Measurement.

Resources received free of charge

Resources received free of charge are recognised as gains when and only when a fair value can be reliably

determined and the services would have been purchased if they had not been donated. Use of those resources

is recognised as an expense.

Resources received free of charge are recorded as either revenue or gains depending on their nature i.e.

whether they have been generated in the course of the ordinary activities of the Service Corporation.

Revenues from government

Amounts appropriated for Departmental outputs contributions for the year (adjusted for any formal additions

and reductions) are recognised as revenue, except for certain amounts that relate to activities that are reciprocal

in nature, in which case revenue is recognised only when it has been earned.

Contributions receivable are recognised at their nominal amounts.


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1.5 Gains

Other resources received free of charge

Resources received free of charge are recognised as gains when and only when a fair value can be reliably

determined and the services would have been purchased if they had not been donated. Use of those resources

is recognised as an expense.

Contributions of assets at no cost of acquisition or for nominal consideration are recognised as gains at their

fair value when the asset qualif ies for recognition, unless received from another Government Authority or

Authority as a consequence of a restructuring of administrative arrangements.

Resources received free of charge are recorded as either revenue or gains depending on their nature.

Sale of assets

Gains from disposal of non-current assets is recognised when control of the asset has passed to the buyer.

1.6 Employee benefits

Liabilities for services rendered by employees are recognised at the reporting date to the extent that they have

not been settled.

Liabilities for ‘short-term employee benefits’ (as defined in AASB 119) and termination benefits due within

twelve months of balance date are measured at their nominal amounts.

The nominal amount is calculated with regard to the rates expected to be paid on settlement of the liability.

All other employee benefit liabilities are measured at the present value of the estimated future cash outflows

to be made in respect of services provided by employees up to the reporting date.

Leave

The liability for employee benefits includes provision for annual leave and long service leave. No provision

has been made for sick leave as all sick leave is non-vesting and the average sick leave taken in future years

by employees of the Service Corporation is estimated to be less than the annual entitlement for sick leave.

The leave liabilities are calculated on the basis of employees’ remuneration, including the Service Corporation’s

employer superannuation contribution rates to the extent that the leave is likely to be taken during service

rather than paid out on termination.

The estimate of the present value of the long service leave liability takes into account attrition rates and pay

increases through promotion and inflation.

Separation and redundancy

Provision is made for separation and redundancy benefit payments. The Service Corporation recognises a

provision for termination when it has developed a detailed formal plan for the terminations and has informed

those employees affected that it will carry out the terminations.

Superannuation

Certain employees of the Service Corporation are members of the Public Sector Superannuation Scheme. The

liability for their superannuation benefits is recognised in the financial statements of the Australian Government

and is settled by the Australian Government in due course.

The Service Corporation makes employer contributions to the Australian Government at rates determined

by the actuary to be sufficient to meet the cost of the Government of the superannuation entitlements of the

Service Corporation’s employees.

The Service Corporation also contributed to various complying superannuation schemes for the other employees.

The liability for superannuation recognised as at 30 June represents outstanding contributions for the f inal

fortnight of the year.

Employees have the option of choosing a fund providing it is a ‘complying superannuation fund’ within the

meaning of Part IX of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (Cth). The contributions are based on percentage

of salary. The range of these percentages has been approved by the Commission in consultation with the

Federal Department of Workplace Relations and Small Business.

Contributions in accordance with the Superannuation (Productivity Benefit) Act 1988 (Cth) are made to the

Australian Government Employees Superannuation Trust under which members are entitled to benefits on

retirement, resignation, death or disability.

The amount of superannuation contributions totalled $68 410 for the year ended 30 June 2008 ($65 244 in 2007).

1.7 Leases

A distinction is made between f inance leases and operating leases. Finance leases effectively transfer from the

lessor to the lessee substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of leased non-current assets.

An operating lease is a lease that is not a f inance lease. In operating leases, the lessor effectively retains

substantially all such risks and benefits.

Operating lease payments are expensed on a straight-line basis that is representative of the pattern of benefits

derived from the leased assets.

1.8 Cash

Cash and cash equivalents includes notes and coins held and any deposits in bank accounts with an original

maturity of three months or less that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and subject to

insignif icant risk of changes in value. Cash is recognised at its nominal amount.

1.9 Financial assets

NEPC Service Corporation classif ies its f inancial assets in the following categories:

• f inancial assets as ‘at fair value through profit or loss’

• ‘held-to-maturity investments’,

• ‘available-for-sale’ f inancial assets, and

• ‘loans and receivables’.

The classif ication depends on the nature and purpose of the f inancial assets and is determined at the time

of initial recognition.

Financial assets are recognised and derecognised upon ‘trade date’.

Effective interest method

The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial asset and of allocating

interest income over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated

future cash receipts through the expected life of the f inancial asset, or, where appropriate, a shorter period.

Income is recognised on an effective interest rate basis except for f inancial assets ‘at fair value through profit

or loss’.

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Financial assets are classif ied as f inancial assets at fair value through profit or loss where the f inancial asset:

• has been acquired principally for the purpose of selling in the near future;


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• is a part of an identif ied portfolio of f inancial instruments that the Service Corporation manages together

and has a recent actual pattern of short-term profit-taking; or

• is a derivative that is not designated and effective as a hedging instrument.

Assets in this category are classif ied as current assets.

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are stated at fair value, with any resultant gain or loss

recognised in profit or loss. The net gain or loss recognised in profit or loss incorporates any interest earned

on the f inancial asset.

Held-to-maturity investments

Non-derivative f inancial assets with f ixed or determinable payments and f ixed maturity dates that the group

has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classif ied as held-to-maturity investments. Held-to-

maturity investments are recorded at amortised cost using the effective interest method less impairment, with

revenue recognised on an effective yield basis.

Loans and receivables

Trade receivables, loans and other receivables that have f ixed or determinable payments that are not quoted

in an active market are classif ied as ‘loans and receivables’. They are included in current assets, except for

maturities greater than 12 months after the balance sheet date. These are classif ied as non-current assets.

Loans and receivables are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method less impairment.

Interest is recognised by applying the effective interest rate.

Impairment of financial assets

Financial assets are assessed for impairment at each balance date.

• Financial assets held at amortised cost—if there is objective evidence that an impairment loss has been

incurred for loans and receivables or held to maturity investments held at amortised cost, the amount of the

loss is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated

future cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The carrying amount is reduced

by way of an allowance account. The loss is recognised in the Income Statement.

1.10 Financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are classif ied as either f inancial liabilities ‘at fair value through profit or loss’ or other

financial liabilities.

Financial liabilities are recognised and derecognised upon ‘trade date’.

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss are initially measured at fair value. Subsequent fair

value adjustments are recognised in profit or loss. The net gain or loss recognised in profit or loss incorporates

any interest paid on the f inancial liability.

Supplier and other payables

Supplier and other payables are recognised at amortised cost. Liabilities are recognised to the extent that the

goods or services have been received (and irrespective of having been invoiced).

1.11 Contingent liabilities and contingent assets

Contingent liabilities and contingent assets are not recognised in the Balance Sheet but are reported in the

relevant schedules and notes. They may arise from uncertainty as to the existence of a liability or asset, or

represent an existing liability or asset in respect of which settlement is not probable or the amount cannot


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be reliably measured. Contingent assets are reported when settlement is probable, and contingent liabilities

are recognised when settlement is greater than remote.

1.12 Acquisition of assets

Assets are recorded at cost on acquisition except as stated below. The cost of acquisition includes the fair

value of assets transferred in exchange and liabilities undertaken. Financial assets are initially measured

at their fair value plus transaction costs where appropriate.

Assets acquired at no cost, or for nominal consideration, are initially recognised as assets and revenues at

their fair value at the date of acquisition, unless acquired as a consequence of restructuring of administrative

arrangements. In the latter case, assets are initially recognised as contributions by owners at the amounts

at which they were recognised in the transferor Authority’s accounts immediately prior to the restructuring.

1.13 Property, plant and equipment

Asset recognition threshold

Purchases of property, plant and equipment are recognised initially at cost in the Statement of Financial

Position, except for purchases costing less than $3000, which are expensed in the year of acquisition (other

than where they form part of a group of similar items which are signif icant in total).

The initial cost of an asset includes an estimate of the cost of dismantling and removing the item and restoring

the site on which it is located. This is particularly relevant to ‘make-good’ provisions in property leases taken

up by the Service Corporation where there exists an obligation to restore the property to its original condition.

These costs are included in the value of Service Corporation’s leasehold improvements with a corresponding

provision for the ‘make-good’ recognised.

Revaluations

Fair values for each class of asset are determined as shown below.

Following initial recognition at cost, property plant and equipment are carried at fair value less accumulated

depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Valuations are conducted with sufficient frequency to ensure

that the carrying amounts of assets do not differ materially from the assets’ fair values as at the reporting date.

The regularity of independent valuations depends upon the volatility of movements in market values for the

relevant assets. The next such valuation is scheduled for 30 June 2011.

Revaluation adjustments are made on a class basis. Any revaluation increment is credited to equity under the

heading of asset revaluation reserve except to the extent that it reverses a previous revaluation decrement

of the same asset class that was previously recognised through surplus and deficit. Revaluation decrements

for a class of assets are recognised directly through surplus and deficit except to the extent that they reverse

a previous revaluation increment for that class.

Any accumulated depreciation as at the revaluation date is eliminated against the gross carrying amount

of the asset and the asset restated to the revalued amount.


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Asset Class: Fair value measured at:

Leasehold improvements Depreciated replacement cost

Office furniture and equipment Market selling price

Depreciation

Depreciable property plant and equipment assets are written-off to their estimated residual values over their

estimated useful lives to the Service Corporation using, in all cases, the straight-line method of depreciation.

Leasehold improvements are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the estimated useful life

of the improvements or the unexpired period of the lease.

Depreciation rates (useful lives) and methods are reviewed at each reporting date and necessary adjustments

are recognised in the current, or current and future reporting periods, as appropriate. Residual values are

re-estimated for a change in prices only when assets are revalued.

Depreciation rates applying to each class of depreciable asset are based on the following useful lives:

Impairment

All assets were assessed for impairment at 30 June 2008. Where indications of impairment exist, the asset’s

recoverable amount is estimated and an impairment adjustment made if the asset’s recoverable amount is less

than its carrying amount.

The recoverable amount of an asset is the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. Value

in use is the present value of the future cash flows expected to be derived from the asset. Where the future

economic benefit of an asset is not primarily dependent on the asset’s ability to generate future cash flows,

and the asset would be replaced if the Service Corporation were deprived of the asset, its value in use is taken

to be its depreciated replacement cost.

1.14 Taxation

The Service Corporation is exempt from all forms of taxation except fringe benefits tax (FBT) and the goods

and services tax (GST).

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of GST:

• except where the amount of GST incurred is not recoverable from the Australian Taxation Office; and

• except for receivables and payables.

1.15 In-kind contributions

Each jurisdiction has the option to contribute a portion of its National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM)

budget as an in-kind contribution. This is in the form of the provision of a NEPM project team member for the

NEPC Service Corporation. The amount is calculated per an agreed formula using the median point of the

Commonwealth Executive Level salary range plus 15% on costs, which amounts to $362 per person per day

($362 in 2007). The income and associated expense are recognised when incurred.


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2008 2007

Office furniture and equipment 3–8 years 3–8 years

Leasehold improvements Lease term Lease term

2 REVENUES


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30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Interest 181 149 141 506

181 149 141 506

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Other revenue 11 799 15 290

11 799 15 290

2B—Interest revenue

2C—Other revenue

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Reversal of make-good provision - 21 480

- 21 480

2D—Other gains

2008 2007

Approp- Approp-riations In-kind Total riations In-kind Total

Commonwealth 952 525 (2 860) 949 665 735 244 9 632 744 876

New South Wales 249 766 858 250 624 208 229 8 600 216 829

Victoria 158 155 8 688 166 843 152 912 9 288 162 200

Queensland 117 329 3 972 121 301 116 727 6 192 122 919

Western Australia 59 098 6 878 65 976 141 925 2 064 143 989

South Australia 44 032 8 326 52 358 48 693 12 728 61 421

Tasmania 20 050 - 20 050 14 802 9 804 24 606

Northern Territory 6 143 724 6 867 6 173 - 6 173

Australian Capital Territory 9 771 - 9 771 10 104 - 10 104

Total Contributions 1 616 869 26 586 1 643 455 1 434 809 58 308 1 493 117

2A—Contributions from state, territory and federal jurisdictions

Under the National Environment Protection Council Act, the National Environment Protection Council approves

levels of contributions for each jurisdiction.


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3 EXPENSES BY PROJECT

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Core Operating 1 008 644

Ambient Air Quality NEPM—Peer Review Committee 1 502 1 403

Ambient Air Quality NEPM—Review 42 279 35 552

Air Quality Working Group 1 424 1 617

Air Toxics—Monitoring Equivalency Group 205 332

Diesel Vehicle Emissions 326 11 274

Mortality and Morbidity Study - 2 757

Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM Variation 37 566 85 800

Air Quality Standard Setting EPHC 6 261 176

National Packaging Covenant Regulatory Impact Statement II 1 -

National Packaging Covenant Complementary Economic

Mechanisms Investigation 104 676 -

National Packaging Covenant Complementary Economic

Mechanisms Investigation Peer Review 27 000 -

National Packaging Covenant Complementary Review 30 -

National Pollutant Inventory NEPM Variation 2005 15 675 105 968

National Pollutant Inventory NEPM Variation 2008 3 717 -

Tyres NEPM Development 138 963 60 990

Waste Tyres - 36

Industrial Residue Phase 2 31 989 -

Electronic Scrap - 36

Beverage Container Working Group - 36

EPHC Waste Working Group 826 870

Plastic Bag Finalisation of Regulatory Impact Statement 86 819 11 269

Biodegradable Plastic Bags 74 -

RIS Lightweight Plastic Bags - -

Water Sensitive Urban Development - (414)

Australian Children’s Health and Air Pollution Study 2 647 138 533

PM2.5 Equivalence Program Working Group 9 963 221

National Wind Farm Code Working Group 1 239 -

National Water Initiatives Development of National Guidelines 20 760 -

Water Recycling Guidelines Phase 1 (29 298) 36 455

Water Recycling Guidelines Phase 2 493 619 65 286

Commonwealth NHT Contribution to Phase 1 Water

Recycling Guidelines 48 474 88 506

NChEM 3 439 15 564

NEPC Act Review 2006 30 93 479

EPHC Priority Project—Plastic Bags 2 181 36

EPHC Priority Projects—Chemicals 60 20 389

EPHC Priority Projects—Chemicals Working Group 3 396 (155)

Total expenses 2 148 696 1 784 624


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4 EXPENSES

4A—Employee expenses

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Wages and salaries 662 707 633 107

Superannuation 65 464 62 030

Leave and other entitlements 4 285 32 167

Total employee expenses 727 305

5 FINANCIAL ASSETS

5A—Cash and cash equivalents

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Cash at bank and on hand 311 531 623 005

Term deposits 2 824 234 1 900 000

3 135 765 2 523 005

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Goods from external entities 107 997 95 685

Services from related entities 26 143 58 308

Services from external entities 1 138 400 778 104

Operating lease rentals 113 758 97 616

Total supplier expenses 1 386 298 1 029 713

4B—Supplier expenses

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Depreciation of off ice furniture and equipment 24 957 22 004

Amortisation on leasehold improvements 4 985 5 602

Total depreciation and amortisation 29 942 27 606

4C—Depreciation and amortisation

Cash at bank is at call and recognised at its nominal amount. Interest is credited to revenue as it accrues.

There are no interest rates applicable to the f inancial assets and liabilities of the Service Corporation other

than cash and term deposits. Cash receives interest on the balance at a variable rate. As at 30 June 2008 the

applicable rate was 5.25% (3.30% in 2007).

Term deposits are recognised at cost. Interest is accrued as it is earned. The term deposits will mature between

4 August 2008 and 12 January 2009. The effective rate of interest is 7.70% on $2 824 234 (6.35% on $1 900 000

in 2007).

These receivables are recognised at the nominal amounts due, less any provision for bad and doubtful debts.

Provisions are made when the collection of debts are judged to be less rather than more likely to be collected.

Management does not consider a provision for doubtful debts necessary as at balance date. Credit terms are

net 30 days.

6 NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS

6A—Analysis of leasehold improvements

Reconciliation of the opening and closing balance of leasehold improvements:


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30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Other receivables 323 627 1 063 150

GST receivable from the Australian Taxation Office 13 435 12 550

Total receivables 337 062 1 075 700

All receivables are current assets.

Management have assessed receivables for impairment and consider no allowance for doubtful debts necessary

for the year ended 30 June 2008.

5B—Receivables

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Receivables are aged as follows:

Not overdue 13 435 12 550

Overdue by:

Less than 30 days 62 316 248 262

30 to 60 days 260 069 808 750

60 to 90 days 521 12 779

More than 90 days 721 (6 641)

323 627 1 063 150

Total receivables 337 062 1 075 700

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

As at 1 July—fair value 28 750 26 280

Accumulated depreciation/amortisation (6 768) (22 646)

Opening net book value 21 982 3 634

Additions - 23 950

Revaluation and impairments through equity 5 455 -

Amortisation expense (4 985) (5 602)

Disposals - (21 480)

Accumulated depreciation adjustment for disposal - 21 480

As at 30 June 22 452 21 982

Gross book value 23 274 28 750

Less: Accumulated depreciation (823) (6 768)

Closing net book value 22 451 21 982


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6B—Analysis of office furniture and equipment

Reconciliation of the opening and closing balance of off ice furniture and equipment:

6C—Property, plant and equipment

No indicators of impairment were found for leasehold improvements or property, plant and equipment.

All revaluations are independent and are conducted in accordance with the revaluation policy stated at Note 1.

Revaluations were last conducted at 30 June 2008 by an independent valuer A.J. Robertson (AAPI [P&M],

Certif ied Practicing Valuer, MSAA Master).

A revaluation increment of $5455 for leasehold improvements (2007: nil) and decrement of $1159 for off ice

furniture and equipment (2007: nil) were allocated to the asset revaluation reserve by asset class and included

in the equity section of the Balance Sheet.

6D—Other non-financial assets

All other non-financial assets are current assets.

No indicators of impairment were found for other non-financial assets.

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

As at 1 July—fair value 112 109 86 413

Accumulated depreciation/amortisation (42 182) (20 178)

Opening net book value 69 927 66 235

Additions—by purchase - 25 696

Revaluation and impairments through equity (1 159) -

Depreciation expense (24 957) (22 004)

As at 30 June 43 811 69 927

Gross book value 45 000 112 109

Less: Accumulated depreciation (1 189) (42 182)

Closing net book value 43 811 69 927

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Leasehold improvements—fair value 23 274 28 750

Accumulated amortisation (823) (6 768)

Total leasehold improvements 22 451 21 982

Office furniture and equipment—fair value 45 000 112 109

Accumulated depreciation (1 189) 42 182)

Total office furniture and equipment 43 811 69 927

Total property, plant and equipment 66 262 91 909

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Prepayments 19 887 16 592

Accrued income 53 507 14 821

Total other non-financial assets 73 394 31 413


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7 PAYABLES

7A—Supplier payables

All supplier payables are current.

Creditors and accruals are recognised at their nominal amounts, being the amounts at which the liabilities will

be settled. Settlement varies with the creditors’ terms, which are between 7–30 days.

7B—Other payables

All other payables are current.

8 PROVISIONS

8A—Employee provisions

The classif ication of current includes amounts for which there is not an unconditional right to defer settlement

by one year, hence in the case of employee provisions the above classif ication does not represent the amount

expected to be settled within one year of reporting date. Employee provisions expected to be settled in one

year are $69 598 (2007: $79 803) and in excess of one year are $113 930 (2007: $115 891)

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Prepaid contributions 1 536 202 1 367 675

GST payable 43 528 53 211

Total other payables 1 579 730 1 420 886

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Accrued salaries and wages 61 105 70 257

Annual leave 8 493 9 546

Long service leave 113 930 115 891

Aggregate employee benefit liability and related on costs 183 528 195 694

Employee provisions are represented by:

Current 168 558 180 358

Non-current 14 970 15 336

Total employee provisions 183 528 195 694

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Trade creditors 74 293 27 332

Accrued expenses 29 025 24 211

Total supplier payables 103 318 51 543


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8B—Other provisions

The Service Corporation currently has an agreement for the leasing of premises which have provisions

requiring the Service Corporation to restore the premises to their original condition at the conclusion of the

lease. The Service Corporation has made a provision to reflect the present value of this obligation.

9 CASH FLOW RECONCILIATION

9A—Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalent as per balance sheet to cash flow statement

9B—Reconciliation of operating surplus to net cash from operating activities

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Operating surplus/(deficit) (312 293) (113 231)

Non-cash items

Depreciation and amortisation expense 29 942 27 606

Gain on reversal of make-good provision - (21 480)

Changes in assets and liabilities

(Increase)/decrease in receivables 739 520 63 341

(Increase)/decrease in other non-financial assets (42 864) (6 357)

Increase/(decrease) in employee provisions (17 580) 39 647

Increase/(decrease) in suppler payables 47 508 (17 877)

Increase/(decrease) in other payables 168 527 365 787

Net cash provided from/(used by) operating activities 612 760 337 436

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Make-good provision 23 950 23 950

23 950 23 950

Carrying amount at 1 July 23 950 21 480

Additional provisions made - 23 950

Amounts reversed - (21 480)

Closing balance at 30 June 23 950 23 950

30 June 2008 30 June 2007Report cash and cash equivalents as per: $ $

Cash flow statement 3 135 765 2 523 006

Balance sheet 3 135 765 2 523 006

Difference - -


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10 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

10A—Categories of financial instruments

10B—Net income and expense from financial assets

10C—Net income and expense from financial liabilities

There were nil income/expenses from financial liabilities.

10D—Fair values of financial instruments

All carrying amounts are reasonably approximate to fair value, and as such no separate disclosure is shown

in the f inancial statements for fair value.

10E—Credit risk exposures

The Service Corporation is exposed to minimal credit risk as the majority of loans and receivables are cash,

appropriation made under law (which guarantees f ixed amounts of funding that the entity can drawdown as

required) or amounts owed by the Australian Taxation Office in the form of a Goods and Services Tax refund.

The Service Corporation’s maximum exposures to credit risk is the risk that arises from potential default of

a debtor. This amount is equal to the total amount of trade receivables (2008: $337 062 and 2007: $1 075 700).

The Service Corporation has assessed the risk of the default on payment and has decided not to allocate an

allowance for doubtful debts (2007: nil). Receivable balances are monitored on an on-going basis with the

result that the Service Corporation’s exposure to bad debts is not signif icant.

The Service Corporation has no signif icant exposures to any concentrations of credit risk.

The Service Corporation holds no collateral to mitigate against credit risk.

30 June 2008 30 June 2007Financial assets $ $

Loans and receivables financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents 3 135 765 2 523 006

Receivable for goods and services 337 062 1 075 700

Carrying amount of financial assets 3 472 827 3 598 706

Financial liabilities

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost

Suppliers 103 318 51 543

Other payables 1 579 730 1 420 886

Carrying amount of financial liabilities 1 683 048 1 472 429

30 June 2008 30 June 2007Loans and receivables $ $

Interest revenue 181 149 141 506

Net gain/(loss) loans and receivables 181 149 141 506

Net gain/(loss) from financial assets 181 149 141 506


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10F—Liquidity risk

The Services Corporation’s financial liabilities consist mainly of payables to suppliers. The exposure to liquidity

risk is based on the notion that the Service Corporation will encounter diff iculty in meeting its obligations

associated with f inancial liabilities. This is highly unlikely due to appropriation funding and mechanisms

available to the Entity.

The following table illustrates the maturities for f inancial liabilities:

The Service Corporation is appropriated funding from the Australian Government. The Service Corporation

manages its budgeted funds to ensure it has adequate funds to meet payments as they fall due. In addition, the

Service Corporation has policies in place to ensure timely payment is made when due and has no past

experience of default.

10G—Market risk

The Service Corporation holds basic f inancial instruments that do not expose it to signif icant market risks.

The Service Corporation is not exposed to ‘currency risk’ or ‘other price risk’.

30 June 2008 30 June 2007$ $

Not past due nor impaired

Receivable for goods and services 62 316 248 262

Total 62 316 248 262

Past due or impaired

Receivables for goods and services 261 313 814 888

Total 261 313 814 888

Aging of financial assets that are past due but not impaired

Outstanding:

31 to 60 days 260 069 808 750

61 to 90 days 521 12 779

90+ days 723 (6 641)

Total 261 313 814 888

2008 2008 2008 2008 2008$ $ $ $ $

Suppliers - 103 318 - - 103 318

Other payables - 1 579 730 1 579 730

Total - 1 683 048 - - 1 683 048

2007 2007 2007 2007 2007$ $ $ $ $

Suppliers - 51 543 - - 51 543

Other payables - 1 420 886 1 420 886

Total - 1 472 429 - - 1 472 429


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11 RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURE


The Council Members during the year were:

The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP, Commonwealth (Chairperson, ceased 3 December 2007)

The Hon. Peter Garrett AM MP, Commonwealth (Chairperson, commenced 28 January 2008)

The Hon. Phil Koperberg MP, New South Wales (ceased 4 April 2008)

The Hon. Verity Firth MP, New South Wales (commenced 4 April 2008)

The Hon. John Thwaites MP, Victoria (ceased 27 July 2007)

The Hon. Gavin Jennings MP, Victoria (commenced 18 February 2008)

The Hon. Lindy Nelson-Carr MP, Queensland (ceased 13 September 2007)

The Hon. Andrew McNamara MP, Queensland (commenced 6 November 2007)

The Hon. David Templeman MLA, Western Australia

The Hon. Gail Gago MLC, South Australia

The Hon. Paula Wriedt MHA, Tasmania (ceased 9 April 2008)

The Hon. Michelle O’Byrne MHA, Tasmania (commenced 9 April 2008)

Mr Jon Stanhope MLA, Australian Capital Territory

Ms Marion Scrymgour MLA, NT (ceased 12 August 2007)

The Hon. Delia Lawrie MLA, NT (commenced 12 August 2007; ceased 4 January 2008)

The Hon. Len Kiely MLA, NT (commenced 4 January 2008)

The Council Members received no remuneration from the NEPC Service Corporation.

There were no related party transactions during the year.

12 REMUNERATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The remuneration of the Executive Officer was within the income band $175 000–$189 999 ($160 000–$174 999

in 2007).

The aggregate amount of total remuneration of off icers shown above: $179 100 ($170 350 in 2007).

The above f igure includes performance based bonus payments for the period July 2007 to June 2008.

Superannuation is provided for the Executive Officer in accordance with the Government Employees

Superannuation Act 1984 (Western Australia). The amount of superannuation contributions totalled $10 718

($9700 in 2007).

13 REMUNERATION OF AUDITORS

Due to a change in accounting policy, no amount was recognised in the f inancial statements of the Service

Corporation for 2006–07. No other services are provided by the Auditor-General.

30 June 2008 30 June 2007

Remuneration to the Auditor-General for auditing the f inancial

statements for the reporting period 14 500 Nil


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14 AVERAGE STAFFING LEVELS

15 2008–09 BUDGET

The National Environment Protection Council has approved the interim budget for the Service Corporation

2008–09 of $1 060 856 ($1 039 913 in 2007–08).

30 June 2008 30 June 2007

The average staff ing levels for the Service Corporation during the

year were (FTE): 7.6 7.6

Appendix 1: NEPC Committee —Membership

MEMBER

Commonwealth

Mr David Borthwick

Secretary


the Arts

New South Wales

Ms Lisa Corbyn

Director-General

Department of Environment and Climate Change

Victoria

Mr Mick Bourke

Chairman

Environment Protection Authority

Queensland

Mr Terry Wall

Director–General

Environmental Protection Agency

Western Australia

Mr Keiran McNamara

Director General

Department of Environment and Conservation

South Australia

Dr Paul Vogel

Chief Executive


Mr Allan Holmes

A/Chief Executive


ALTERNATE

Ms Anthea Tinney

Deputy Secretary


the Arts

Mr Gerard Early

Deputy Secretary


the Arts

Ms Sally Barnes

Executive Director

Office of Director-General


Mr Tim Rogers

Executive Director


Mr Chris Bell

Director

Water and National Relations


Mr Wayne Robins

Director

Resource and Regulatory Efficiency


Mr Tony Roberts

Executive Director

Strategy and Policy Division

Environment Protection Agency

Dr Ray Wallis

A/Director

Strategic Policy

Department of Environment and Conservation

Ms Susan Churchman

Director, Policy, Planning and Communications



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MEMBER

Tasmania

Mr Warren Jones

General Manager

Environment Division

Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage and

the Arts

Australian Capital Territory

Mr Robert Neil

A/Director

Environment Protection and Heritage

Environment and Recreation

Department for Territory and Municipal Services

Mr Hamish McNulty

Executive Director



Northern Territory

Dr David Ritchie

Chief Executive

Department of Natural Resources, Environment and

the Arts

Mr Jim Grant

Chief Executive

Department of Natural Resources, Environment and

the Arts

NEPC Service Corporation

Dr Bruce Kennedy

Executive Officer

Observer

Mr John Pritchard

National Policy Coordinator

Australian Local Government Association

ALTERNATE

Mr Robert Neil

A/Director

Environment Protection and Heritage



Ms Lyn Allen

Executive Director


Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment

Appendix 2: Project Teams and Working Groups — Membership


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Membership of project teams and working groups supported by the NEPC Service Corporation.

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COUNCIL

Ambient Air Quality NEPM — Review

Chair

Mr Chris Bell/Mr Wayne Robins Victoria

Review Team

Dr Lyn Denison Victoria

Mr Drew Farrar Western Australia

Mr Bob Hyde Tasmania

Mr Robin Seeley Commonwealth

Dr Vicky Sheppeard/ NSW Health

Ms Vikki Lynch Department of Health Victoria

Mr Kelvyn Steer South Australia

Project Manager

Ms Kerry Scott NEPC Service Corporation

Project Officer

Mr Haemish Middleton NEPC Service Corporation

Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM — Variation

Chair

Mr Keiran McNamara Western Australia

Variation Team

Ms Janet McMillan Western Australia

Mr Jack Dempsey Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing

Mr Mike Fanning South Australia

Dr Paul Moritz/Mr Chris McAuley Victoria

Mr Greg O’Brien Queensland

Mr Elvin Wong New South Wales

Project Manager


Project Officer

Ms Monina Gilbey NEPC Service Corporation

Jurisdictional Reference Network

Ms Kim Barry Queensland

Dr Sara Broomhall Commonwealth

Ms Liz Canning Tasmania


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Ms Kerry Laszig Western Australia

Mr Matthew Hart/Mr Elvin Wong New South Wales

Mr Mark Heckenberg Australian Capital Territory

Mr Michael Lawton Northern Territory

Ms Jean Meaklin Victoria

Mr Wil van Deur South Australia

Diesel Vehicle Emissions NEPM — Variation

Chair

Mr Gerard Early Commonwealth

Review Team

Mr Bruce Dowdell NSW Roads and Traffic Authority

Mr Karl Carrabotta Western Australia

Mr Kerry Lack New South Wales

Ms Melanie Middleton Victoria

Ms Sue May Commonwealth

Mr Jon Real Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport,

Regional Services and Local Government

Mr Neil Wong National Transport Commission

Project Manager


Project Officer


National Pollutant Inventory NEPM — Variation

Chair


Project Team

Ms Debbie Lawrence/Ms Sarah Lenarduzzi Commonwealth

Dr Greg Storrier New South Wales

Mr Peter Thorning Queensland

Project Manager

Mr Ian Newbery NEPC Service Corporation

Project Officer



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Tyres NEPM

Chair


Project Team

Ms Shaneen Coulson Commonwealth

Mr Steve Watson Victoria

Mr Rob Middlin South Australia

Dr John Ottaway/Mr Michael Reid Western Australia

Mr Alex Young/Ms Sharon Owens New South Wales

Jurisdictional Reference Network

Dr Paul Bainton Commonwealth

Ms Kylie Hughes Queensland

Mr Steve Howatt Tasmania

Mr Graham Mannall Australian Capital Territory

Mr Nigel Green Northern Territory

Ms Jill Lethlean Western Australia

Ms Melinda Barker Victoria

Mr Rob Middlin South Australia

Mr Alex Young New South Wales

Project Manager


Project Officer


NEPC Act — Review

Strategic Planning Committee

Chair

Ms Anthea Tinney/Mr Gerard Early Commonwealth

Members

Ms Sally Barnes New South Wales

Mr Mick Bourke/Mr Chris Bell Victoria

Ms Nancy Esler Queensland

Dr Bruce Kennedy NEPC Service Corporation

Support

Ms Mary Harwood Commonwealth



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PM2.5 Equivalence Program

Chair


Members

Mr Fred Ardern Victoria


Mr Chris Eiser New South Wales

Dr Michael Groth Tasmania

Mr Robert Kleinfelder Western Australia

Dr Mike Manton Peer Review Committee

Mr Rob Mitchell South Australia

Mr David Power Australian Capital Territory

Mr David Wainwright Queensland

Project Manager


Project Officer


Multi-city Mortality and Morbidity Study Steering Committee

Chair

Dr Paul Vogel/Mr Joe Woodward South Australia/New South Wales

Members

Mr Chris Bell Victoria

Mr Jim Dodds WA Department of Health

Dr Melita Keywood CSIRO

Ms Kelly Pearce Commonwealth

Ms Sue Powell New Zealand Ministry for the Environment

Dr Neville Smith Bureau of Meteorology

Dr Roscoe Taylor National Public Health Partnership/Australian Health

Ministers’ Advisory Council

Project Manager

Mr Ian Newbery/Ms Kerry Scott NEPC Service Corporation

Peer Review Committee

Chair

Dr Mike Manton Monash University


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Members

Mr Chris Eiser New South Wales

Mr Adrian Heggie Australian Institute of Petroleum

Dr Nigel Holmes Minerals Council Australia

Mr Bob Joynt Victoria


Dr Graeme Lorimer National Environment Consultative Forum



Mr Paul Purdon Northern Territory

Dr Bro Sheffield–Brotherton National Environment Consultative Forum

Dr Bob Hyde Tasmania


Executive Officer


NEPM Implementation Reporting Working Group

Members

Ms Naomi Nicholson Commonwealth

Ms Fiona Rae Victoria

Mr Steven Mudge South Australia

Mr Stephen Quiterio Western Australia

Project Officers


Ms Bronwyn Gobbett/ Ms Susan Whitehead NEPC Service Corporation

Land Transport Environment Committee

Chair

Mr Tim Eaton (2008) National Transport Commission

Dr Bruce Kennedy (2007) NEPC Service Corporation

Members


Mr Stewart Jones Department of Transport and Regional Services

Ms Judy Oswin Queensland Transport

Ms Anthea Tinney/Mr Gerard Early Commonwealth

Dr Paul Vogel/ Mr Allan Holmes South Australia

Mr Les Wielinga Roads and Traffic Authority NSW

Project Officer



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ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND HERITAGE COUNCIL

Members of Working Groups are officers nominated by EPHC member agencies unless indicated otherwise.

Chemicals Working Group

Chair

Ms Lisa Corbyn New South Wales

Members

Ms Lejla Buza Commonwealth

Mr David Duncan South Australia

Mr Lee Eeles Commonwealth

Mr Doug Hide Western Australia

Dr Faiz Khan Queensland

Mr Michael Lawton Northern Territory

Dr Jane Mallen-Cooper New South Wales

Ms Therese Manning New South Wales

Ms Elizabeth Moore New South Wales


Dr Barry Reville Commonwealth

Mr Mark Stanborough/Mr John Mollison Tasmania

Mr Barry Warwick Victoria

Project Manager


Project Officer


Wind Energy Working Group

Chair

Mr Stephen Oxley Commonwealth

Members

Ms Tristy Fairf ield/Ms Tara Cherrie Western Australia

Mr Cameron Frazer/ Mr Diwaker Basnet Victoria

Mr Simon Howes South Australia

Mr Scott Jeffries New South Wales

Mr John Lane Queensland

Ms Jadranka McAlpine/Ms Rebecca Collins Commonwealth

Ms Sarah McDonald Local Government and Planning Ministers’ Council

Joint Committee

Mr Nicholas Sawyer Tasmania


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Project Officer

Ms Monina Gilbey/Ms Susan Whitehead NEPC Service Corporation

Stakeholder Reference Group

Mr Damien Bell Indigenous Advisory Committee

Mr David Clarke Victorian Central Highlands Area Consultative Committee Inc

Mr Colin Griff iths Australian Council of National Trusts

Ms Di Jay Planning Institute of Australia

Ms Liz Johnstone Municipal Association of Victoria

Mr Tim Le Roy

(Mr Randall Bell representing) Tarwin Valley Coastal Guardians

Mr Tom Perrigo National Trust of Australia (WA)

Mr Andrew Richards Pacif ic Hydro/Clean Energy Council

Mr Brett Thomas Acciona Energy

Mr Chris Tzaros Birds Australia

Ms Yvonne Wenham Friends of Future Generations Spokesperson

Waste Working Group

Chair

Mr Tim Rogers New South Wales

Members


Mr Steve Howatt Tasmania

Ms Roz Hall New South Wales


Mr Michael Kerr Western Australia

Mr Michael Lawton/Ms Kira Schlusser Northern Territory

Mr David Butt Australian Capital Territory

Mr Tom Whitworth/Mr Rob Middlin South Australia

Project Manager


Project Officer


Diversion of Industrial Residues Subgroup

Chair

Dr Barry Reville Commonwealth

Members

Mr Mark Gorta New South Wales

Mr Steve Hartley New South Wales


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Dr Bruce Kennedy NEPC Service Corporation

Mr Steven Sergi South Australia

Ms Louise Sindall Western Australia

Project Officer


Plastic Bags RIS Subgroup

Chair

Dr Paul Bainton Commonwealth

Members

Ms Melinda Barker Victoria

Ms Angela Gillman Commonwealth

Ms Jenny Brown New South Wales


Mr Vaughan Levitzke/Ms Monica Stasiak South Australia

Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling

Joint Steering Committee

Chair

Mr Chris Bell/Mr John Williamson Victoria

Members

Mr Michael Barry Australian Local Government Association

Ms Jo Beatty Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment

Ms Jan Bowman Victoria Department of Human Services

Dr Helen Cameron Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing

Mrs Cathy Clutton National Health and Medical Research Council

Dr David Cunliffe South Australia Department of Human Services

Dr David Dettrick Northern Territory

Mr Leon English Western Australia Department of Water

Dr Greg Jackson Queensland Health

Mr John Lauder Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services

Dr Karin Leder National Health and Medical Research Council

Mr Peter Marczan New South Wales

Ms Chris Schweizer Commonwealth

Mr Mike Sharpin New South Wales

Dr Paul Smith National Water Commission

Dr Kaye Power New South Wales Health


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Mr Neil Power South Australia Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity

Conservation

Mr Ross Young Water Services Association of Australia

Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies Working Group (Phase 2)

Chair

Dr David Cunliffe South Australia Department of Human Services

Members

Dr Dan Deere CRC Water Quality and Treatment

Mr Peter Donlon Water Services Association of Australia

Dr Jim Fitzgerald South Australia Department of Human Services

Dr Charles Lewis Commonwealth

Mr Ian Marshall/Dr Heather Uwins Queensland Health

Mr Neil McGuinness Western Australia Department of Health

Dr Kaye Power NSW Department of Health

Prof Brian Priestly Monash University

Ms Suzie Sarkiss Victoria Department of Human Services

Dr Martha Sinclair Monash University

Dr Melita Stevens Melbourne Water

Dr Simon Toze CSIRO Land and Water

Managed Aquifer Recharge Working Group (Phase 2)

Chair

Mr Leon English Western Australia Department of Water

Members

Dr Melissa Bromly Western Australia Department of Water

Dr Greg Jackson Queensland Health

Mr Michael Jamieson Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water

Ms Shona Juffermans Victoria

Mr Peter Newland South Australia

Dr Paul Smith National Water Commission

Dr Alan Thomas Commonwealth

Mr Nick Turner Western Australia Water Corporation

Mr Michael Williams New South Wales Department of Natural Resources

Stormwater Working Group (Phase 2)

Chair

Mr Mike Sharpin New South Wales

Members

Mr David Duncan South Australia

Mr Ted Gardner Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water

Ms Annie Josline Commonwealth

Dr Grace Mitchell Monash University

Dr Melita Stevens Melbourne Water

Air Quality Working Group

Chair

Dr Paul Vogel/Mr Joe Woodward South Australia/New South Wales

Members

Mr Chris Bell Victoria

Mr Jim Dodds WA Department of Health

Dr Melita Keywood CSIRO


Ms Sue Powell New Zealand Ministry for the Environment

Dr Neville Smith Bureau of Meteorology

Dr Roscoe Taylor National Public Health Partnership/Australian Health Ministers’

Advisory Council

Dr Christine Williams Queensland

Project Manager


Project Officer


Children’s Health and Air Pollution Study

Chair

Dr Paul Vogel South Australia

Members


Prof Bin Jalaludin University of Sydney

Dr Guy Marks Woolcock Institute

Prof Rod Simpson National Health and Medical Research Council

Prof Gail Williams University of Queensland

Project Manager



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Air Quality Standard Setting Working Group

Chair

Mr Chris Bell/Mr Wayne Robins and Victoria and

Dr Roscoe Taylor AHMAC

Members

Mr Robin Seeley Commonwealth

Mr Jack Dempsey Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing


Dr Monika Nitschke South Australia Department of Human Services

Mr Drew Farrar Western Australia

Dr David Simon enHealth

Project Manager


Project Officer


Air Toxics Equivalence Monitoring Task Group

Chair

Dr Mike Manton Peer Review Committee

Members

Mr Alan Betts New South Wales

Mr Ian Galbally CSIRO

Mr Adrian Heggie Parsons Brinckerhoff



Dr Bro Sheffield-Brotherton National Environment Consultative Forum

Mr Paul Torre Victoria


Project Manager


Project Officer



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NEPC GENERAL

• EPHC / NEPC filter criteria for national environment and heritage issues — May 2008

• Statement of Expectation for the NEPC Service Corporation—2007-08 — May 2008

• Statement of Intent for the NEPC Service Corporation—2007-08 — May 2008

• Report of the second review of the National Environment Protection Council Acts (Commonwealth, state

and territory) — June 2007

• Report of the review of the National Environment Protection Council Acts (Commonwealth, state and

territory) — June 2001

• NEPC revised protocol for the development of impact statements — July 2000

• NEPC annual report 2006–07












• Scoping protocol for National Environment Protection Measures — July 1999

• NEPC consultation protocol (revised) (bulletin) — May 1999

• Introducing the National Environment Protection Council (pamphlet) — 1997

AMBIENT AIR QUALITY (OZONE, SO2, CO-OP STUDIES WORKING GROUP REPORTS)

• Review of the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure —Discussion paper —

June 2007

• Report on the preliminary work for the review of the ozone standard — October 2005

• Summary of submissions on preliminary work for the ozone standard — October 2005

• Preliminary work on ozone for the review of the Ambient Air Quality NEPM – Issues paper — May 2005

• Ozone data analysis report — September 2004

• Ozone data analysis additional task report — September 2004

• Priority research areas — June 2004

• Review of the Ambient Air Quality NEPM ozone standard — Ozone Workshop 18 May 2004 — Summary

of outcomes — May 2004

• Time activity study — May 2004

– Data description report

– Study I — September 2002 (summer)

– Study II — February 2003 (winter)

– Summary of findings

• Review of the practicability of a 10 minute standard for sulfur dioxide – Issues paper — March 2004

• Report of the review of the practicability of a 10 minute standard for sulfur dioxide —March 2004

Appendix 3: Publications (since 1996)


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• Summary of submissions received in relation to the review of the practicability of a 10 minute standard for

sulfur dioxide – Issues paper —March 2004

• Air pollution and health: Identifying research priorities for policy development — July 2003

• Variation to the Ambient Air Quality NEPM PM2.5 — June 2003

• Summary of submissions received in relation to the draft variation on setting PM2.5 standard in Australia —

June 2003

• Technical paper on monitoring for particles as PM2.5 — June 2003

• Asthma research — A background paper — January 2003

• Report on Air Pollution and Asthma Workshop — January 2003

• Draft variation to the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure for particles as

PM2.5 and associated impact statement — October 2002

• Summary of submissions received in relation to the discussion paper on setting a PM2.5 standard in

Australia — June 2002

• Discussion paper on setting a PM2.5 standard in Australia — February 2002

• Issues paper on the need for a PM2.5 standard in Australia — June 2001

• Issues paper on the need for a PM2.5 standard in Australia — Released to key stakeholders for comment —

May 2001

• Summary of submissions received by the National Environment Protection Council in relation to the issues

paper on the need for a PM2.5 standard in Australia and National Environment Protection Council’s

responses to those submissions — May 2001

• National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure — May 2001

– Technical paper no. 1: Checklist for monitoring plans

– Technical paper no. 2: Selection of regions

– Technical paper no. 3: Monitoring strategy

– Technical paper no. 4: Screening procedures

– Technical paper no. 5: Data collection and handling

– Technical paper no. 6: Meteorological measures

– Technical paper no. 7: Accreditation of performance monitoring

– Technical paper no. 8: Annual reports for Ambient Air Quality NEPM

– Technical paper no. 9: Lead monitoring

– Technical paper no. 10: Collection and reporting of TEOM PM10 data

• Report of the Risk Assessment Taskforce — October 2000

• National Environment Protection Measure for Ambient Air Quality — June 1998

• Revised impact statement for Ambient Air Quality — June 1998

• Summary of submissions received by the National Environment Protection Council in relation to the draft

National Environment Protection Measure and impact statement for Ambient Air Quality and National

Environment Protection Council’s responses to those submissions — June 1998

• Report of the Ambient Air Quality National Environment Protection Measure Monitoring Protocol Working

Group — March 1998

• Draft National Environment Protection Measure and impact statement for Ambient Air Quality — Released

for public comment — November 1997

• A review on the existing health data on six air pollutants — May 1997

• Report on the monitoring and reporting protocols for the Ambient Air Quality National Environment

Protection Measure — April 1997

• Report on the air quality management options — April 1997


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The EPHC website at <www.ephc.gov.au> has links to jurisdictional monitoring plans of each state, territory

and the Commonwealth located on their websites.

AMBIENT AIR TOXICS

• Air toxics tier 2 prioritisation methodology — June 2006

• Draft National Environment Protection (Air Toxics) Measure and associated impact statement — May 2003

• Towards a National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Toxics) Measure —Discussion paper — March 2002

• Ambient air toxics issues paper — September 2001

• Information bulletin on the proposed National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Toxics) Measure —

July 2001

NATIONAL POLLUTANT INVENTORY

• Draft variation to the National Environment Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure 2008

(No. 1) —April 2008

• Variation to the National Environment Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure 2007 (No. 1) —

June 2007

• National Environment Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure 1998 as varied — June 2007

• Draft addendum to the variation to the NPI NEPM summary of submissions—For the purpose of

consultation on the inclusion of greenhouse gases — May 2007

• Summary of submissions received in relation to the draft variation to the National Environment Protection

(National Pollutant Inventory) Measure and National Environment Protection Council’s responses to those

submissions — April 2007

• Cost analysis of reporting National Pollutant Inventory transfers—Case studies using the amended NPI

NEPM variation — March 2007

• Draft variation to the National Environment Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure —

June 2006

• Draft variation to the National Environment Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure – Impact

statement — June 2006

• Analysis of the financial costs of including transfers in the National Pollutant Inventory — May 2006

• Final report to the National Environment Protection Council – Technical Advisory Panel — March 2006

• Report of the review of the National Pollutant Inventory — July 2005

• Report of the review of the National Environment Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure —

December 2001

• National Environment Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure as varied — June 2000


variation to the National Environment Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure and impact statement

and the responses of the National Environment Protection Council to those submissions — May 2000

• Draft variation to the National Environment Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure —

December 1999

• Impact statement for the draft variation to the National Environment Protection (National Pollutant

Inventory) Measure — December 1999

• National Pollutant Inventory Technical Advisory Panel final report to National Environment Protection

Council — January 1999


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• National Environment Protection Measure for the National Pollutant Inventory and memorandum of

understanding relating to implementation of the National Pollutant Inventory — February 1998


National Environment Protection Measure and impact statement for the National Pollutant Inventory and

the National Environment Protection Council’s responses to those submissions — February 1998

• Draft National Environment Protection Measure and impact statement for the National Pollutant Inventory

— released for public comment June 1997

• National Pollutant Inventory Technical Advisory Panel report to the National Environment Protection

Council — May 1997 — released for public comment — June 1997

MOVEMENT OF CONTROLLED WASTE BETWEEN STATES AND TERRITORIES

• Variation to the National Environment Protection Measure for the movement of controlled waste between

states and territories — December 2004

• National Environment Protection Measure for the movement of controlled waste between states and

territories — June 1998


National Environment Protection Measure and impact statement for the movement of controlled waste

between states and territories — June 1998

• Draft National Environment Protection Measure and impact statement for the movement of controlled waste

between states and territories — January 1998

DIESEL VEHICLE EMISSIONS

• National Environment Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure—Review report — April 2007

• National Environment Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure — June 2001


National Environment Protection Measure and impact statement for diesel vehicle emissions — June 2001

• Draft National Environment Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure and impact statement —

February 2001

• Diesel vehicle emissions National Environment Protection Measure — Discussion paper released to key

stakeholders for comment — November 2000

• Information bulletin on the proposed National Environment Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure

— September 2000

PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP

• Draft National Environment Protection (Tyres) Measure — released for public consultation — May 2008

PREPARATORY PROJECT WORK FOR THE PROPOSED NEPM FOR DIESEL VEHICLE

EMISSIONS

• In-service emissions performance: In-service certification correlation studies — April 2001

• In-service emissions pilot study: Fault identification and effect of maintenance — April 2001

• In-service emissions performance — Phase 2: Vehicle testing — November 2000

• A review of dynamometer correlations, in-service emissions and engine deterioration (CD-ROM) —

March 2000

• The Australian diesel fleet: Existing vehicle characteristics and the modelling of transport demand, vehicle

populations and emissions (CD-ROM) — November 1999

• In-service emissions performance — Phase 1: Urban drive cycle development (CD-ROM) — March 1999


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USED PACKAGING MATERIALS

• Peer Review of MMA/BDA Report on Complementary Economic Mechanisms — April 2008

• National Packaging Covenant Complementary Economic Mechanisms Investigation—prepared by McLennan

— December 2007

• Used Packaging Materials NEPM application thresholds — July 2005

• Used Packaging Materials NEPM as varied July 2005 — July 2005

• Variation to the Used Packaging Materials NEPM — July 2005


National Environment Protection Measure and impact statement for used packaging materials and the

National Environment Protection Council’s responses to those submissions — July 2005

• Draft variation to the Used Packaging Materials NEPM — Impact statement — July 2005

• Summary of submissions received in relation to the draft National Packaging Covenant and regulatory

impact statement — July 2005

• National Packaging Covenant — March 2005

• National Environment Protection Measure for used packaging materials and the National Packaging

Covenant — July 1999


National Environment Protection Measure and impact statement for used packaging materials and the

National Environment Protection Council’s responses to those submissions — May 1999 — publicly

released — July 1999

• Draft National Environment Protection Measure and impact statement for used packaging materials —

January 1999

• Used packaging materials National Environment Protection Measure — Discussion paper released to key

stakeholders for comment — June 1998

ASSESSMENT OF SITE CONTAMINATION

• National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure—Review—Review report —

September 2006

• Review of the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure — Summary

of submissions received in relation to the issues paper for the review of the assessment of site contamination

National Environment Protection Measure — April 2006

• Review of the Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM — Discussion paper — April 2006

• Review of the Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM — Issues paper — June 2005

• Proceedings of the Fifth National Workshop on the Assessment of Site Contamination — January 2003

• National Environment Protection Measure for assessment of site contamination 1999 including Schedule B

and the summary of submissions received by the National Environment Protection Council in relation to the

draft National Environment Protection Measure and impact statement for the assessment of site contamination

and the National Environment Protection Council’s response to those submissions — December 1999

• Draft NEPM and impact statement for the assessment of site contamination — March 1999

• Discussion paper: Towards a NEPM for the assessment of contaminated sites — July 1998

EPHC — CHEMICALS POLICY

• Environmental risk assessment guidance manual for industrial chemicals — draft for public comment —

August 2007


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• Environmental Risk Assessment Guidance Manual for agricultural and veterinary chemicals— draft for

public comment —August 2007

• Principles for better environmental management of chemicals—Ministerial agreement — June 2007

• NChEM discussion paper public consultation summary of discussion paper submissions — May 2007

• Public round table meeting documents — March 2007

• Public round table meeting documents — May 2007

• Towards environmental sustainability for chemicals management in Australia—NChEM: A national

framework for chemicals management in Australia—Discussion paper — July 2006

• National dioxins program — Action plan for addressing dioxins in Australia — Public consultation —

October 2005

• National dioxins program — Action plan for addressing dioxins in Australia — Public consultation —

July 2005

• Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the Australian

population: Levels in human milk — December 2004

• Final report of the national ChemCollect program — April 2004

• Scoping paper — Towards ecologically sustainable management of chemicals in Australia — June 2003

EPHC — INTEGRATED NATIONAL HERITAGE POLICY

• Revolving funds for historic heritage: An information paper — April 2005

• Making heritage happen — June 2004

– Incentives and policy tools for conserving our historic heritage

– Incentives and policy tools for conserving our historic heritage — Summary of findings

• Going places: Issues paper developing natural and cultural heritage tourism in Australia — May 2003

EPHC — WASTE MANAGEMENT

• Plastic retail carry bag use — 2006 and 2007 consumption —April 2008

• Decision — Regulatory impact statement: investigation of options to reduce the impacts of plastic bags—

April 2008

• Consultation regulatory impact statement — Investigation of options to reduce the environmental impact

of plastic bags — January 2007

• Guidance for assessing the beneficial reuse of industrial residues to land management applications—

A national approach — November 2006

• Explanatory note: Cost benefit analysis: Options for reducing the environmental impact of plastic shopping

bags —September 2006

• Report from ACG: The ANRA proposal on plastic bag management: Supplementary economic analysis to the

EPHC report —June 2006

• Report from ACG: Phasing out light-weight plastic bags; cost and benefits of alternative approaches —

May 2006

• Report from the ANRA: Plastic carry bags — Working towards continuous environmental improvement —

Report to Chair EPHC —May 2006

• Report from the ARA: ARA code of practice for the management of plastic bags — Final report —

December 2005

• Development of a national approach — Principles and guidance for assessing the beneficial reuse

of industrial residues to land management applications — September 2005

• Guidelines for management of plastic bag litter at landfill sites —June 2005

• Guidelines for management of plastic bag litter in public places — June 2005


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• ARA code of practice for the management of plastic bags — 2004 end of year report —March 2005

• Nolan ITU interim report of plastic retail carry bag use —March 2005

• Co-regulatory frameworks for product stewardship — An industry discussion paper — December 2004

• Co-regulatory frameworks for product stewardship — Analysis of submissions to discussion paper —

December 2004

• Industry discussion paper on co-regulatory frameworks for product stewardship — December 2004

• ARA code of practice for the management of plastic bags — Mid-2004 interim progress report —July 2004

• The impacts of degradable plastic bags in Australia — September 2003

• Polychlorinated biphenyls management plan (revised) — April 2003

• National Plastic Bags Working Group report — December 2002

• Nolan ITU report on plastic shopping bags — Analysis on levies and environmental impacts —

December 2002

• National plastic shopping bags working group report to the National Packaging Covenant Council —

December 2002

• A national approach to waste tyres — Policy discussion paper — October 2002

• Review of the ANZECC polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) management plan — September 2002

EPHC — WATER QUALITY

• Australian guidelines for water recycling — Augmentation of drinking water supplies — Draft — July 2007

• National water quality management strategy — 21 Australian guidelines for water recycling: Managing

health and environmental risks (phase 2) augmentation of drinking water supplies — Draft for public

comment — July 2007

• Australian guidelines for water recycling — Managing health and environmental risks — November 2006

• Australian guidelines for water recycling — Managing health and environmental risks — Draft for public

consultation — October 2005

• Keeping tabs on marine debris (brochure) — December 2002

All publications are available for downloading from the EPHC website at <www.ephc.gov.au>.


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Appendix 4: NEPM Development — How NEPMs Are Made

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION MEASURES

National Environment Protection Measures (NEPMs) are broad framework–setting statutory instruments

defined in NEPC legislation. They outline agreed national objectives for protecting particular aspects of the

environment. NEPMs may consist of any combination of goals, standards, protocols and guidelines.

A two–thirds majority of members is required for the NEPC to make a NEPM. Implementation of NEPMs is

the responsibility of each participating jurisdiction. NEPMs take effect in participating jurisdictions when they

are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments—although NEPMs are subject to disallowance

by either House of the Commonwealth Parliament.

The NEPC legislation prescribes that NEPMs may relate to any one or more of the following (section 14 (1)):

• ambient air quality

• ambient marine, estuarine and freshwater quality

• the protection of amenity in relation to noise (but only if differences in environmental requirements relating

to noise would have an adverse effect on national markets for goods and services)

• general guidelines for the assessment of site contamination

• environmental impacts associated with hazardous wastes

• the reuse and recycling of used materials.

NEPMs may also relate to motor vehicle noise and emissions and are developed by the NEPC in conjunction

with the National Road Transport Commission, now known as the National Transport Commission (sections

14 (1) (g) and 14 (2)).

In making NEPMs, the NEPC must have regard to the considerations detailed in section 15 of the NEPC

legislation. These considerations include:

• consistency with the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment

• environmental, economic and social impacts

• relevant international agreements

• any regional environmental differences.

IMPACT STATEMENTS

Prior to making a NEPM, the NEPC must prepare a draft of the NEPM and an impact statement (section 17

of the NEPC Act). The impact statement must include the following:

• the desired environmental outcomes

• the reason for the proposed NEPM and the environmental impact of not making the NEPM

• a statement of the alternative methods of achieving the desired environmental outcomes and the reasons why

those alternatives have not been adopted

• an identif ication and assessment of the economic and social impact on the community (including industry)

of making the proposed NEPM

• a statement of the manner in which any regional environmental differences in Australia have been addressed

in the development of the proposed NEPM

• the intended date for making the proposed NEPM

• the timetable (if any) in relation to the proposed NEPM

• the transitional arrangements (if any) in relation to the proposed NEPM.

These impact statement requirements are set out in the legislation. Impact statements are developed in keeping

with the requirements of the Council of Australian Governments as outlined in the Principles and guidelines

for national standard setting and regulatory action by ministerial councils and standard setting bodies.

The NEPC legislation requires that both the draft NEPM and the impact statement are made available for

public consultation for a period of at least two months. The NEPC must have regard to the impact statement

and submissions received during public consultation in deciding whether to make an NEPM.

NEPM REPORTING AND CONSULTATION ARRANGEMENTS

In the development of each National Environment Protection Measure, a working structure is established

as displayed in the following diagram.

The roles of these groups in NEPM development can be characterised in the following manner.

NEPC:

• initiates the development of the NEPM

• approves the release of the draft NEPM and impact statement for public consultation

• makes the NEPM.

NEPC Committee:

• appoints a NEPM Project Chair (from NEPC Committee)

• develops the proposal for the NEPM

• appoints project team experts from jurisdictions

• members are responsible for consultation in their jurisdiction.


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NEPC Service

Corporation

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in Jurisdictions

Project TeamNGO

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NEPC

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NEPC

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Reference Network


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Project Chair:

• provides policy direction for the project team

• has general oversight of the development of the draft NEPM and impact statement

• reports to the NEPC Committee on progress and issues arising during development of the draft NEPM and

the impact statement.

Project team:

• develops draft NEPM and impact statement under the guidance of the Project Chair and Project Manager.

NEPC Service Corporation:

• provides Project Manager and support structures for NEPM development.

Project Manager:

• is responsible for development of a detailed NEPM proposal

• manages the project (including the project team, f inances, timelines)

• acts as Executive Officer for the Non–Government Organisation Advisory Group and the Jurisdictional

Reference Network

• reports to the Project Chair and the NEPC Executive Officer.

Non–government Organisation Advisory Group:

• comprises senior executives from national non–government organisations (conservation, industry and

professional groups)

• is chaired by the Project Chair

• provides policy advice to the NEPC Committee through the Project Chair

• provides feedback to the project team.

Jurisdictional Reference Network:

• comprises one officer from each jurisdiction, who:

– conducts whole-of-government consultation under the direction of the NEPC Committee member for

the jurisdiction

– may organise and/or conduct public consultation in their jurisdiction

– provides feedback to the project team on jurisdictional issues

– supplies appropriate data and information to the project team to assist NEPM development.


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Appendix 5: NEPM Development Model – Flow Chart

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N E P C M e m b e r s

A p p e n d i x 6 :

Implementation and Effectiveness of NEPMs

R e p o r t s f r o m j u r i s d i c t i o n s o n t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e

Air Toxics NEPM

2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8

Air Toxics


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Part 1 of each report annex is generic, and so is

presented once here.


NEPM details


(Air Toxics) Measure



(advertised in Commonwealth of Australia Special

Gazette No. S 52904, 20 December 2004)



(Air Toxics) Measure is set out in clause 5 of the

Measure as follows:


The national environment protection goal

of this Measure is to improve the information

base regarding ambient air toxics within the

Australian environment in order to facilitate

the development of standards following a

Review of the Measure within eight years

of its making.



Environment Protection (Air Toxics) Measure is set




Measure is to facilitate management of air

toxics in ambient air that will allow for the

equivalent protection of human health and well

being, by –

(1) providing for the generation of comparable,

reliable information on the levels of toxic

air pollutants (‘air toxics’) at sites where

signif icantly elevated concentrations of one

or more of these air toxics are likely to occur

(‘Stage 1 sites’) and where the potential for

significant population exposure to air toxics

exists (‘Stage 2 sites’).

(2) establishing a consistent approach to the

identif ication of such sites for use by

jurisdictions.

(3) establishing a consistent frame of reference

(‘monitoring investigation levels’) for use

by jurisdictions in assessing the likely

significance of levels of air toxics measured

at Stage 2 sites.

(4) adopting a nationally consistent approach

to monitoring air toxics at a range of

locations (eg. near major industrial sites,

major roads, areas affected by wood smoke).

Evaluation criteria


Environment Protection (Air Toxics) Measure is










NEPM standards




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(Refer to page 126)

PART 2 — IMPLEMENTATION OF THE

NEPM, AND ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Legislative, regulatory and administrativeframework

The Commonwealth implements the NEPM

administratively and ensures that its obligations

under the National Environment Protection Act

1994 are met.

Implementation activities

The Commonwealth has fulf illed its obligations to

date under the NEPM, undertaking a range of activities

in the reporting year to assist with the implementation

and further development of the NEPM.

The Commonwealth has established a Pollution

Prevention Strategy, which identif ies priority

pollutants and associated activities that need to be

managed at Defence sites. These priority pollutants

include the relevant air toxics under the NEPM. The

Commonwealth assesses and manages environmental

risks associated with its activities at Defence sites,

including emissions of air toxics, through the Defence

Environmental Management System.

In addition to the above direct measures for

implementing the NEPM, the Commonwealth

commissioned a number of studies to better

understand the major sources of air toxics, their

impacts and management strategies. The f indings

from these studies will inform the mid-term review

of the NEPM scheduled to begin in 2009.

• the urban-scale population exposure to reactive air

toxics study investigated the dispersion and chemical

reactivity of air toxics in the Sydney and Melbourne

airsheds. This study will help to improve methods

to identify Stage 1 and Stage 2 sites under the NEPM

• a study of particles, ozone and air toxics levels in

rural communities during prescribed burning

seasons will assist with developing air quality

management strategies in rural areas

• a study of indoor air pollutants will assess levels

of a range of pollutants, including air toxics, in

indoor settings. The study will also assess how

indoor pollutant levels are influenced by proximity

to major roads.

Experimental work for the f irst two projects was

completed in the reporting year. The indoor air study

is due to be completed in mid–2009.

Implementation summary and evaluation

The Commonwealth has fulf illed its obligations to

date under the NEPM and will continue to undertake

activities in support of NEPM implementation, such

as the commissioning of research and development

of tools to assist targeting of future management

strategies on air toxic pollutants.


EFFECTIVENESS

The Air Toxics NEPM provides a nationally consistent

framework for the Commonwealth to assess the impacts

of its activities on ambient air toxics levels and

exposure to air toxics in the Australian environment.


THE NEPM

Jurisdictions are required to submit a report in

accordance with clause 13 of the NEPM for the

reporting year ending 31 December 2007. This

includes results of desktop analysis identifying sites,

any monitoring that has taken place, and assessment

and action taken to manage air toxics (where

exceedances have been reported).

The Commonwealth has previously reported on its

desktop analysis, which identif ied no Commonwealth

sites on which there was potential for signif icant

population exposure to elevated levels of air toxics.

Commonwealth

Report to the NEPC on the implementation of the National Environment

Protection (Air Toxics) Measure for the Commonwealth by the Hon. Peter

Garrett AM MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts for

the reporting year ended 30 June 2008

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Consequently, regular monitoring of air toxics in

accordance with the NEPM is not proposed for any

Commonwealth sites.

No reassessment of the information on air toxics

levels and population exposure at Commonwealth

sites was undertaken in the reporting year, as

activities at these sites have not varied signif icantly

from the previous reporting year.

NS

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(Refer to page 126)




New South Wales has comprehensive legislation

administered by the NSW Environment Protection

Authority (EPA), which is part of the Department

of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), to

control air emissions. These are outlined below.

National Environment Protection Council

(New South Wales) Act 1995

This Act provides for the establishment of a National

Environment Protection Council (NEPC) that has

power to make national environment protection

measures. The New South Wales Government will

implement national environment protection measures

(NEPMs) in New South Wales in a variety of ways,

including via legislation.

Protection of the Environment Administration

Act 1991

This Act sets up the NSW Environment Protection

Authority (EPA) with objectives to protect, restore

and enhance the quality of the environment in NSW

having regard to the need to maintain ecologically

sustainable development and to reduce the risks

to human health and prevent the degradation of

the environment.

Protection of the Environment Operations

Act 1997

The Protection of the Operations Act 1997 (POEO

Act) is the key piece of environment protection

legislation administered by the EPA. The POEO Act

provides a single licensing arrangement to regulate

air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution and

waste management.


(Clean Air) Regulation 2002

This Regulation replaces the Clean Air (Domestic

Solid Fuel Heaters) Regulation 1997, the Clean Air

(Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Fuels) Regulation

1997, the Clean Air (Plant and Equipment) Regulation

1997 and the Protection of the Environment

Operations (Control of Burning) Regulation 2000.

Part 2 of the Regulation deals with the sale of

domestic solid fuel heaters and requires the heaters

to be certif ied as complying with emission limits

set out in the relevant Australian Standard. It also

prohibits tampering with such heaters.

Part 2A of the Regulation:

• controls burning in the open or in incinerators

in local government areas

• allows the EPA or local councils to grant approvals

for burning in the open or in an incinerator in

certain circumstances

• prohibits the burning of certain articles (including

tyres, paint and solvent containers, and certain

treated timbers)

• imposes a general duty on persons to prevent or

minimise air pollution when burning in the open

or in an incinerator.

Part 3 of the Regulation relates to motor vehicles and

deals with the following matters:

• the emission of air impurities, including excessive

smoke from motor vehicles

• the compulsory f itting and maintenance of anti-

pollution devices, and exemptions from these

requirements

• the limits on summer petrol vapour pressure

(from 15 November to 15 March)

• the reporting on the benzene concentration in

petrol prior to the introduction of a 1% benzene

limit in petrol nationally from 1 January 2006.

New South Wales


Protection (Air Toxics) Measure for New South Wales by the Hon. Carmel

Tebbutt, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment for the

reporting year ended 30 June 2008

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Part 4 of the Regulation applies to air emissions from

industrial and commercial activities and deals with

the following:

• setting maximum emission standards from

stationary sources for a number of air impurities,

including chlorine, volatile organic compounds,

dioxins and furans, hazardous substances (including

heavy metals and other toxics), smoke, solid

particles and sulfur

• establishing a framework for review of emission

standards applicable to pre-1979 premises

• requirements for afterburners and vapour recovery

units treating materials containing ‘principal toxic

air pollutants’

• ground-level concentration criteria for a wide range

of air toxics, including; benzene, benzo(α)pyrene,

formaldehyde, toluene and xylene, in Approved

Methods for Modelling and Assessment of Air

Pollutants in NSW.

Part 5 deals with the transport and storage of volatile

organic liquids.

Part 6 restricts the use of high sulfur liquid fuel.

Note: Parts 4, 5 and 6 of the Protection of the

Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2002

commenced on 1 September 2005, replacing the Clean

Air Plant and Equipment Regulation 1997 with new

more comprehensive requirements to control industrial

emissions. Part 2A of the Protection of the Environment

Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2002 commenced

on 1 September 2006, replacing the Protection of the

Environment Operations (Control of Burning)

Regulation 2000.


(General) Regulation 1998

Some functions of this Regulation are to:

• set out how to calculate fees in relation to

environment protection licences, and makes

provision for adjustment or refunds of those fees

• set out fees for environment protection notices

• make provisions for load reduction agreements

(load reduction agreements allow for fee rebates

in return for measures taken to reduce pollution

in the future)

• establish a Review Panel to advise the EPA on

licensing matters, including load calculation

protocols

• set out the matters to be included by the EPA

in its statement of reasons for the grant or refusal

of a licence application

• make it an offence to provide information that is

false or misleading in relation to a licence application

• require licensees to retain records used to calculate

licence fees

• give effect to the National Environment Protection

(National Pollutant Inventory) Measure by requiring

occupiers of certain facilities to submit data to the

EPA relating to the emission of certain substances

• prohibit the burning of certain bio-material from

Australian native trees in certain electricity

generating works, and requires records and reports

to be made in accordance with EPA guidelines.


The implementation of the NEPM is being coordinated

by the Department of Environment and Climate

Change (NSW).

Under Part 3, Clause 8 of the NEPM, the identification

of ‘stage 1’ and ‘stage 2’ sites for monitoring of air

toxics is required within 12 months of commencement

of the NEPM. NSW has completed the desktop

analysis and reported the results in the implementation

report for the reporting year ended 30 June 2005.

Air toxics monitoring is expected to commence in

2008 at two ‘stage 2’ sites in the Sydney region and

cover TO–14 compounds (including Benzene, Toluene

and Xylenes), formaldehyde and PAHs (including

benzo(a)pyrene).


New South Wales has fulf illed its obligations to date

under the NEPM and continues to progress its

implementation.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM ‘desktop analysis’ has helped to ensure

there is a consistent framework that jurisdictions can

use to identify locations for monitoring air toxics

in the Australian environment.

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THE NEPM








New South Wales has completed the desktop analysis

and reported the results in the implementation report

for the reporting year ended 30 June 2005.

Air toxics monitoring is expected to commence in

2008 at two ‘stage 2’ sites in the Sydney region and

cover TO–14 compounds (including Benzene, Toluene

and Xylenes), formaldehyde and PAHs (including

benzo(a)pyrene).

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(Refer to page 126)




The State Environment Protection Policy (Air Quality

Management) [SEPP (AQM)] provides the statutory

framework for the management of emissions of air

toxics to the air environment in Victoria. The f ive

air toxics in the Air Toxics NEPM are included as

indicators in the SEPP (AQM). Toluene, xylenes and

formaldehyde are classif ied as Class 2 indicators

requiring control of emissions by the application

of best practice. Benzene and PAHs (as BaP) are

classif ied as Class 3 indicators. Class 3 indicators

are highly toxic pollutants that require control to

the maximum extent achievable (MEA). Both MEA

and best practice require consideration of the wastes

hierarchy in the management of emissions with

avoidance being the primary aim. Technology is

only one aspect of the management requirements.

The SEPP (AQM) contains two types of criteria to

assess the potential health risks posed by exposure

to air toxics:

1. Design Criteria—these are modelling tools that

are applied in the design stage of a facility or

expansion of a facility. They are based on either

toxicity or if more stringent the odour threshold

of a pollutant. They apply to individual industrial

emissions and are therefore conservative in nature.

2. Intervention Levels—these are local air quality

objectives that apply to cumulative sources of

emissions. If exceeded further investigation of the

cause is required and a neighbourhood environment

improvement plan may be triggered.

The design criteria established in the SEPP (AQM)

for benzene, formaldehyde and PAHs are based on

toxicity. For toluene and xylenes the design criteria

are based on the odour threshold. The SEPP (AQM)

contains intervention levels for all pollutants included

in the Air Toxics NEPM and these are based on the

protection of human health.


The identif ication and prioritisation of the locations

likely to have signif icantly elevated levels of Air

Toxics (Stage 1) commenced in 2004 and was

finalised in 2005. No further analysis of Stage 1 sites

was conducted during 2007. The identif ication of

potential Stage 2 formaldehyde sites was f inalised

during 2006–07.

Further work was completed in the identif ication

of a site with the potential to have high exposure to

diesel emissions for the purpose of PAH monitoring.

Additional information sources were used in creating

a short-list of ten sites including 2004 Vic Roads

traff ic statistics and aerial photographs (used to

identify land use and potential population exposure).

One site at Campbellf ield was selected on the basis

of it having the highest truck numbers and being

representative of similar roads in Melbourne.

Monitoring at this site commenced in February 2008.

Monitoring during 2007–08 was conducted for the

five air toxics as shown below:

Carlton: B(a)P, benzene, toluene, xylene, formaldehyde

(January to May 2007 completing program

commenced in 2006)

South Melbourne: benzene, toluene, xylene

(January to May 2007 completing program

commenced in 2006)

Mooroolbark: B(a)P, formaldehyde, from January

2007 to January 2008

Traralgon: benzene, toluene, xylene, B(a)P,

formaldehyde from January 2007 to January 2008

Campbellfield: B(a)P, benzene, toluene, and xylenes,

from February 2008 (completion February 2009).

Victoria


Protection (Air Toxics) Measure for Victoria by the Hon. Gavin Jennings

MLC, Minister for Environment and Climate Change for the reporting

year ended 30 June 2008

Vic

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These sites cover a range of locations that are impacted

by a variety of sources including motor vehicles,

diesel, heavy and light industry and domestic sources.

The site in Traralgon is also impacted by smoke from

prescribed burning for bush f ire management at

certain times of the year.

Monitoring commenced at Newport and Spotswood

in January 2006 and continued to January 2007.

Pollutants monitored were, Formaldehyde, Benzene,

Toluene and Xylene. Monitoring commenced at

South Melbourne and Carlton in May 2006 and

continued to May 2007. Benzene, toluene and xylene

were monitored at both sites. In addition B(a)P and

formaldehyde were monitored at Carlton.

All pollutants monitored were below investigation

levels at all sites. Note that due to slight overlap of

the calendar years for Carlton and South Melbourne,

the annual averages for the projects have been

included even though some data is from 2006. The

monitoring results obtained to date are shown in

Tables 1 and 2.

EPA Victoria has contracted Queensland Health

and Scientif ic Services (QHSS) for the analysis of

formaldehyde. QHSS has National Association of

Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation for USEPA

method TO–11.

EPA Victoria has continued through Works approval

and licensing activities to require adoption of best

practice for the minimisation of emissions for all air

toxics and control to maximum extent achievable for

Class 3 indicators which include benzene and PAHs

(as BaP). Industries that emit Class 3 indicators have

been required to prepare action plans setting out how

MEA will be applied within their industry. During

2007–08 EPA Victoria has continued to review

emissions of Class 3 indicators to ensure that industries

emitting these pollutants are implementing the

approved action plans and minimising emissions to

the maximum extent achievable in accordance with

the plans.

During 2008–09 EPA Victoria will conduct an analysis

of the data obtained from the monitoring conducted

to date under the Air Toxics NEPM to inform the

mid-term review scheduled for 2009. This analysis will

also provide information to enable a re-assessment

of the identif ication of further stage 1 and 2 sites for

monitoring under the NEPM.


The Victorian Government is strongly committed to

improving air quality in Victoria. The SEPP (AQM)

provides a framework for the management of sources

of emissions including emissions from diffuse sources

as well as industrial emissions. It emphasises the

importance of avoiding the generation of emissions

in the f irst place, and requires all generators of

emissions of wastes to air to apply best practice to

the management of those emissions. For benzene and

PAHs control is required to the maximum extent

achievable (MEA).

Monitoring that has been conducted as part of the

NEPM implementation has shown that the monitoring

investigation levels have not been exceeded at any

of the sites monitored. The monitoring has been

conducted at a variety of locations in Melbourne

including near roads, industrial complexes and in

areas impacted by domestic wood smoke.

The identif ication of Stage 1 and 2 sites as required

by the NEPM was completed in 2006–07. During

2007–08 monitoring was at f inalised at four sites

in Melbourne. Monitoring commenced in early 2007

at additional sites at Mooroolbark and Traralgon

(in the Latrobe Valley). Monitoring at a further site

at Campbellf ield commenced in 2008.

NATA accreditation has been obtained by EPA

Victoria for the monitoring methods specif ied in the

NEPM for all f ive air toxics. NATA accreditation has

also been obtained for the analysis methods for

benzene, toluene and xylenes.


EFFECTIVENESS

During 2007–08, Victoria made signif icant progress

in the implementation of the Air Toxics NEPM.

Monitoring was completed at four sites previously

identif ied as Stage 2 sites. Monitoring was also

undertaken at two additional sites in Melbourne and

the Latrobe Valley. Monitoring is being conducted

in accordance with the monitoring protocols

specif ied in the NEPM. Monitored levels of air

toxics are below the monitoring investigation levels.

The results of monitoring conducted as part of the

NEPM implementation indicate that air toxics levels

in Melbourne are low by international standards.

Vic

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NATA accreditation has been obtained by EPA Victoria

for the sampling of the air toxics included in the

NEPM and for the analysis of benzene, toluene and

xylenes. Further work is underway to obtain NATA

accreditation for the analysis of PAHs by the method

specif ied in the NEPM.


THE NEPM








No additional Stage 1 site identification was undertaken

in 2007, sites previously identif ied have already been

assessed for consideration as Stage 2 sites.

No additional Stage 2 site identif ication was

undertaken in 2007. Work was completed on

micro-site selection for the stage 2 site identif ied

in 2006 (Campbellf ield).

Vic

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Monitoring was conducted at Newport, Spotswood, Carlton and South Melbourne during 2006–07 for all

air toxics covered by the NEPM. No exceedances of the monitoring investigation levels were observed.

The results of this monitoring are shown in Table 1:

Tab

le 1

:M

onit

orin

g re

sult

s at

sta

ge 2

sit

e at

Car

lton

,S

outh

Mel

bou

rne,

Moo

rool

bark

an

d T

rara

lgon

for

200

7

Ave

rage

A

rith

met

ic

Nu

mb

er

Max

imu

m

Con

cen

trat

ion

S

tan

dar

d

of t

imes

Air

tox

icM

onit

orin

g P

erio

d o

f F

req

uen

cy o

f N

o.of

val

id

24-h

our

(as

an

Dev

iati

on

mon

itor

ing

met

hod

mon

itor

ing

mon

itor

ing

resu

lts

Ave

rage

arit

hm

etic

of

24-

hou

r in

vest

igat

ion

Con

cen

trat

ion

mea

n).

Ave

rage

.le

vel

Con

cen

trat

ion

sex

ceed

ed*

Car

lton

Ben

zene

TO

-15

22/5

/06

– 22

/5/0

71

in s

ix d

ays

580.

0019

ppm

0.00

07 p

pm0.

0005

ppm

01

Tol

uene

TO

-15

22/5

/06

– 22

/5/0

71

in s

ix d

ays

580.

0070

ppm

0.00

24 p

pm0.

0017

ppm

01

Xyl

ene

TO

-15

22/5

/06

– 22

/5/0

71

in s

ix d

ays

580.

0034

ppm

0.00

10 p

pm0.

0008

ppm

01

Form

alde

hyde

TO

-11

22/5

/06

– 22

/5/0

71

in s

ix d

ays

540.

0040

ppm

0.00

23 p

pm0.

0009

ppm

01

Ben

zo(α

)pyr

ene

TO

-13

22/5

/06

– 22

/5/0

71

in s

ix d

ays

591.

39 n

g/m

30.

22 n

g/m

30.

30 n

g/m

301

Sou

th

Mel

bou

rne

Ben

zene

TO

-15

22/5

/06

– 22

/5/0

71

in s

ix d

ays

590.

0014

ppm

0.00

05 p

pm0.

0003

ppm

01

Tol

uene

TO

-15

22/5

/06

– 22

/5/0

71

in s

ix d

ays

590.

0051

ppm

0.00

16 p

pm0.

0012

ppm

01

Xyl

ene

TO

-15

22/5

/06

– 22

/5/0

71

in s

ix d

ays

590.

0024

ppm

0.00

05 p

pm0.

0005

ppm

01

Moo

rool

bark

Ben

zo(α

)pyr

ene

TO

-13

3/2/

07 –

29/

1/08

1 in

six

day

s61

1.1

ng/m

30.

12 n

g/m

30.

15 n

g/m

30

Tra

ralg

on

Ben

zene

TO

-15

3/2/

07 –

29/

1/08

1 in

six

day

s60

0.00

05 p

pm0.

0002

ppm

0.00

01 p

pm0

Tol

uene

TO

-15

3/2/

07 –

29/

1/08

1 in

six

day

s60

0.00

12 p

pm0.

0003

ppm

0.00

03 p

pm0

Xyl

ene

TO

-15

3/2/

07 –

29/

1/08

1 in

six

day

s60

0.00

05 p

pm0.

0002

ppm

0.00

01 p

pm0

Form

alde

hyde

TO

-11

3/2/

07 –

29/

1/08

1 in

six

day

s54

0.00

41 p

pm0.

0015

ppm

0.00

08 p

pm0

Ben

zo(α

)pyr

ene

TO

-13

3/2/

07 –

29/

1/08

1 in

six

day

s60

0.84

ng/

m3

0.12

ng/

m3

0.12

ng/

m3

0

Vic

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Tab

le 2

:A

ddit

ion

al a

ir t

oxic

s m

onit

orin

g

In addition to the monitoring described above, ethylbenzene and 1,3—butadiene were also monitored

in Traralgon, South Melbourne and Carlton. 1,3—butadiene was not detected during the program and

ethylbenzene was present only at very low levels. The results for these substances are shown in Table 2.

Ave

rage

A

rith

met

ic

Nu

mb

er

Max

imu

m

Con

cen

trat

ion

S

tan

dar

d

of t

imes

Air

tox

icM

onit

orin

g P

erio

d o

f F

req

uen

cy o

f N

o.of

val

id

24-h

our

(as

an

Dev

iati

on

mon

itor

ing

met

hod

mon

itor

ing

mon

itor

ing

resu

lts

Ave

rage

arit

hm

etic

of

24-

hou

r in

vest

igat

ion

Con

cen

trat

ion

mea

n).

Ave

rage

.le

vel

Con

cen

trat

ion

sex

ceed

ed*

Car

lton

1,3-

buta

dien

eT

O-1

522

/5/0

6 –

22/5

/07

1 in

six

day

s58

ND

ND

ND

NA

Eth

ylbe

nzen

eT

O-1

522

/5/0

6 –

22/5

/07

1 in

six

day

s58

0.00

06 p

pm0.

0002

ppm

0.00

01 p

pmN

A

Sou

th

Mel

bou

rne

1,3-

buta

dien

eT

O-1

522

/5/0

6 –

22/5

/07

1 in

six

day

s59

ND

ND

ND

NA

Eth

ylbe

nzen

eT

O-1

522

/5/0

6 –

22/5

/07

1 in

six

day

s59

0.00

04 p

pm<

0.0

002

ppm

0.00

01 p

pmN

A

Tra

ralg

on

1,3-

buta

dien

eT

O-1

53/

2/07

– 2

9/1/

081

in s

ix d

ays

60N

DN

DN

DN

A

Eth

ylbe

nzen

eT

O-1

53/

2/07

– 2

9/1/

081

in s

ix d

ays

60N

DN

DN

DN

A

Qld

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(Refer to page 126)




In Queensland, the Air Toxics NEPM is implemented

by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, the

Environmental Protection Regulation 1998, and the

Environmental Protection (Air) Policy 1997.

Air toxics emissions are also managed through

effective land use planning. Signif icantly, the South

East Queensland Regional Plan 2005–2026 provides

a sustainable growth management strategy for the

South East Queensland region to the year 2026. Under

the plan, urban settlement and the use of transport,

industry, energy and natural resources will be managed

to minimise adverse impacts on air quality.

The Regional Plan is supported by the South East

Queensland Infrastructure Plan 2008–2026, which

was released by the Queensland Government in June

2008. The infrastructure plan identif ies specif ic

projects to improve the use of public transport and

reduce traff ic congestion. Taken collectively, projects

under the Regional Plan will signif icantly reduce

transport-related emissions of air toxics in South

East Queensland.


In 2005–06, the following sites were identif ied as

Stage 2 sites, or locations with the most potential

for signif icant population exposure to air toxics:

• Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba—representative of

a medium density residential area with potential

for signif icant population exposure to air toxics

in motor vehicle emissions

• Wynnum North Road, Wynnum North—

representative of a low-medium density residential

area, with potential for signif icant population

exposure to air toxics from industrial emissions.

Subject to detailed consideration of site suitability,

and availability of resources, it is proposed to

commence monitoring at the above sites in 2008–09.

In addition to the requirements of the NEPM, the

EPA monitored selected air toxics during the 2007–08

reporting period, using open path Differential Optical

Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) instrumentation

at Springwood in South East Queensland.

The DOAS monitoring is not in accordance with the

protocols set out in the NEPM and the monitoring sites

are not identified as Stage 2 sites. Full implementation

of the protocols has been delayed due to lack of

resourcing. Although the monitoring conducted to

date is not in accordance with the protocols set out

in the NEPM, the data collected improves our

knowledge of ambient concentrations of the majority

of the toxic pollutants in Schedule 1 of the NEPM.

In 2007–08, the Queensland Government commenced

a new program called ‘Clean and Healthy Air for

Gladstone’ to address community concerns regarding

industrial emissions in Gladstone. As part of this

program, NEPM-compliant monitoring of benzene,

toluene, xylenes, formaldehyde and polycyclic aromatic

hydrocarbons will be carried out at f ive locations in

and around Gladstone. Monitoring of benzene, toluene,

xylene and formaldehyde will also be carried out at

a sixth location using the DOAS methodology. The

monitoring program is scheduled to commence in

the second half of 2008 and will run for at least

twelve months.


Progress toward improving the information base

regarding ambient air toxics within the Queensland

environment has occurred by way of the desktop

analysis, identifying sites likely to have the highest

Queensland


Protection (Air Toxics) Measure for Queensland by the Hon. Andrew

McNamara MP, Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation


Qld

– A

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population exposure to air toxics as well as ambient

monitoring of benzene, toluene, p-xylene and

formaldehyde in Brisbane and Gladstone. Current

monitoring does not suggest a problem with air toxics

at the sites monitored.


EFFECTIVENESS

The Air Toxics NEPM has been effective in providing

an impetus to investigate available data, such as the

National Pollutant Inventory and the Air Emissions

Inventory for the South East Queensland region,

to identify the locations most likely to experience

signif icant population exposure to elevated ambient

concentrations of air toxics.

Investigations in the 2005–06 reporting period have

shown that locations with close proximity to major

roads or industrial sites have the most potential for

signif icant population exposure to air toxics. Stage 2

representative sites have been identif ied from these

types of locations.


THE NEPM








Although the EPA did not conduct any air toxics

monitoring at Stage 2 sites using the NEPM method,

levels of benzene, toluene and p-xylene were monitored

using an alternative differential optical absorption

spectroscopy (DOAS) technique at an ambient air

quality monitoring network site at Springwood in South

East Queensland. The primary air toxics emission

source at the Springwood site was motor vehicles.

Results from this monitoring are provided below.

Data collected indicate that levels are well below

the investigation levels contained in the NEPM.

Qld

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Springwood

Monitoring method DOAS

Period of monitoring Jan–Dec 2007

Frequency of monitoring Continuous

Number of valid 24–hour periods 298

Maximum 24–hour average concentration 0.0015 ppm

Annual average concentration (as arithmetic mean) 0.0009 ppm

Arithmetic Standard Deviation of 24–hour average concentrations 0.0002 ppm

Number of times monitoring investigation level exceeded No exceedences1

1 Monitoring conducted using non-reference method.

Table 1: Ambient benzene concentration statistics for South East Queensland monitoring sites, 2007.

Springwood

Monitoring method DOAS

Period of monitoring Jan–Dec 2007








Table 2: Ambient toluene concentration statistics for South East Queensland monitoring sites, 2007.

Springwood

Monitoring method DOAS1

Period of monitoring Jan – Dec 2007







1 EPA instrumentation at Springwood is currently only capable of measuring levels of the p-xylene isomer, not total xylene. However,

monitoring studies conducted in urban environments around the world have shown that p xylene consistently comprises around 20

percent of the total xylene present in the atmosphere, providing the basis for an estimate of total xylene concentrations to be made.


Table 3: Ambient p-xylene concentration statistics for South East Queensland monitoring sites, 2007.

WA

– A

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(Refer to page 126)




The National Environment Protection Council (WA)

Act 1996 provides the legislative framework for

implementing the Air Toxics NEPM in Western

Australia.

The Environmental Protection Authority has f inalised

a draft Ambient Air SEP, utilising targeted consultation

with their reference panel members. This process was

initially commenced to provide policy context to the

Ambient Air Quality NEPM, but has been expanded

to also incorporate the environmental protection

goals of the Air Toxics NEPM. Once the draft Ambient

Air SEP has been considered by the Minister for the

Environment it is likely to be released for public

consultation before being f inalised.

The Perth Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP)

is a non-statutory mechanism established by the West

Australian Government. The objective of the AQMP

is to ensure that clean air is achieved and maintained

throughout the Perth metropolitan region. The AQMP

identif ies that to achieve an overall improvement in

Perth’s air quality, further studies are required to

determine major sources and concentrations of air

toxics in the Perth metropolitan region. The initiatives

within the Perth AQMP are complementary to the Air

Toxics NEPM.


In accordance with Schedule 2 of the NEPM, a desktop

analysis was completed with Stage 1 and Stage 2 sites

identif ied for WA. This analysis was summarised in

the 2005–06 annual report. No further desktop analysis

has been conducted.

The 2006–07 annual report summarised the

monitoring results from the Stage 2 sites. A full

twelve months of monitoring data had been obtained

for formaldehyde and benzo(a)pyrene at the time

of reporting. Measured levels of the air toxics were

below the MILs specif ied.

Approximately six months of monitoring data had

also been collected and reported for toluene, xylene

and benzene. As the reported ambient concentrations

for toluene, xylene and benzene were all signif icantly

below the Monitoring Investigation Levels, the decision

was made to re-allocate the monitoring equipment

and staff resources to successfully implement another

priority air quality investigation. No further air toxics

monitoring has been conducted that strictly meets

the NEPM monitoring protocol.

In addition to the work to specif ically implement

the NEPM, the Department of Environment and

Conservation has completed or continues to progress

a number of air toxics investigations. These studies

further the national environment protection goal of

the NEPM to improve the information base regarding

ambient air toxics within the Australian environment.

Furthermore, these investigations aim to facilitate the

management of air toxics in ambient air in Western

Australia, which is consistent with the desired

environmental outcome of the NEPM.

Air quality investigations commissioned by the

Department of Environment and Conservation that

consider air toxics include:

• the Background Air Quality (Air Toxics) Study

commenced in January 2005 to examine the

background levels of a range of air toxics present

in the air. This study built on work published by

the then Department of Environment in January

2000. This study employed both active and passive

sampling methods across ten sites in the Perth

metropolitan area. In late 2005 this monitoring

was extended to two regional areas. A subset

of this study met the requirements of the NEPM

as expressed above

Western Australia


Protection (Air Toxics) Measure for Western Australia by the Hon. Donna

Faragher MLC, Minister for Environment for the reporting year ended

30 June 2008

WA

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• the Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) Air

Emissions Monitoring Project commenced in

September 2005 at eleven sites, located as close

as possible to the centre of an SME area and away

from main roads. Samples were collected using

passive sorbent tubes packed with Tenax TA and

Radiello passive monitors. This work was

completed in partnership with the Swan Catchment

Council with funding from the Natural Heritage

Trust Fund

• the Kwinana Background Air Quality Study is an

extension of the Background Air Quality Study.

The aim of this study is to collect baseline ambient

air toxics data in different settings within Kwinana.

The Kwinana industrial area contains a signif icant

proportion of the heavy industry located in the

Perth metropolitan are. Radiello passive samplers

are being used to monitor over a seven–day averaging

period at fourteen sites. These locations have been

selected to be representative of the port, heavy

transport corridors, industry and residential zones.

Sampling commenced in July 2007 for a twelve

month period

• air toxics sampling commenced at two locations in

Collie in July 2007 using passive Radiello samplers

over a seven -day averaging period. One site was

positioned in the Coolangatta industrial estate and

the other in a residential part of town. Collie,

located approximately 200km south of Perth, is

a coal mining town and also has a signif icant role

in the provision of electricity for Western Australia

• the Midland Background Air Quality Study

(MBAQS) is currently taking place in Midland

and its surrounding areas. The study is also an

extension of the Background Air Quality Study.

The MBAQS began on 9 August 2007 and has been

designed to collect data on the concentrations of

selected air pollutants, including the NEPM air

toxics pollutants over a twelve month period. The

sampling regime and project specif ications were

developed in consultation with community members.

Air toxics are being measured at ten sites using

passive Radiello samplers over a seven-day averaging

period. The background site used in the study is

in Caversham, there are also two primary schools,

one hospital and the remainder of sites are located

in residential areas throughout Midland and the

surrounding suburbs. The primary schools and

hospital were chosen as sensitive receptors (e.g.

sensitive populations residing or being present for

a large amount of time).


Completion of the desktop analysis and monitoring

at identif ied Stage 2 sites are signif icant steps in

achieving the NEPM goal. The results of NEPM

monitoring indicate that air toxics levels in Perth are

low compared to international standards and below

NEPM monitoring investigation levels.

In addition to the work to specif ically implement the

NEPM, all of the studies outlined above contribute

to the implementation of the NEPM goal by providing

a better understanding of air toxics concentrations

across a diverse selection of site in Western Australia.

The monitoring results from these studies will inform

future work, including the need for additional

monitoring and/or management strategies.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM has been effective in highlighting the need

to investigate air toxics concentrations and providing

monitoring investigation levels to which the results

can be compared. The monitoring investigation levels

provide a nationally consistent benchmark for

assessing and comparing the concentrations of

ambient air toxics from diverse monitoring sites and

are an effective tool to inform government policy

and programs on appropriate abatement actions.

Monitoring for air toxics in Western Australia has

primarily been undertaken as part of specif ic studies.

This has meant there are often a number of objectives

to be satisf ied when developing and implementing

the monitoring programs. As a consequence, the NEPM

monitoring protocol has not always being followed.

The monitoring results from these studies however,

are invaluable when assessing ambient air toxic

concentrations across Western Australia.


THE NEPM






WA

– A

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ICS




The Department of Environment and Conservation

has previously reported on its desktop analysis and

monitoring at Stage 2 sites. No additional NEPM

compliant monitoring has been undertaken during

the past twelve months.

The results from the studies outlined above (in

Part 2) are made available on the Department of

Environment and Conservation’s website following

analysis. The results from completed studies can

be viewed at: <www.dec.wa.gov.au>.

SA

– A

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ICS



(Refer to page 126)




Section 4 of the transitional provisions in the

Environment Protection (Miscellaneous) Amendment

Act 2005, Sch 1 enable the continued operation of the

National Environment Protection (Air Toxics) Measure

(NEPM), as an Environment Protection Policy.

Administration of the NEPM is undertaken by the

Environment Protection Authority (SA EPA) to ensure

the obligations under the NEPM are met.


A report detailing the SA EPA’s progress and an

amended monitoring plan for 2008–09 has been

submitted to NEPC as required under section 13

of the Air Toxics NEPM.

Modelling of air toxics in the Adelaide airshed has

been completed in this reporting year. This modelling

study aimed to refine the initial desktop study

methodology through the inclusion of the effects

of meteorology on emissions. The report stating the

findings of this study, titled Review of Air Toxics

Desktop Analysis for the National Environment

Protection (Air Toxics) Measure 2008, was submitted

to NEPC as an attachment to the 2007–08 Air Toxics

NEPM Compliance Report. The completion and

submission of this report fulf ills the SA EPA’s

requirements to conduct a review of the desktop

analysis as stated in Schedule 4 Part 4 of the NEPM.


The SA EPA completed a modelling study of air

toxics in the Adelaide airshed utilising inventory data

with OPSIS monitoring data being used for validation.

The report stating the f indings of this study, titled

Review of Air Toxics Desktop Analysis for the National

Environment Protection (Air Toxics) Measure 2008,

was submitted to NEPC as an attachment to the

2007–08 Air Toxics NEPM Compliance Report. The

completion and submission of this report fulf ills the

SA EPA’s requirements to conduct a review of the

desktop analysis as stated in Schedule 4 Part 4 of

the NEPM.

The SA EPA instigated a review of monitoring

instrumentation permitted under the NEPM to

monitor air toxics during the 2006–07 reporting year,

with a specif ic focus on the question of whether the

OPSIS DOAS system could achieve equivalency with

standard NEPM methods for measuring benzene and

formaldehyde. A discussion paper containing reviews

of current studies using OPSIS for air toxics

monitoring and a proposed equivalency methodology

was submitted to the NEPC standing committee for

consideration. The newly formed Air Toxics Monitoring

Equivalence Group (ATMEG) undertook a critical

evaluation of this paper and raised several specif ic

concerns about the proposed method. At the time

of writing, the SA EPA is reviewing its proposed

methodology, with assistance from the Victorian

Environment Protection Authority, and will resubmit

the revised report to the ATMEG for further

consideration.

No monitoring that complied with the requirements

of the NEPM, as outlined in Schedule 3, was

undertaken. However, the SA EPA in collaboration

with the National Centre for Environmental Toxicology,

the South Australian Department of Health and other

relevant interstate government departments, conducted

PAH sampling at selected locations using a new

passive sampling technique. The South Australian

results are summarised in Part 4 of this report.

South Australia


Protection (Air Toxics) Measure for South Australia by the Hon. Jay

Weatherill MP, Minister for Environment and Conservation for the


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EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM has been effective in highlighting the

need to investigate air toxics concentrations. While

broad programs of monitoring using the NEPM

equivalent methods have not been undertaken, air

toxics monitoring has been included in studies such

as that described in the previous section, which has

provided useful information on emissions of PAH

from specif ic sources. These include suburban

intersections with high traff ic volumes and areas

where wood is used extensively as a fuel for

domestic heating.

The OPSIS system has also provided extensive data

on gaseous air toxics, which will inform development

of future air quality management plans.


THE NEPM








As required as part of the Air Toxics NEPM, the SA

EPA has conducted a formal review of the desktop

study. This review applied The Air Pollution Model

(TAPM) to provide improved estimations of air

toxics concentrations across the Adelaide airshed.

Incorporating TAPM into the desktop study review

methodology allowed for the influence of meteorology

and topography on pollutant movement and dispersion

to be included.

The number of Stage 1 sites identified in the Adelaide

airshed by this methodology for each of the criteria

pollutants changed from the f irst study as shown:

• benzene reduced from 4 to 0

• formaldehyde reduced from 264 to 0

• PAHs increased from 4 to 2200

• doluene reduced from 4 to 0.

• xylenes remained at 0

Consequently, the number of Stage 2 sites identif ied

in the Adelaide airshed changed from the f irst study

as shown:

• benzene reduced from 2 to 0

• formaldehyde reduced from 10 to 0

• PAH’s increased from 1 to 2200

• toluene reduced from 4 to 0

• xylenes remained at 0.

The massive increase in the number of Stage 1 and

Stage 2 sites for PAH’s in the Adelaide airshed is

believed to be due to problems with the preparation

method of PAH emissions data input files for modelling.

As such, the assignments are not considered reliable

and will be further reviewed when upgrades to TAPM

are implemented over the next year or so.

While the original desktop analysis covered all

thirteen airsheds within South Australia, the highest

ranking Stage 2 sites (sites with highest concentrations

and population exposure) were all located within the

Adelaide airshed. It was therefore assumed that if

modelling did not indicate a problem in the Adelaide

airshed, it would be unlikely that concentrations

would exceed monitoring investigation levels in other

airsheds. Accordingly, only the Adelaide airshed was

modelled as part of this review.

The study report recommended that:

• a higher resolution emissions inventory be developed

• TAPM be upgraded to version 4.0 and utilise the

TAPM Chemical Transport Model component for

future air toxics modelling over the next three

years as improved emissions inventory data

becomes available

• a targeted screening program be undertaken for

the verif ication of peak air toxics concentrations,

based on improved modelling outcomes

• the air toxics desktop analysis be repeated once

other recommendations have been implemented.

Further details on this study can be found in the

report titled Review of Air Toxics Desktop Analysis

for the National Environment Protection (Air Toxics)

Measure 2008, which was submitted to NEPC with

the 2007–08 Air Toxics NEPM Compliance Report.

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The SA EPA did not conduct any compliant monitoring

of air toxics during the 2007–08 reporting period

and as such, no results can be reported. However,

the results from an externally funded project by the

National Center for Environmental Toxicology, the

South Australian Department of Health and other

relevant interstate government departments were

released at the end of this reporting year. This study

examined PAH levels using a passive sampling

method at three sites within South Australia as

well as at multiple locations in other jurisdictions.

Sampling in South Australia was conducted at

Hindmarsh (identified stage 2 site S2_BAP_ADEL_1)

and at sites in Gawler and Mount Gambier.

The results of this study from a South Australian

perspective indicated that the annual benzo(a)pyrene

concentration at all three sites would conform with

the MIL, with the Hindmarsh concentration being

higher than that measured at Mount Gambier and

Gawler. However, a winter sample at Hindmarsh

suggested that benzo(a)pyrene concentrations above

the MIL are present. It should be noted that these

results were obtained using passive sampling methods

and while an excellent method for screening potential

sites, further investigations using NEPM approved

methods is recommended.

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(Refer to page 126)




The Tasmanian Air Toxics NEPM is implemented

primarily through the Environment Division of the

Department of Environment, Parks Heritage and the

Arts (DEPHA). The enabling legislation is the

Environmental Management and Pollution Control

Act 1994 (EMPCA).

National Environment Protection Measures are adopted

as state policies under the State Policies and Projects

Act 1993. The Air Toxics NEPM was gazetted on

20 December 2004.

The Tasmanian Air Quality Strategy was adopted

in 2006.


In accordance with the Tasmanian Air Quality Strategy

2006, and within the funding available, Tasmania is

in the process of developing a state-wide air quality

monitoring program to expand the information base

from which to evaluate the state’s air quality and

monitor trends. As outlined in the strategy the major

objectives of the program include upgrading of the

present monitoring system to meet the requirements

of both the Ambient Air Quality NEPM and the Air

Toxics NEPM.

The Tasmanian Air Quality Strategy, whilst strongly

focused on reducing particulate pollution in populated

air sheds, recognises the need to address air toxics.

Hence, the Tasmanian Government sees the issue of

air toxics as part of its overall strategy to manage and

improve air quality throughout the state and integral

with its programs to meet the National Environment

Protection Standards under the Ambient Air Quality

NEPM. There is strong evidence that by focussing

on the management of air borne particles as PM10

and PM2.5 in Tasmania’s major population centres

exposure to the current suite of air toxics will also

be reduced.

As required by Part 3, Clause 8 of the NEPM, Tasmania

has completed a desktop study for the Tamar Valley

(including Launceston) and Derwent Valley (Greater

Hobart) air sheds. Using the methodology developed

in 2005 by a Jurisdictional Working Party, the study

has identif ied Stage 1 and potential Stage 2 sites for

the monitoring of air toxics in these air sheds.

A funding submission to commence air toxics

monitoring from 2008 has been successful. A program

designed to prioritise multiple Stage 2 sites using

preliminary monitoring will commence in 2008.

Independently of the Air Toxics NEPM, the Tasmanian

Government has been undertaking some air monitoring

in the Tamar Valley since August 2006, as part of a

major study of baseline air quality associated with

the proposed pulp mill at Long Reach. As part of this

study high-volume 28–day integrated sampling of

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and 7–day

integrated sampling of benzene, toluene, xylenes

(BTX) have been underway at Rowella. All measured

concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene (marker for PAH)

are below the investigation level set in the Air Toxics

NEPM. All measured concentrations of BTX are below

the investigation levels set in the Air Toxics NEPM.

Fourteen-day integrated sampling of formaldehyde

has also been undertaken at eleven sites in the Tamar

Valley: Rowella, Deviot, Beauty Point, Riverside,

George Town, Pipers River, Bridport, Port, Sorell,

Tippogoree Hills, Evandale and Longford. All

measured concentrations of formaldehyde were below

the investigation level set in the Air Toxics NEPM.

The Tasmanian Government, in collaboration with its

industrial and local government partners, established

an air monitoring station in 2007 on the outskirts

of George Town. George Town is the second largest

Tasmania


Protection (Air Toxics) Measure for Tasmania by the Hon. Michelle

O’Byrne MP, Minister for the Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts


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population centre in the Tamar Valley and is situated

adjacent to the heavy industrial area of Bell Bay.

The station monitors a suite of air pollutants in order

to better understand air quality in the region and the

nature of pollutant contributions from all sources

including domestic, industrial, transport, agricultural

and natural sources. From 2009 the Tasmanian

Government, will undertake high-volume 28–day

integrated sampling of PAH.

A funding submission to commence air toxics

monitoring from 2008 has been successful. A program

designed to prioritise multiple Stage 2 sites using

preliminary monitoring will commence in 2008.


The Tasmanian Government is committed to the

management and improvement of air quality and

the issue of air toxics is integral to the strategy.

A desktop study has been completed. A range of air

toxics has been monitored in the Tamar Valley, as a

part of a specif ic program, using methodology that

does not follow NEPM protocols. All results are

below the monitoring investigation levels.

Funding for 2008 will enable a program of

preliminary monitoring aimed at confirming potential

Stage 2 sites.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM has been effective as a driver in focussing

attention on the importance of monitoring air toxics

in the Tasmanian context.


THE NEPM



reporting year ending 31 December 2007. This includes

results of desktop analysis identifying sites, any

monitoring that has taken place, and assessment and

action taken to manage air toxics (where exceedances

have been reported).

As required by Part 3, Clause 8 of the NEPM, Tasmania

has completed a desktop study for the Tamar Valley

(including Launceston) and Derwent Valley (Greater

Hobart) air sheds. Using the methodology developed

in 2005 by a Jurisdictional Working Party, the study

has identif ied Stage 1 and potential Stage 2 sites for

the monitoring of air toxics in these air sheds.

As no air toxics monitoring, compliant with the

requirements of the Air Toxics NEPM, has been

conducted to date by DEPHA in Tasmania, no results

can be reported at this time.


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(Refer to page 126)




The administrative framework for implementing the

NEPM is in place in the Australian Capital Territory

(ACT). Responsibility for the implementation

of the Ambient Air Quality NEPM rests with the

Environmental Protection & Heritage of the

Department of Territory and Municipal Services.


In accordance with clause 8 of the NEPM the ACT has

undertaken its desktop analysis for the identif ication

of Stage 1 and 2 sites. This assessment was

undertaken in accordance with the nationally agreed

‘Desktop Analysis’ procedure. Only one Stage 1 site

was identif ied which was not subsequently identif ied

as a Stage 2 site.


The ACT has no plans for implementation activities

in the immediate future. However, in accordance with

clause 3(vi) of Schedule 2 the ACT will repeat the

desktop assessment of Stage 1 sites no later than the

end of the fourth year after the commencement of this

Measure. In undertaking this repeat procedure using

the same methodology utilised for the initial assessment.


EFFECTIVENESS

It is evident from undertaking the desktop analysis

that air toxics are not an issue in the ACT.


THE NEPM










Protection (Air Toxics) Measure for the Australian Capital Territory by

Mr Jon Stanhope MLA, Minister for Environment, Water and Climate

Change for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008

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(Refer to page 126)




The Department of Natural Resources, Environment,

the Arts and Sport is responsible for implementation

of the NEPM in the Northern Territory through

provisions of the Waste Management and Pollution

Control Act 1998 and the National Environment

Protection Council (Northern Territory) Act 2004.


The Northern Territory undertook a desktop study

in 2005 to identify Stage 1 and Stage 2 sites for the

purposes of meeting obligations under the NEPM.

No Stage 2 sites were identif ied and a long-term

monitoring program has not been implemented.

A nine month monitoring program was completed in

February 2006 to establish baseline conditions for

Darwin. The results indicated that there are very

low concentrations of benzene, toluene and xylenes

(ortho, meta and para), well below the investigation

levels set by the NEPM.

No further implementation activities were conducted

in 2007–08. Reassessment of Stage 1 and Stage 2 sites

may be required in the future, taking into account

industrial development in the Darwin region. According

to NEPM guidance, reassessment will be required by

2009 at the latest. This requirement will be considered

in establishing a comprehensive air quality monitoring

system in the Darwin region over 2008–09.


Previous studies indicate that concentrations of air

toxics are at very low levels, well below the monitoring

investigation levels of the NEPM. No monitoring or

further investigation has been undertaken in 2007–08.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM has provided the impetus and

methodology for identifying sites most at risk of air

toxics in the NT. Associated monitoring in past years

has provided baseline data for further consideration.


THE NEPM








No additional Stage 1 or Stage 2 sites were identif ied

in the reporting period.

Northern Territory


Protection (Air Toxics) Measure for the Northern Territory by the Hon.

Alison Anderson, Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and

Heritage for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008



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Ambient Air Quality




NEPM details


(Ambient Air Quality) Measure




No. GN 27, 8 July 1998, p. 2211)



(Ambient Air Quality) Measure is set out in clause 6



The National Environment Protection Goal

of this Measure is to achieve the National

Environment Protection Standards as assessed

in accordance with the monitoring protocol

(Part 4) within ten years from commencement

to the extent specif ied in Schedule 2 column 5.



Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure

is set out in clause 5 of the Measure as follows:



Measure is ambient air quality that allows for

the adequate protection of human health and

well–being.

Evaluation criteria









requirements



NEPM standards




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Commonwealth


Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure for the Commonwealth by the

Hon. Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and

the Arts for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


(Refer to page 152)




The Commonwealth implements the NEPM

administratively and ensures that its obligations

under the NEPC Act are met.


As the Commonwealth does not have exclusive

legislative powers for any region with a population of

25 000 or more, there is no need for direct monitoring

action under the NEPM by the Commonwealth.

During the reporting year, the Commonwealth

undertook a range of implementation activities

comprising those activities that supported NEPM

development and those that directly contributed to

the achievement of the NEPM air quality standards.

NEPM support activities

The Commonwealth’s representative chaired and

supported the Ambient Air Quality NEPM Peer

Review Committee. The Committee reviewed the

annual jurisdictional compliance reports for national

consistency and met during the year to address

various technical and practical issues associated

with NEPM monitoring.

To improve access to air quality monitoring data

reported under the NEPM, the Commonwealth has

established a national air quality database. The main

focus for the database in the reporting year was on

acquiring and uploading jurisdictional monitoring

data for the period 2002–06. This dataset is nearly

complete. The database will be continually updated

with monitoring data submitted by jurisdictions as

part of their annual reporting under the NEPM. This

new database will provide improved access to

consistent national air quality data that will inform

future decisions on standard setting and management

strategies. The database is hosted and managed by the

Bureau of Meteorology.

Started in April 2006, the $1.4 million Clean Air

Research Programme (CARP) consists of thirteen

research projects that together investigate a wide

range of air quality issues. Experimental work on all

thirteen CARP projects was largely completed in the

reporting year. This three-year programme will be

completed in 2008 and the f indings will be discussed

at a workshop planned for late 2008 involving air

quality scientists and policy experts. Findings will

assist the future development and implementation

of the NEPM.

Activities to achieve standards

The Commonwealth undertook various activities in

2007 to assist compliance with NEPM standards,

focusing primarily on motor vehicles, wood heaters

and selected non-road engines (e.g. garden equipment

and outboard motors).

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional

Development and Local Government is responsible

for implementing vehicle emission standards. During

the year, more stringent (Euro 4) emission standards

were fully implemented for light duty diesel vehicles.

The Australian Government Department of the

Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts administers

the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000. These standards

currently apply to petrol, diesel, biodiesel and autogas

supplied in Australia. A national fuel grade standard

for the ethanol that can be blended with petrol, up

to a maximum level of ten per cent, was introduced

on 28 June 2008. During the year, work continued

on the management of biofuels, including a study

commissioned on the health effects of ethanol blend

petrol and the release of a position paper on proposed

management of diesel/biodiesel blends.

The Commonwealth monitors fuel at outlets including

terminals, depots and service stations to ensure it

complies with the standards. It is spending $6.3 million

to increase fuel quality compliance inspections over

four years from 2006–07. In 2007–08, 4214 fuel

samples were taken by inspectors, almost doubling

the previous year’s 2321 samples. The first conviction

under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 was

recorded which resulted in a company receiving a

fine totalling $150 000. The Act’s injunction powers

were used for the f irst time to restrain a company

from supplying petrol with ethanol in excess of 10%.

A comprehensive petrol vehicle testing program is

underway, through the $2.5 million second phase of

the National In-Service Emissions study. Results

from this study will provide more accurate

information on the contribution of petrol vehicles

to urban air pollution.

The Commonwealth is leading work, through the

EPHC, to consider options for managing emissions

from a range of non-road engines, including lawn-

mowers and other garden equipment, and outboard

motors. During 2007–08, the Commonwealth

commissioned a pilot study to compare emissions

from garden engines certif ied to overseas standards

and uncertif ied engines and prepared a cost-benefit

analysis of the regulatory and non-regulatory options

for managing emissions from these engines.

Woodheaters are the major source of particle

pollution in many regions of Australia. The

Commonwealth is leading work, under the EPHC,

to develop a nationally consistent approach to wood

heater management. It is currently undertaking a

detailed assessment of regulatory options. During

2007, the Commonwealth also conducted a survey

of wood heater operator behaviour to help inform

measures for improving the in-service performance

of wood heaters.

During the reporting year, funding was provided to

Launceston City Council to help improve air quality

through a wood heater buy-back program for the

Tamar Valley. This work complements projects being

delivered under the Launceston Clean Air Industry

Program to reduce emissions from some of the major

industrial sources of particle pollution. To date, two

facilities, a brewery and a sawmill, have completed

installation of new equipment that will signif icantly

reduce emissions.


The Commonwealth supports the implementation of

the NEPM with initiatives that are aimed at reducing

the impact of air pollution in urban areas, these

initiatives include:

• implementation of new vehicle emission and fuel

quality standards, including compliance and

enforcement activities, to ensure that pollutant

emissions from vehicles continue to decline

• taking a lead role in efforts to reduce emissions

from other priority sources, such as wood heaters

and non-road engines

• undertaking research on priority air quality issues

so that pollution management strategies can be

better targeted

• developing tools, such as the national air quality

database, to assist future decisions on standard

setting and management strategies.

Further information is available at the Department

of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

website: <www.environment.gov.au/atmosphere/

airquality>.


EFFECTIVENESS

Standards set by the NEPM provide for shared

objectives to guide air quality management and

monitoring programs across Australia. The six criteria

pollutants targeted by the NEPM have provided the

focus for the Commonwealth’s investment in air quality

management initiatives. As a result of these and other

initiatives, overall urban air quality in Australia

continues to improve.


THE NEPM

The Commonwealth’s monitoring plan was approved

as consistent with the NEPM on 29 June 2001. Under

this plan, the Commonwealth is not required to monitor

any area under its jurisdiction.

The monitoring plan for the Commonwealth is

available from <www.environment.gov.au/atmosphere/

airquality/publications/cmp.html>.


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(Refer to page 152)




The NSW State Plan, released in November 2006,

includes Priority E3: Cleaner Air and Progress on

Greenhouse Gas Reductions, with a target for air

of meeting the national air quality goals under the

Ambient Air Quality NEPM. Under the State Plan,

lead agencies for each priority are required to work

with partner agencies to develop and implement

plans to deliver on each priority. The Department

of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) is the

lead agency on the air and greenhouse priority.

Action for Air, the NSW Government’s Air Quality

Management Plan for Sydney, the Lower Hunter and

the Illawarra, is the main instrument for bringing

NSW into compliance with the State Plan cleaner air

priority and NEPM goals. First released in 1998 and

updated in Action for Air: 2006 Update, this is a

25–year plan that is reviewed regularly to assess

achievements and the need for adaptation of control

strategies. Action for Air sets out a program of

measures that target the pollutants of most concern

in the region—ground level ozone in summer and

particles. It covers strategies designed to reduce

emissions from industry, motor vehicles and

domestic/commercial sources.

The main piece of legislation for controlling major

sources of air emissions is the Protection of the

Environment Operations Act 1997. Under the Act,

The Clean Air Regulation 2002 deals with motor

vehicles, fuels, domestic solid fuel heaters, open

burning and sets the minimum performance level for

industrial emissions. The Regulation was updated

in 2005 to tighten controls on industrial emissions,

introduce controls on VOC emissions, and require

industry to meet the latest standards when replacing

or modifying old equipment. To reduce pollution

below the level required by the Regulation or licences,

a ‘load-based licensing’ system, setting additional

licence fees for major emitters based on pollution

load, was introduced in 1999. The fees for emitting

pollutants into the air were increased in 2004 for the

state’s top emitters, to increase the incentive to abate

their air emissions.


The NSW Ambient Air Quality NEPM Monitoring

Plan details the monitoring that NSW performs to

assess compliance with the Ambient Air Quality

NEPM. The majority of monitoring occurs in the

high population regions of Sydney, Newcastle and

Wollongong. These regions contain over 60% of the

NSW population. Campaign monitoring is also

performed at a number of rural population centres.

The network is designed to characterise general

air quality and frequently will pick up individual

pollutant events. This approach ensures that there is

adequate coverage of the populated areas and of the

broad differences in pollutant distribution within

a region. The choice of stations in each region was

made to optimise both population coverage and

representation of the occurrences of higher pollutant

concentration.

NSW characterises the air quality to which the

general population is exposed in a region by

monitoring all air pollutants of interest at a network

of trend stations. These stations capture the majority

of pollution events that occur from time to time, but

are supplemented by additional permanent upper

bound stations at which selected pollutants only

will be monitored to ensure that all major pollutant

events are captured and reported.

Campaign monitoring will be undertaken in regional

centres. Initial monitoring is occurring at Albury,

Wagga Wagga, Bathurst and Tamworth. Data from

these stations will be used to validate and review the


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New South Wales


Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure for New South Wales by the

Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment


screening measures applied to the urban centres

outside the Sydney–Wollongong–Newcastle regions.

During 2007, NSW monitored for compliance with

the Ambient Air Quality NEPM for the majority

of pollutants at eight trend stations (T), selected

individual pollutants at four additional permanent

upper bound stations or performance stations (P), and

selected pollutants on a campaign basis at a further

seven stations (C) in Sydney, the lower Hunter and

provincial cities.

Data collected at these stations are reported in

accordance with Clauses 11, 17 and 18 of the NEPM.

The detailed compliance report for the Ambient Air

Quality NEPM for 2007 has been provided to NEPC.

This report provides detailed information such as

methods of measurement, summary statistical

analysis and descriptions of circumstances that led

to exceedences of NEPM standards.

As required under Clause 12 of the Ambient Air

Quality NEPM, the DECC is accredited by the

National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA)

for the measurement of all Ambient Air Quality

NEPM parameters.

Activities to achieve standards

In 2007–08, the NSW Government continued to

implement a suite of strategies directed towards

reducing exceedences of ozone and particle standards

in order to meet the NEPM goals.

The Air Emissions Inventory for the NSW Greater

Metropolitan Region (GMR), a detailed listing of

pollutants discharged into the atmosphere by each

source type, was publicly released in November 2007.

The inventory, together with stakeholder consultations

held throughout 2007, supported the review of Action

for Air being undertaken in 2008. The stakeholder

consultations culminated in a major public forum

in November 2007, with the theme of ‘Clean Air,

Cool Climate’. The proceedings can be found at

<www.environment.nsw.gov.au/air/actionforair/caf

2007.htm>.

The NSW Cleaner Vehicles and Fuels Strategy, which

outlines ten major initiatives to address vehicle and

fuel emissions, was released in draft at the Clean Air

Forum in November 2007 and is available in f inal

form at: <www.environment.nsw.gov.au/air/actionforair/

drftcvfstrat.htm>.

Key actions in 2007–08 under the Strategy included:

• Vapour Recovery at Service Stations—In November

2007, the government approved the introduction

of Stage 2 vapour recovery to capture vapour

when motorists refuel at the bowser in areas of the

Greater Metropolitan Region and the extension of

Stage 1 vapour recovery from underground storage

tanks as they are f illed. Implementation will be

by regulatory amendment.

• NSW Diesel Retrofit Program—The NSW Diesel

Retrofit program was introduced with a pilot in

2005 and subsequently expanded. By the end of

2007, 200 vehicles had been retrofitted. Councils

have been invited to participate in expansion of

this program whereby the government and vehicle

owners share the cost of retrofitting particle f ilters

to in-service diesel vehicles. A total of around

850 vehicles will be retrofitted.

The NSW Government’s $5 million Clean Air, Healthy

Communities Program funds a range of initiatives

to improve air quality. As well as the vehicle actions

above, the program supported implementation in

2007–08 of the wood heater strategy. DECC delivered

woodsmoke reduction workshops for councils in the

winters of 2007 and 2008, in Sydney and regional

NSW. The strategy also promotes use of planning

controls to support correct heater installation and

restrictions on heaters in inappropriate locations.

Accordingly, the gazetted development control plans

for the western Sydney Growth Centres, Oran Park

and Turner Road prohibit open f ireplaces and slow

combustion stoves, in order to protect local and

regional air quality.

The Department of Environment and Climate Change

is also addressing the increasing signif icance of

commercial and domestic activities as sources of

total emissions, particularly VOCs. In combination,

these small service-oriented industries and household

sources are responsible for 40% of VOC emissions

in the Sydney region and 39% of VOC emissions in

the GMR as a whole. NSW has held discussions with

the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions to support

the development of national approaches on product

emissions and is leading a working group to develop

a national approach on reducing emissions from

products such as paints and solvents.


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New South Wales continues to progress implementation

of the Ambient Air Quality NEPM. Carbon monoxide,

nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide levels all met the

standards and the goals in 2007. New South Wales

no longer routinely monitors lead as a result of the

consistently low levels being recorded.

Most areas of NSW met the NEPM goals for PM10

in 2007. Only Albury and Wagga Wagga recorded

more PM10 exceedences than the f ive allowed by the

standard. The local conditions associated with the

exceedences are discussed in Part 3 below.

Ozone, in particular, remains a major challenge for

NSW with Sydney again recording more than the

allowable one exceedence of the 1–hour and 4–hour

standards. While a range of strategies have been

successfully introduced to reduce emissions, population

growth and continued growth in motor vehicle

ownership and use continue to place pressure on air

quality in major urban areas.

Until the outcomes of the 3–year PM2.5 Equivalence

Program are assessed and incorporated into the

Ambient Air Quality NEPM, the continuous TEOM

PM2.5 data are reported here as an interim measure

only. Hence, any comparisons with the advisory

reporting standards using this data are not strictly

in accordance with the Ambient Air Quality NEPM

variation.


EFFECTIVENESS

The data presented in Part 4 of this report demonstrates

that NSW achieved compliance with the Ambient Air

Quality NEPM goals for all pollutants except ozone

and particles. Levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen

dioxide and sulfur dioxide continue to be well below

Ambient Air Quality NEPM standards. Monitoring

for lead as a regional pollutant ceased in NSW from

1 January 2005 in response to the extremely low

concentrations of lead found in ambient air.

Data availability criteria were not met at the following

sites for the reasons detailed:

• Prospect station (replacing the Blacktown

monitoring site which closed in June 2004 due to

the sale of the land for residential development)

opened only in February 2007

• the Newcastle station was damaged in the June 2007

Newcastle floods and was not re-opened until

December 2007

• Bathurst station’s ozone monitor was withdrawn at

the end of the monitoring campaign in August 2007

• instrument failures at Chullora (carbon monoxide),

Albion Park South (sulfur dioxide and PM10),

Wollongong (sulfur dioxide), Wallsend (sulfur

dioxide) and Tamworth (PM10).

Albury and Wagga Wagga all recorded more PM10

exceedences than the 5 allowed by the Ambient Air

Quality NEPM goal. The Victorian bushfire emergency

and f ires in the Snowy Mountains in January and

February 2007 contributed to 17 of the 39 exceedences

for PM10 in the Albury and Wagga Wagga region.

Elevated PM10 levels occur more frequently at Wagga

Wagga than elsewhere in the monitoring network in

NSW. During 2007, the standard was exceeded on

34 days. On 23 of these days, Wagga Wagga was the

only station in NSW to report PM10 levels higher

than the standard. These exceedences were heavily

influenced by the continuing drought conditions and

by agricultural activities such as stubble burning and

broad acre cultivation.

All stations in the Illawarra region complied with the

NSW goal for ozone. The Lower Hunter region and

the regional centre of Bathurst did not demonstrate

compliance due to data availability issues. In the

Sydney Region, 9 of the 14 air monitoring stations

recorded exceedences for either or both the 1–hour

or 4–hour ozone goals. Overall, there were 5 calendar

days where the 1–hour ozone standard was exceeded

and 11 calendar days above the 4–hour standard.

Meeting the Ambient Air Quality NEPM standards

for ozone will be a signif icant challenge for Sydney,

given pressures from a growing population, urban

expansion and the associated increase in motor vehicle

use. The particle (as PM10) goal presents a similar

challenge in NSW, particularly in rural population

centres where agricultural activities and a combination

of topography, climate and relatively high use of

solid fuel heaters produce elevated levels of particles

in autumn and winter. Programs under the government’s

air quality management plan, Action for Air, aim to

move NSW towards ozone and particle levels that will

achieve compliance with the Ambient Air Quality

NEPM goals.


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Station Number of NEPM goal

exceedences compliance

Sydney

Chullora 0 Not demonstrated

Liverpool 0 Met

Macarthur 0 Met

Prospect 0 Not demonstrated

Rozelle 0 Met

Illawarra

Wollongong 0 Met

Lower Hunter

Newcastle 0 Not demonstrated

Data availability criteria were not met at Chullora (instrument problems), Prospect (site commissioned in February 2007)

and Newcastle (off-line for five months due to flood damage).

CO Carbon monoxide(NEPM standard 8 hours = 9.0ppm)

The Ambient Air Quality NEPM goals provide

an additional impetus for the implementation of

strategies and a benchmark against which programs

to manage the air environment can be assessed.


NEPM

Data from relevant monitoring stations are presented

in tabular form below to enable an evaluation of

whether the NEPM standards and goal were met

at each monitoring station. The standards, with

accompanying definitions and explanations, appear in

Schedule 2 of the NEPM. For averaging times shorter

than one year, compliance with the NEPM goal is

achieved if the standard for a pollutant is exceeded

on no more than a specif ied number of days in a

calendar year (one day per year for all pollutants

except PM10, which may be exceeded no more than

five days per year) and at least 75% of data is

captured in each quarter.

The data are presented in greater detail at

<www.environment.nsw.gov.au/air/datareports.htm>.

The monitoring plan for New South Wales is

available from <www.environment.nsw.gov.au/air/

nepm/index.htm>.

1 Hour 1 Year

Station Number of NEPM goal Annual NEPM goal

exceedences compliance average (ppm) compliance

Sydney

Bringelly 0 Met 0.006 Met

Chullora 0 Met 0.013 Met

Liverpool 0 Met 0.012 Met

Macarthur 0 Met 0.011 Met

Prospect 0 Not demonstrated 0.012 Not demonstrated

Richmond 0 Met 0.006 Met

Rozelle 0 Met 0.012 Met

Illawarra

Albion Park South 0 Met 0.004 Met

Wollongong 0 Met 0.009 Met

Lower Hunter

Newcastle 0 Not demonstrated 0.007 Not demonstrated

Wallsend 0 Met 0.008 Met

Data availability criteria were not met at Prospect (site commissioned in February 2007) and Newcastle (off-line for five months due

to flood damage).

NO2Nitrogen dioxide(NEPM standard: 1 hour = 0.12ppm, 1 year = 0.03ppm)


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1 Hour 4 Hours

Station Number of NEPM goal Number of NEPM goal

exceedences compliance exceedences compliance

Sydney

Bringelly 4 Not met 4 Not met

Chullora 0 Met 0 Met

Liverpool 2 Not met 2 Not met

Macarthur 3 Not met 7 Not met

Oakdale 4 Not met 6 Not met

Prospect 0 Not demonstrated 1 Not demonstrated

Richmond 1 Met 3 Not met

Rozelle 0 Met 0 Met

St Marys 3 Not met 4 Not met

Illawarra

Albion Park South 0 Met 1 Met

Kembla Grange 0 Met 1 Met

Wollongong 0 Met 0 Met

Lower Hunter

Newcastle 0 Not demonstrated 0 Not demonstrated

Wallsend 0 Met 0 Met

Regional NSW

Bathurst 0 Not demonstrated 0 Not demonstrated

Data availability criteria were not met at Prospect (site commissioned in February 2007), Newcastle (off-line for f ive months due

to flood damage) and Bathurst (campaign f inalised August 2007).

O3Ozone(NEPM standard: 1 hour = 0.10ppm, 4 hours = 0.08ppm)

Pb Lead(NEPM standard 1 year = 0.50μg/m3)

NSW began phasing out ambient lead monitoring for the AAQ NEPM during 2004. All lead monitoring ceased from 1 January 2005.

All regions do not require monitoring on the basis of screening arguments that lead levels are reasonably expected to be consistently

below the AAQ NEPM standard and are assessed as complying with the standard and goal.


1 Hour 1 Day 1 Year

Station Number of NEPM goal Number of NEPM goal Annual NEPM goal

exceedences compliance exceedences compliance average (ppm) compliance

Sydney

Bringelly 0 Met 0 Met 0.000 Met

Chullora 0 Met 0 Met 0.001 Met

Macarthur 0 Met 0 Met 0.001 Met

Prospect 0 Not 0 Not 0.001 Not demonstrated demonstrated demonstrated

Richmond 0 Met 0 Met 0.000 Met

IllawarraAlbion Park 0 Not 0 Not 0.001 Not South demonstrated demonstrated demonstrated

Wollongong 0 Not 0 Not 0.001 Not demonstrated demonstrated demonstrated

Lower HunterNewcastle 0 Not 0 Not 0.001 Not

demonstrated demonstrated demonstrated

Wallsend 0 Not 0 Not 0.001 Not demonstrated demonstrated demonstrated

Data availability criteria were not met at Prospect (site commissioned in February 2007), Newcastle (off-line for f ive months due to

flood damage), Albion Park South (instrument problems), Wollongong (instrument problems) and Wallsend (instrument problems).

SO2Sulfur dioxide(NEPM standard: 1 hour = 0.20ppm, 1 day = 0.08ppm, 1 year = 0.02ppm)

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PM10Particles as PM10

(NEPM standard 1 day = 50μg/m3)



Sydney

Bringelly 1 Met

Chullora 2 Met

Liverpool 1 Met

Macarthur 1 Met

Oakdale 0 Met

Prospect 0 Not demonstrated

Richmond 0 Met

Rozelle 1 Met

Illawarra

Albion Park South 1 Not demonstrated

Kembla Grange 3 Met

Wollongong 3 Met

Lower Hunter

Beresfield 5 Met

Newcastle 2 Not demonstrated

Regional NSW

Albury 11 Not met

Bathurst 2 Met

Tamworth 0 Not demonstrated

Wagga Wagga 34 Not met

Data are not adjusted for temperature. Data availability criteria were not met at Prospect (site commissioned in February 2007), Newcastle

(off-line for f ive months due to flood damage), Albion Park South (instrument problems) and Tamworth (instrument problems).

1 Year

Station Number of Annual average

exceedences (µg/m3)

Sydney

Earlwood 0 9.1

Liverpool 1 10.4

Illawarra

Wollongong 1 9.1

Lower Hunter

Beresfield 1 9.5

Wallsend 0 9.0

Continuous TEOM values are reported here as an interim measure until the outcomes of the 3–year PM2.5 Equivalence Program have

been formally included in the Principal Measure as outlined in the variation to the AAQ NEPM (2003).

Hence, any comparison with the advisory reporting standards using TEOM data is not strictly in accordance with the AAQ NEPM

variation until the results of the PM2.5 Equivalence Program are assessed and incorporated into the AAQ NEPM.

TEOM data are not adjusted for temperature but include the USEPA PM10 adjustment (Y = A + Bx, where A = 3.0 and B = 1.03).

PM2.5Particles as PM2.5

(NEPM advisory reporting standard 1 day = 25μg/m3, 1 year = 8μg/m3)


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(Refer to page 152)




The State Environment Protection Policy (Ambient

Air Quality) [SEPP (AAQ)] and State Environment

Protection Policy (Air Quality Management) [SEPP

(AQM)] provide the statutory framework for the

management of emissions to the air environment in

Victoria. SEPP (AAQ) incorporates the Ambient Air

Quality NEPM into a statutory framework in Victoria.

In addition to the standards and goals in the AAQ

NEPM, the SEPP (AAQ) also includes ambient air

quality objectives for visibility reducing particles.

The SEPP (AQM) was revised in 2001 and provides

a modern statutory policy framework to ensure that

the environmental quality objectives of SEPP (AAQ)

(and hence the AAQ NEPM) are met, to drive

continuous improvement in air quality, and to achieve

the cleanest air possible having regard to the social

and economic development of Victoria. It also aims

to support Victorian and national measures to address

the enhanced greenhouse effect and depletion of the

ozone layer.

PM10, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen

dioxide and lead are classif ied as Class 1 indicators

in SEPP (AQM). PM2.5 is currently classif ied as a

Class 2 indicator. Emissions of all these pollutants

must be controlled by application of best practice.

In determining what constitutes best practice, the

wastes hierarchy must be taken into consideration in

the management of emissions with avoidance being

the primary aim. Technology is only one aspect of

the management requirements.

The SEPP (AQM) contains two types of criteria to

assess the potential health risks posed by exposure

to air pollutants:

1. Design Criteria—these are modelling tools that

are applied in the design stage of a facility or

expansion of a facility. They are based on either

toxicity or, if more stringent, the odour threshold

of a pollutant. They apply to individual industrial

emissions and are therefore conservative in nature.

2. Intervention Levels—these are local air quality

objectives that apply to cumulative sources of

emissions. If exceeded, further investigation of

the cause is required and a neighbourhood

environment improvement plan may be triggered.

The design criteria established in the SEPP (AQM)

for the pollutants covered by the AAQ NEPM are

based on toxicity. Design criteria exist for many of

the precursors of ozone formation.

Victoria also has a Waste Management Policy (Solid

Fuel Burning) that requires domestic wood heaters to

comply with Australian Standards for emissions. This

policy aims at reducing emissions of particles from

domestic home heating to assist in the meeting of the

standards for PM10 and PM2.5.

The Environment Protection (Vehicle Emissions)

Regulations 2003 are the primary legislative tool

under the Environment Protection Act 1970 that

addresses the in-service performance of the motor

vehicle fleet in Victoria. These Regulations were

reviewed in 2002 and remade in February 2003.

EPA Victoria’s Works Approval and Licensing system

requires industry to demonstrate that the requirements

of SEPP (AQM) are met and that the beneficial uses

of the environment in Victoria are protected. In

assessing this, the impacts on local and regional air

quality are considered.


A number of activities have been undertaken to ensure

that Victoria continues to meet the standards set out

in the Ambient Air Quality NEPM and improves

regional air quality. Performance monitoring stations

Victoria


Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure for Victoria by the Hon. Gavin

Jennings MLC, Minister for Environment and Climate Change for the



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operated continuously throughout the year and

campaign monitoring was conducted to fulf il

commitments in Victoria’s monitoring plan.

In addition to the performance monitoring stations

specified in the monitoring plan, a twelve-month mobile

monitoring campaign commenced at Warrnambool

in October 2006 and ceased in October 2007.

PM2.5 has been monitored by the reference method

(on a one day in three basis) at two stations (Alphington

and Footscray). Victoria also participates in the PM2.5

Equivalence Program, with TEOM monitors co-located

with reference samplers at Alphington and Footscray.

Analysis of the data has commenced to inform the

review of the AAQ NEPM currently underway.

The implementation activities undertaken in 2007–08

are in accordance with expected progress in fulf illing

commitments in Victoria’s monitoring plan. To monitor

compliance with the standards, EPA Victoria will:

• continue to employ the available resources

to best meet the requirements outlined in the

monitoring plan

• progress towards implementing its commitments

to monitoring in regional Victoria.

A program to upgrade the monitoring network

continued during 2007–08 with major refurbishments

to all monitoring stations in Victoria’s monitoring

network completed by mid 2008.

EPA Victoria also continued its programs aimed at

reducing the impact of domestic wood heating on air

quality. This included:

• continued auditing of retailers selling wood heaters

to ensure heaters complied with the requirements

of the Waste Management Policy (Solid Fuel Heating)

• coordinated an industry survey on the trial

certif ication arrangements for manufacturers

of wood heaters in Australia.

Programs to reduce pollution arising from the use of

motor vehicles continued to be a focus. Many of the

actions were also related to the implementation of the

Diesel Vehicle Emissions NEPM and included:

• contracts with Kangan-Batman Institute of

Technology for the supply of Training for Diesel

Mechanics on the maintenance of heavy vehicles

as related to emissions performance (part of Diesel

Vehicle Emissions NEPM implementation)

• commissioning of a test training facility for diesel

mechanics at Kangan-Batman Institute of Technology

(part of Diesel Vehicle Emissions NEPM

implementation)

• entering into contracts for in-service emissions

testing station for diesel vehicles through Vipac

Engineers and Scientists (part of Diesel Vehicle

Emissions NEPM)

• signif icant work with local government to

implement programs that will lead to reductions

in diesel emissions (part of Diesel Vehicle

Emissions NEPM implementation).

EPA Victoria continued its smoky vehicle programs

with 6443 public reports received in the 2007–08

financial year. The EPA also operates a smoky vehicle

enforcement program where EPA or police officers

can report vehicles identif ied as continuously

emitting smoke for longer than 10 seconds. The f ines

issued for operating a smoky vehicle are $500 for

an individual and $1000 for a company. In 2007–08,

946 warning letters were issued under this program.

Fines are issued only to repeat offenders.

Victoria continues to participate in Land Transport

Environment Committee and the Fuel Standards

Consultative Committee.

Mining and extractive industries can be a signif icant

source of particles in urban and regional centres in

Victoria. As part of the implementation of the SEPP

(AQM) a Protocol for Environmental Management

(PEM) was developed to establish an assessment and

management framework, including the need for ongoing

monitoring and reactive management plans, for these

industries in Victoria. The PEM forms the statutory

basis for assessing and managing emissions from this

industry sector in Victoria and is an incorporated

document to SEPP (AQM). The PEM was made by

EPA Victoria in December 2007 and gazetted in

February 2008.

Smoke from bushfires and planned burns conducted

for fire management purposes can impact significantly

on air quality in Victoria. Managing the impact of

smoke from these fires will become a bigger challenge

with the influence of climate change predicted to lead

to a greater risk of more frequent and severe bushfires

for the state. EPA Victoria is working closely with

other government agencies, including the Department

of Human Services (DHS) and Department of


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Sustainability and Environment (DSE), to provide

warnings to communities about the impact of smoke

on their health and provide advice on what they can

do to reduce their exposure to smoke. EPA and DHS

have also developed a tool whereby communities can

assess their own air quality so that informed decisions

can be made about what they can do to avoid

potential health impacts associated with exposure to

smoke. EPA will continue to work with DSE on using

predictive tools to minimise the impact of smoke

from planned burns on regional communities as well

as the Port Phillip airshed.

Victoria is chairing the review of the Ambient Air

Quality NEPM that commenced in 2005. As an input

to the review Victoria continues to co-chair (with

AHMAC) the EPHC Standard Setting Working Group

that is tasked with developing a nationally agreed

methodology to setting air quality standards. This

work is a critical input to the review of the NEPM.

Victoria is also on the project management committee

for the EPHC Air Pollution and Children’s Health

Study that is an important input to the review of the

Ambient Air Quality NEPM.


The Victorian Government is strongly committed

to improving air quality in Victoria. SEPP (AQM)

provides a framework for the management of sources

of emissions, including emissions from diffuse

sources as well as industrial emissions. It emphasises

the importance of avoiding the generation of emissions

in the f irst place, and requires all generators of

emissions of wastes to air to apply best practice

to the management of those emissions.

The SEPP (AQM) implementation program has

involved working with a wide variety of generators of

emissions of wastes to air to minimise their emissions

and, therefore, plays a signif icant role in achieving

the desired environmental outcomes. Activities

undertaken as part of this program have been directed

particularly at motor vehicles, industry, and domestic

wood heating.

The activities undertaken through the monitoring

program will also assist in evaluating the effectiveness

of the implementation of SEPP (AQM).

Satisfactory progress has been made on the

implementation of Victoria’s monitoring plan.

Victoria’s monitoring results for 2007 indicated that:

• the goal of the AAQ NEPM, to achieve by 2008

the standards to the extent specif ied, was met for

O3, CO, NO2 and SO2 at all monitoring stations

where there was sufficient data capture to assess

compliance

• PM10 exceeded the standard and goal at several

monitoring stations in the Port Phillip region, mainly

due to the impacts of bushfires that burned for an

extended period. Windblown dust also accounted

for a number of exceedances

• the 24–hour advisory reporting standard for particles

(as PM2.5) was exceeded at the two stations in the

Port Phillip region—Alphington and Footscray. The

annual reporting standard was met at both sites

• the high data capture rates required to demonstrate

compliance with the AAQ NEPM goals were

achieved in all stations that operated continuously

throughout the year.

Victoria has an ongoing program to increase data

capture through improvements to systems and

instrument upgrades.

Victoria continues to work closely with the Peer

Review Committee to ensure that Victoria’s

monitoring and reporting procedures are consistent

with other states and territories.

EPA Victoria will continue to work with DHS and

DSE on using predictive tools to minimise the impact

of smoke from planned burns on regional communities

and the Port Phillip airshed, as well as providing

timely advice to communities to minimise the health

impacts arising from exposure to smoke from

bushfires and planned burns.


EFFECTIVENESS

In an international context, Melbourne’s air quality

(compared to similar urban centres) remains relatively

good. There has been little change in air quality over

the past decade despite increasing pressures such as

population growth.

In 2007, the goal of the AAQ NEPM, to achieve by

2008 the standards to the extent specif ied, was met

for O3, CO, NO2 and SO2 at all monitoring stations


compliance. Exceedances of the particle (both PM10

and PM2.5) standards were observed at most stations.

These exceedances were largely associated with

bushfire smoke.

The major impact on Victoria’s air quality in 2007

came from the bushfires experienced in January.

Windblown dust and accumulation of combustion

particles in calm, highly stable air also resulted in

days when the particle standards were not met. At

other times, Victoria’s air was generally clean.

EPA Victoria performed monitoring in accordance

with Victoria’s monitoring plan, AAQ NEPM technical

papers and the EPA’s National Association of Testing

Authorities (NATA) accreditation.

The data capture targets were achieved at all stations

that operated for the full year. Where stations operated

for less than the full twelve months, data capture for

the period they did operate was consistent with the

targets. While reduced data capture limited the number

of stations at which compliance could be demonstrated

for each pollutant, information available from such

reduced monitoring periods was generally consistent

with that reported above.


THE NEPM





accompanying definitions and explanations, appear

in Schedule 2 of the NEPM. For averaging times

shorter than one year, compliance with the NEPM

goal is achieved if the standard for a pollutant is

exceeded on no more than a specif ied number of days

in a calendar year (one day per year for all pollutants




The data are presented in greater detail in EPA

Publication 1231, Air monitoring report 2007—

compliance with the National Environment Protection

(Ambient Air Quality) Measure, available from

<www.epa.vic.gov.au>.

The monitoring plan for Victoria is available from

<www.epa.vic.gov.au>—EPA Publication 763, Ambient

Air Quality NEPM monitoring plan Victoria.


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Port Phillip

Alphington 0 Met

Geelong South 0 Met

Richmond 0 Met

Regions that do not require monitoring on the basis that screening shows pollutant levels are reasonably expected to be consistently

below the relevant AAQ NEPM standard: Latrobe Valley, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Warrnambool, Wodonga, Mildura.



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1 Hour 1 Year



Port Phillip

Alphington 0 Met 0.011 Met

Brighton 0 Met 0.009 Met

Footscray 0 Met 0.012 Met

Geelong South 0 Met 0.006 Met

Point Cook 0 Met 0.004 Met

Latrobe Valley

Moe 0 Met 0.007 Met

Traralgon 0 Met 0.006 Met


below the relevant AAQ NEPM standard: Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Warrnambool, Wodonga, Mildura.



1 Hour 4 Hours



Port Phillip

Alphington 1 Met 1 Met

Brighton 1 Met 1 Met

Dandenong 1 Met 1 Met

Footscray 1 Met 1 Met

Geelong South 0 Met 0 Met

Meltona 0 Not demonstrated 0 Not demonstrated

Mooroolbark 0 Met 0 Met

Point Cook 0 Met 1 Met

Point Henry 1 Met 1 Met

Latrobe Valley

Moe 0 Met 1 Met

Traralgon 0 Met 1 Met

Warrnamboolb 0 Not demonstrated 0 Not demonstrated

a Data loss due to equipment failure.

b Campaign monitoring ceased at Warrnambool in October 2007.

Regions that do not require monitoring on the basis that screening shows pollutant levels are reasonably expected to be consistently below the

relevant AAQ NEPM standard: Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton, Warrnambool, Wodonga.


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Victoria ceased monitoring lead in Melbourne at the end of 2004. All regions do not require monitoring on the basis that screening shows

pollutant levels are reasonably expected to be consistently below the relevant NEPM standard and are assessed as complying with the

standard and goal.

1 Hour 1 Day 1 Year


exceedences compliance exceedences compliance average compliance

(ppm)

Port Phillip

Alphington 0 Met 0 Met 0.001 0

Altona North 0 Met 0 Met 0.001 0

Geelong South 0 Met 0 Met 0.001 0

Latrobe Valley

Moe 0 Met 0 Met 0.002 0

Traralgon 0 Met 0 Met 0.003 0

Regions that do not require monitoring on the basis that screening shows pollutant levels are reasonably expected to be consistently below

the relevant AAQ NEPM standard: Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Warrnambool, Wodonga, Mildura.






Port Phillip

Alphington 2 Met

Brighton 1 Met

Dandenong 5 Met

Footscray 4 Met

Geelong South 14 Not met

Mooroolbark 11 Not met

Richmond 3 Met

Latrobe Valley

Moe 13 Not met

Traralgon 5 Met

Warrnamboola 0 Not demonstrated

Monitoring was by TEOM.

a Campaign monitoring ceased at Warrnambool in October 2007.

Screening arguments that PM10 levels are reasonably expected to be consistently below the relevant AAQ NEPM standard have not been

satisf ied for other regions (i.e. Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Wodonga and Mildura). These are assessed as ‘not demonstrated’.


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1 Year

Station Number of exceedences Annual average (µg/m3)

Port Phillip

Alphington 3 8.0

Footscray 1 7.4

Monitoring by reference method (one-day-in-three).




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Queensland


Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure for Queensland by the Hon.

Andrew McNamara MP, Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and

Innovation for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


(Refer to page 152)




In Queensland, the Ambient Air Quality NEPM is

implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) under the Environmental Protection Act 1994

and the Environmental Protection (Air) Policy 1997.

A Special Agreement Act, the Mount Isa Mines

Limited Agreement Act 1985, currently sets operational

performance criteria for sulfur dioxide levels in

Mount Isa, which are different to levels contained

within the Ambient Air Quality NEPM.

With respect to regional management of air quality in

South East Queensland, the Queensland Government

released the South East Queensland Regional Plan in

June 2005 to provide a sustainable growth management

strategy for South East Queensland to the year 2026.

The plan notes that air is a vital natural asset that plays

a key role in ensuring the health of the community,

protecting the environment and fostering economic

development. A key policy principle it contains is

managing urban settlement and the use of transport,

industry, energy and natural resources to minimise

adverse impacts on the atmosphere.

Key features of the plan include:

• developing an urban form that minimises the demand

for transport by ensuring that residents have easy

access by walking or cycling to employment, retail

centres, government services, medical facilities

and leisure opportunities

• improving transport eff iciency by improving

facilities for public transport, cycling and walking,

and by upgrading the road network

• encouraging the use of more eff icient and lower-

emitting modes of transport through education,

information and economic incentives.

The regional plan is supported by the South East

Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program

2008–2026, which was released by the Queensland

Government in June 2008. The infrastructure plan

identifies specific projects to improve the availability,

eff iciency and effectiveness of public transport,

cycling and walking facilities; and to reduce traff ic

congestion. When completed, these projects will

increase the number of trips taken by public transport,

cycling and walking, and reduce motor vehicle

emissions by eliminating congestion and stop-start

traff ic conditions. Taken collectively, these projects

will signif icantly reduce transport-related air

emissions in South East Queensland.

The Queensland Ambient Air Quality Monitoring

Plan (the Monitoring Plan) details how Queensland

proposes to monitor air quality for the purpose of the

NEPM as required under Part 4 (10) of the NEPM.

The Monitoring Plan is prepared by the Queensland

EPA and approved by a national Peer Review

Committee, reporting to the National Environment

Protection Council Committee, which is tasked with

reviewing jurisdictions’ monitoring plans.


During the reporting period, monitoring was

conducted in six of the ten regions identif ied in the

Monitoring Plan. Of the nineteen sites nominated

in the monitoring plan, eleven were operational in

2007–08. Commitments under the NEPM PM2.5

Equivalency Program and other monitoring priorities

have delayed implementation of the schedule outlined

in the monitoring plan in four regional centres.

Campaign monitoring of ozone in Gladstone ceased

in 2006 after f ive years of measurements showed

ozone concentrations consistently below 75% of the

NEPM standards. The South East Queensland carbon

monoxide trend monitoring site was relocated from

the Brisbane CBD to Woolloongabba in 2005 when

a change of property ownership forced the closure

of the Brisbane CBD monitoring site.


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Collection of PM2.5 data at two sites in South East

Queensland and one site in Toowoomba, using

Tapered-Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM)

equipment, continued in 2007. A reference PM2.5

sampler was operated, in conjunction with the PM2.5

TEOM instrument, at two of these sites (Rocklea and

Springwood) in line with obligations under the PM2.5

Equivalence Program.

On the basis of the results of monitoring conducted

in larger population centres and/or the f indings of

generic modelling studies detailed in Appendix A of

the NEPM Peer Review Committee Technical Paper

No. 4 Screening Procedures, it has been concluded

that monitoring of nitrogen dioxide in Bundaberg,

Cairns, Mackay, Maryborough/Hervey Bay and

Rockhampton, and monitoring of ozone in Bundaberg,

Mackay and Maryborough/Hervey Bay are not required.

It is reasonable to expect that pollutant levels will

be consistently below the relevant NEPM standards.

The EPA will commence lead monitoring at Mount

Isa in 2008 using both the Australian Standard high

volume sampler gravimetric method (with a sampling

frequency of one day in six) and a new continuous

x ray fluorescence instrument. While the latter method

differs from the NEPM monitoring protocol, it will

greatly assist in analysis of, and public reporting on,

emission sources.


The NEPM has provided the mechanism for a staged

expansion of the EPA’s ambient air monitoring

network throughout Queensland. Queensland remains

committed to implementing the actions contained in

its Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Plan for Queensland

despite delays in establishing monitoring in some

regional centres. On the basis of approved screening

criteria, campaign monitoring of nitrogen dioxide and

ozone in some smaller regional centres listed in the

monitoring plan will now not proceed.

Queensland’s monitoring results for 2007 indicate

that the goal of the Ambient Air Quality NEPM, to

achieve by 2008 the standards to the extent specif ied,

was met for all pollutants at all monitoring stations


compliance, except for sulfur dioxide in Mount Isa.


EFFECTIVENESS

During the 2007–08 reporting period, with the

exception of sulfur dioxide in Mount Isa, pollutant

levels complied with the NEPM goals in all regions

where monitoring was undertaken.

While no ozone exceedences were recorded in the

2007–08 reporting period, rapidly growing

population, urban expansion and associated increases

in motor vehicle use in South East Queensland could

present challenges to future compliance with the

NEPM ozone standards. While bushfire and hazard-

reduction burning emissions are presently implicated

in the majority of previous ozone exceedences, there

have been occasions in recent years when industrial,

commercial and domestic emissions, combined with

conducive meteorological conditions, have resulted

in exceedences of the ozone standards.

While industry in Mount Isa has significantly reduced

overall emissions of sulfur dioxide to the atmosphere

in recent years (through capture and conversion to

sulfuric acid), compliance with the one-hour NEPM

sulfur dioxide standard is unlikely to be achieved.

Amendments made to the Environmental Protection

Act 1994 (EP Act) in May 2008 will cause all Special

Agreement Act mine operations, including the Mount

Isa smelters, to come under contemporary environmental

controls under the EP Act.

The EPA will assess the environmental authority

application against the standard criteria in the EP Act

which require that any applicable Commonwealth plans,

standards, agreements or requirements, including

those relating to NEPMs, are considered. The

Environmental Protection (Air) Policy 1997, which

includes ambient air quality objectives for sulfur

dioxide, are also considered as part of this process.

The results of PM10 monitoring comply with the 2008

goal. It is unlikely that urban and industrial particle

emissions on their own will lead to non-compliance

with the goal, although exceedences of the NEPM

standard will occur on occasions when contributions

from natural events such as bushfires and dust storms

are added to existing urban and industrial sources.

Vegetation management through controlled burning

is another occasional cause of exceedences in several

Queensland regions.


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To date, the only previous exceedences of the PM2.5

24–hour advisory reporting standard have been the

result of smoke from bushfires or hazard-reduction

burning (there was one occurrence in the 2007–08

reporting period). Compliance in the longer term may

be increasingly diff icult to achieve due to increasing

motor vehicle use and other sources of f ine particles.

The South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005–2026

provides a sustainable growth management strategy

for the South East Queensland region to the year

2026. Under the plan, urban settlement and the use

of transport, industry, energy and natural resources

will be managed to minimise adverse impacts on

air quality.

Significant investment in public transport infrastructure

under the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan

and Program 2008–2026 will support the management

of future air quality impacts from rising motor

vehicle use.


THE NEPM














The data are presented in greater detail in the EPA

publication, Queensland 2007 Air Monitoring Report,

available from the EPA website at

<www.epa.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/

air/air_quality_monitoring/air_quality_reports/>.

The monitoring plan for Queensland is available from

<www.epa.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/air/

air_quality_monitoring/national_measures/ambient_

air_quality_plan_for_queensland/>.



South-east Queensland

Woolloongabba1 0 Not demonstrated

Toowoomba

North Toowoomba 0 Met

1 Not demonstrated due to insufficient data.

Regions that do not require monitoring on the basis that screening shows pollutant levels are reasonably expected to be consistently below

the NEPM standard include: Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay, Maryborough/Hervey Bay, Mount Isa, Rockhampton and Townsville.



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1 Hour 1 Year




North Coast sub-region

Mountain Creek 0 Met 0.004 Met

Brisbane sub-region

Deception Bay1 0 Not demonstrated 0.006 Not demonstrated

Rocklea 0 Met 0.008 Met

Springwood 0 Met 0.006 Met

Ipswich sub-region

Flinders View 0 Met 0.008 Met

Toowoomba

North Toowoomba 0 Met 0.005 Met

Gladstone

South Gladstone 0 Met 0.005 Met

Townsville

Pimlico 0 Met 0.004 Met

1 Not demonstrated due to insufficient data.


below the NEPM standard include: Bundaberg, Cairns, Mackay, Maryborough/Hervey Bay, Mount Isa and Rockhampton.


1 Hour 4 Hours





Mountain Creek 0 Met 0 Met

Brisbane sub-region

Deception Bay 0 Met 0 Met

Rocklea 0 Met 0 Met

Springwood 0 Met 0 Met

Ipswich sub-region

Flinders View 0 Met 0 Met

Toowoomba

North Toowoomba 0 Met 0 Met

Townsville

Pimlico 0 Met 0 Met


below the NEPM standard include: Bundaberg, Gladstone, Mackay, Maryborough/Hervey Bay and Mount Isa.

Regions for which monitoring has not yet been carried out (i.e. performance is ‘not demonstrated’) include Cairns and Rockhampton.



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(ppm)

South-east

Queensland

Brisbane sub-region

Springwood 0 Met 0 Met 0.001 Met

Ipswich sub-region

Flinders View 0 Met 0 Met 0.001 Met

Gladstone

South Gladstone 0 Met 0 Met 0.002 Met

Townsville

Pimlico 0 Met 0 Met 0.001 Met

Stuart 0 Met 0 Met 0.000 Met

Mount Isa

Menzies 31 Not met 1 Met 0.007 Met


below the NEPM standard include: Bundaberg, Cairns, Mackay, Maryborough/Hervey Bay and Toowoomba.

The only region for which monitoring has not yet been carried out (i.e. performance is ‘not demonstrated’) is Rockhampton.


Pb Lead(NEPM standard 1 year = 50μg/m3)

Peak lead levels in 2001 and 2002 in South East Queensland were less than 10% of the NEPM standard. It can be concluded that

monitoring of lead is not required (PRC Technical Paper No. 9).


below the NEPM standard include: Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay, Maryborough/Hervey Bay, Rockhampton, South East

Queensland, Toowoomba and Townsville.

The only region for which monitoring has not yet been carried out (i.e. performance is ‘not demonstrated’) is Mount Isa. The EPA

is due to commence lead monitoring at Mount Isa in 2008.


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Mountain Creek 0 Met

Brisbane sub-region

Rocklea 1 Met

Springwood 0 Met

Ipswich sub-region

Flinders View 0 Met

Toowoomba

North Toowoomba 1 Met

Gladstone

South Gladstone 0 Met

Mackay

West Mackay 2 Met

Townsville

Pimlico 0 Met

Regions for which monitoring has not yet been carried out (i.e. performance is ‘not demonstrated’) include: Bundaberg, Cairns,

Maryborough/Hervey Bay, Mount Isa and Rockhampton.



1 Year




Brisbane sub-region

Rocklea1 0 6.1

Rocklea2 0 4.3

Springwood1 1 5.9

Springwood2 0 4.3

Toowoomba

North Toowoomba2 0 3.6

1 Monitoring by reference method (1 in 3 days).

2 Monitoring by TEOM instrumentation in accordance with Technical Paper on Monitoring for Particles as PM2.5.

Regions for which monitoring has not yet been carried out include: Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay, Maryborough/Hervey Bay,

Mount Isa, Rockhampton and Townsville.


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(Refer to page 152)




The NEPM has been made under the National

Environment Protection Council (Western Australia)

Act 1996 and the corresponding legislation in other

jurisdictions and the Commonwealth. No additional

legislation is necessary to enable the NEPM in

Western Australia. The Department of Environment

and Conservation continues to collate, analyse and

report monitoring data collected for the purposes

of the NEPM.

A draft Environmental Protection Policy (EPP) for

state-wide air quality was initially drafted to provide

a policy framework for the NEPM. However, since

initiating this process, there has been a general shift

from the use of EPPs for non-coercive environmental

policy positions. Instead, mechanisms such as State

Environmental Policies (SEPs), more flexible non-

statutory policy instruments, are preferred. The

Environmental Protection Authority has f inalised a

draft Ambient Air SEP, utilising targeted consultation

with their reference panel members near the end

of the process. This policy has been expanded to

incorporate not only the Air Toxics NEPM, but also

identify potentially signif icant air emissions sources

and legislative and non-legislative mechanisms to

manage them. Once the draft Ambient Air SEP has

been considered by the Minister for Environment it

is likely to be released for public consultation before

being f inalised.

Two EPPs currently exist to manage air emissions in

Western Australia. The EPP which controls industrial

emissions of sulfur dioxide and total suspended

particulates in the Kwinana area sets ambient

‘standards’ and ‘limits’. Although these numerical

numbers are defined differently to the NEPM standards,

it has been determined that the EPP is an effective

means of controlling sulfur dioxide emissions to

ensure compliance with the NEPM beyond the

industrial buffer area.

The Goldfields EPP sets sulfur dioxide concentrations

that are consistent with the NEPM standards. The

objectives of the EPP are to control and progressively

reduce the sulfur dioxide concentration in the ambient

air of a protected area during each year until 2008.

There has been a progressive tightening in the measure

of acceptability of air quality standards, providing a

progressive reduction in the number of calendar days

the sulfur dioxide concentration of 0.2 ppm could

be exceeded, from three in 2003 and down to one in

2008 and each succeeding year. These concentrations

will be managed and controlled through licences

issued to sulfur dioxide emitting industries. Industries

must monitor these concentrations and must not

exceed them.


Implementation activities may be viewed in two

categories:

• those activities related to implementing the

monitoring and reporting protocol of the NEPM,

plus other activities associated with the ‘Future

Actions’ listed in the NEPM Impact Statement

• those activities within Western Australia (including

regulatory activities outlined above) designed to

ensure that the air quality is in compliance with

the NEPM goal for each of the six pollutants

within the specif ied ten–year period.

In the f irst category, Western Australia has:

• commenced work to relocate the monitoring

laboratory

• continued to liaise with local governments and

other organisations as required to facilitate the

positioning and repositioning of f ixed ambient

monitoring stations

Western Australia


Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure for Western Australia by the

Hon. Donna Faragher MLC, Minister for Environment for the reporting



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• made a signif icant contribution to the activities

of the Peer Review Committee, notably in the

development of strategy papers and methods

designed to provide consistency in NEPM

monitoring and reporting across jurisdictions

• continued with work to obtain National Association

of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation of

NEPM monitoring activities

• maintained monitoring of PM2.5 to facilitate the

review and potential development of compliance

NEPM standards for this pollutant in the future

• made a signif icant contribution to the NEPM

review team and the Air Quality Standard Setting

Working Group.

In the second category, Western Australia has:

• continued to implement the Perth Air Quality

Management Plan (AQMP). The Perth AQMP is

a whole-of-government plan aimed at improving

and maintaining Perth’s air quality. Implementation

of a number of priority actions within the Perth

AQMP has commenced in addition to a number of

ongoing programs. There continues to be a major

focus on managing emissions from motor vehicles

and wood heaters, improving emissions inventory

estimates and investigating novel cutting edge

monitoring techniques

• continued to provide improved community access

to air quality monitoring data via the Department

of Environment and Conservation webpage

<www.dec.wa.gov.au/>.


The Department of Environment and Conservation

has instituted a number of actions to implement the

NEPM, including maintaining and expanding ambient

monitoring, progressing NATA accreditation as a

priority and providing staff resources to assist with

NEPM related working groups. The Department of

Environment and Conservation also continues to

implement a number of priority actions within the

AQMP for Perth and raise the profile and importance

of air quality management generally.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM has provided a focus for air quality issues

and driven all jurisdictions to work towards nationally

consistent monitoring techniques and reporting. This

has culminated in the development and approval

of monitoring plans for all jurisdictions, including

Western Australia. The NEPM standards and goals

provide an additional impetus for the implementation

of strategies and a useful benchmark against which

air quality management can be assessed.

Air quality management initiatives implemented in

Western Australia have placed the state in a favourable

position to achieve compliance with the NEPM goals

in most circumstances. Sulfur dioxide and lead have

been effectively controlled by regulatory means.

Carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide concentrations

comply with the NEPM standards by comfortable

margins, due to clean fuel quality standards, national

vehicle emissions standards and control of other

sources. Ozone and PM10 remain pollutants of concern

in the Perth region and are the focus of attention

within the AQMP, particularly the management of

domestic PM10 sources. In other regions, PM10 is the

pollutant of most signif icance with respect to the

NEPM standards.

The data presented in Part 4 below, shows that Western

Australia has achieved compliance with the NEPM

goals for all the pollutants except particles (measured

as PM10) in Geraldton during 2007. Subsequent

analysis suggests the main contributors for these

exceedences were wind borne dust and bushfires.


THE NEPM



whether the NEPM standards and goal were met at each

monitoring station. The standards, with accompanying

definitions and explanations, appear in Schedule 2 of

the NEPM. For averaging times shorter than one year,

compliance with the NEPM goal is achieved if the

standard for a pollutant is exceeded on no more than

a specif ied number of days in a calendar year (one

day per year for all pollutants except PM10, which

may be exceeded no more than f ive days per year)

and at least 75% of data is captured in each quarter.

The data are presented in greater detail in the 2007

Western Australia Air Monitoring Report which is

available at <www.dec.wa.gov.au>.

The monitoring plan for Western Australia is available

from <www.dec.wa.gov.au/pollution-prevention/air-

quality-publications/technical-reports/2001.html>.


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1 Hour 4 Hours



Perth

North East Metro 0 Met 0 Met

Outer North Coast 0 Met 0 Met

South Coast 0 Met 0 Met

Outer East Rural 0 Met 0 Met

South East Metro 0 Met 0 Met

Inner West Coast 0 Met 0 Met



Perth

North East Metro 0 Met

North Metro 0 Met

CBD 0 Not demonstrated

South East Metro 0 Met


1 Hour 1 Year



Perth

North East Metro 0 Met 0.006 Met

North Metro 0 Met 0.007 Met

South Metro 0 Met 0.005 Met

CBD 0 Not demonstrated 0.013 Not demonstrated

Outer North Coast 0 Met 0.003 Met

South Coast 0 Met 0.004 Met

Outer East Rural 0 Met 0.002 Met

South East Metro 0 Met 0.008 Met

Inner West Coast 0 Met 0.005 Met




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1 Hour 1 Day 1 Year



(ppm)

Perth

South Metro 0 Met 0 Met 0.002 Met

South Coast 0 Met 0 Met 0.001 Met

South East Metro 0 Met 0 Met 0.001 Met

South Metro 0 Met 0 Met 0.002 Met


Pb Lead

Western Australia has ceased monitoring for lead. Lead monitoring ceased on 31 December 2001 following the introduction of unleaded

petrol and the consequent sustained measurements at analytical limits of detection well below the standard.





Perth

North East Metro 1 Met

North Metro 0 Met

South Metro 0 Not demonstrated

South East Metro 1 Met

South-west

Bunbury 0 Met

Albany 1 Met

North-west

Geraldton 10 Not met


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1 Year


exceedences of (µg/m3)

daily standard

Perth

North East Metro 1 8.1

North East Metro 0 7.5

North Metro 0 7.3

Outer North Coast 0 6.9

South East Metro 0 7.6

South-west

Bunbury 3 7.8

Busselton 2 7.4

Analysis of the extent to which standards are, or are not, met

Lead monitoring ceased on 31 December 2001 following the introduction of unleaded petrol and subsequently

lead replacement petrol. These management initiatives consequently sustained measurements at analytical

limits of detection well below the standard.

Statement of the progress made towards achieving the goal

The goal as defined in clause 6 of the NEPM was achieved for all criteria pollutants at all NEPM monitoring

stations except Geraldton during 2007


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Location Descriptor Station Location Location Descriptor Station Location

North East Metro Caversham Outer East Rural Rolling Green

North Metro Duncraig South Coast Rockingham

CBD Queens Building Inner West Coast Swanbourne

Outer North Coast Quinns Rocks South Metro Wattleup

South East Metro South Lake South Metro Hope Valley

Relationship between location descriptors and monitoring station locations/names

Station Date Time Pollutant Averaging Concentration

period

North East Metro 4 February 2007 N/A PM10 24 hours 58.8 μg/m3

South East Metro 4 February 2007 N/A PM10 24 hours 56.7 μg/m3

Geraldton 4 February 2007 N/A PM10 24 hours 59.4 μg/m3



Geraldton 4 March 2007 N/A PM10 24 hours 95.5 μg/m3



Geraldton 10 May 2007 N/A PM10 24 hours 72.4 μg/m3

Bunbury 11 May 2007 N/A PM2.5 24 hours 34.4 μg/m3

Bunbury 1 June 2007 N/A PM2.5 24 hours 34.4 μg/m3

Geraldton 6 June 2007 N/A PM10 24 hours 108.5 μg/m3

Geraldton 22 June 2007 N/A PM10 24 hours 83.0 μg/m3

Busselton 24 June 2007 N/A PM2.5 24 hours 51.1 μg/m3

Busselton 25 June 2007 N/A PM2.5 24 hours 37.2 μg/m3

Albany 10 November 2007 N/A PM10 24 hours 55.7 μg/m3

Bunbury 15 November 2007 N/A PM2.5 24 hours 25.1 μg/m3

Geraldton 9 December 2007 N/A PM10 24 hours 77.5 μg/m3

List of exceedences


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(Refer to page 152)






Act 2005, Sch 1 enable the continued operation of

the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air

Quality) Measure (NEPM), as an Environment

Protection Policy. The PM2.5 Variation to the NEPM

also operated as part of this policy from the day on

which it was made.

Administration of the NEPM is undertaken by the

Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and, to

ensure the obligations under the NEPM are met, the

EPA operates the Ambient Air Monitoring Network

(the Network) in-house.


Implementation status

During 2007–08, the EPA conducted a range of

activities aimed at fulf illing commitments made in

South Australia’s air monitoring plan and addressing

its obligations through the Ambient Air Quality NEPM.

This includes installation of a continuous PM10 monitor

at Schulz Park, Whyalla as a replacement for one day

in six PM10 monitoring at Civic Park, Whyalla.

Development of monitoring stations continues in

order to meet the monitoring requirements specif ied

in the plan. The stations yet to be developed include:

• Grenfell Street Adelaide, as a replacement for the

now closed Tandanya station

• North East Adelaide (PM10 and SO2)

• Southern wineries (O3, NO2, PM10, SO2)

• Barossa/Angaston (O3, NO2, PM10, SO2)

• Riverland (O3, NO2, PM10, SO2).

In May 2003, the NEPM was varied to include

particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter

(PM2.5). In accordance with this variation, the EPA

has continued to monitor PM2.5 at its Netley station,

using the reference method on a one in three day

basis. This is in addition to monitoring PM2.5 by

Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM)

as part of the PM2.5 equivalence program.

Operational activities

The Environment Protection Act provides for licensed

activities to undertake Environment Improvement

Programs to reduce their environmental impact. The

EPA routinely applies these provisions to industrial

sources that contribute signif icantly to regional scale

air pollution and thereby influence the achievement

of the NEPM.

On 1 July 2008, the EPA introduced a new licence

fee system that is based on the principles of user pays

and polluter pays. The system is being introduced to

all licensees over the 2008–09 f inancial year and is

made up of components that reflect the EPA’s regulatory

effort and the licensees pollutant emissions to air.

The EPA continues to provide high quality data

through maintaining and developing its National

Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation.

The EPA has continued its participation in the

activities of the Air NEPM Peer Review Committee

(PRC), whose expertise assists in clarif ication of

technical aspects of implementation of the NEPM.

This includes participating in the inter-laboratory

comparisons of standard gas cylinders, which helps

to ensure a consistency of data accuracy and

precision between jurisdictions.

The EPA is continuing the provision of air quality

datasets to the National Air Quality Database. This

database was formed through a memorandum of

understanding (MOU) between the Bureau of

Meteorology, NEPC Service Corporation and Department

of the Environment and Heritage, and aims to support

EPHC/NEPC work on national air quality issues.

South Australia


Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure for South Australia by the Hon.

Jay Weatherill MP, Minister for Environment and Conservation for the



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South Australia has continued to support the EPHC/

NEPC process by contributing to committees and

working groups at all levels, including the current

review of the Ambient Air NEPM, which is projected

for completion in early 2009.

The EPA has begun a program to develop f ine scale

air emissions inventories for South Australia,

commencing with a comprehensive motor vehicle

emissions inventory for metropolitan Adelaide, due

for completion in 2008. An enhanced motor vehicle

inventory will provide a clearer indication of the

contribution of motor vehicles to air pollution in

South Australia. Coupling the inventory with

dispersion models will also allow assessment of air

pollution around roadways.

The EPA continues to develop atmospheric modelling

for use as a management tool through The Air Pollution

Model (TAPM) and by developing a predictive model

with the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO. The

EPA is currently investigating the role of biogenic

emissions in the formation of photochemical oxidants

across the Adelaide airshed (due for publication in

late 2008). In addition, preliminary investigations

are being made into the formation and distribution

of nitrogen dioxide and photochemical oxidants over

a number of summer periods within Adelaide. These

studies will assist the EPA to determine pollutant

concentrations in areas where monitoring is not

currently occurring. The studies will also provide

information for population exposure to key pollutants

in the Adelaide airshed.


South Australia continues to enjoy some of the best

ambient air quality in the country. The EPA continues

to support and work with the community and industry

to develop strategies to help reduce pollution from

point sources and diffuse pollution from human

activities.

In 2008–09, the EPA plans to review the Environment

Protection (Air Quality), the Environment Protection

(Burning) Policy (the Burning Policy) and the

Environment Protection (Motor Vehicle Fuel Quality)

Policy—the three sets of subordinate legislation

dealing with air pollution from specif ic sources. The

purpose of the review is to replace these three policies

with a single comprehensive policy that identif ies the

air environmental values to be protected and the

appropriate management of all sources of pollution,

and embodies the content of relevant NEPMs. It is

envisaged this policy will embody the essential

content of the current EPPs and NEPMs relating to

air quality, of which the AAQ NEPM is the principal

one. The Air Policy will assist the EPA in ensuring

the achievement of the goals set in the AAQ NEPM.

South Australia has continued to provide technical

support to local government to administer the

Burning Policy and to resolve complaints relating to

domestic solid fuel heaters. The EPA released a draft

Code of Practice for Environmentally Responsible

Wood Heater Use to enable all sectors to deal with

wood heater issues.

Dust monitoring at Whyalla

The EPA continues to supply real time PM10 monitoring

data to the steelworks at Whyalla. To improve the

available information, the EPA has recently upgraded

its monitoring capability to continuous PM10 monitors

at Whyalla. This information is being made available

to One Steel so that the company can monitor the

impact of operations on the Whyalla community in

real time.

Lead at Port Pirie

Reducing child lead exposure at Port Pirie continues

to be a key environmental health initiative for South

Australia. The state government continues to facilitate

the Port Pirie Lead Implementation Program (PPLIP)

in concert with the local Council and the current lead

smelter operators (Nyrstar Port Pirie).

Through the PPLIP, the state government has expended

some $60 million in Port Pirie over the past 20 years

in a range of investigations into exposure pathways,

ambient and source measurements, speciation, house

and streetscape dust reduction, community and

workforce education and blood lead monitoring.

Ambient lead levels measured at Frank Green Park

(in the city’s primary residential area) continue to

comply with the NEPM standard but, as the NHMRC

guideline level for blood lead in children is still

exceeded, intense efforts into smelter lead emissions

and exposure reduction will continue.

In concert with the PPLIP, an ambitious program was

launched in February 2006 with the goal of ensuring

that at least 95% of children aged 0–4 years and

residing in Port Pirie have blood lead levels below


10μg/dL by the end of 2010. Known as ‘tenby10’, the

program involves a collaborative approach between

Nyrstar, EPA, SA Department of Health and the Port

Pirie Regional Council. Nyrstar has committed some

$56 million to the achievement of the tenby10 goal.

This includes commitments to major infrastructure

and operational improvements, aimed at reducing

fugitive lead emissions. In addition, Nyrstar provides

support for a range of community-based activities to

reduce lead uptake by children.

Results of ambient air monitoring conducted by the

EPA indicate that lead in air levels continued to fall

over the past 12 months, maintaining a trend which

has been observed since 2005. This observation is

supported by ambient monitoring undertaken by the

smelter operators within the township. Blood lead

levels have also fallen signif icantly during the same

period (Department of Health, 2008).

On 1 July 2008, a new EPA licence for Nyrstar came

into effect, which specif ies ongoing lead reduction

targets to be achieved at three EPA monitoring sites

(Ellen Street, Frank Green Park and Pirie West Primary

School). Linked to these targets is an Environment

Improvement Program (EIP) which contains agreed

compliance actions (including further signif icant

capital works) aimed at further reducing fugitive lead

emissions. Compliance actions in the EIP are required

to be reviewed in line with achievement of the targets.

Sulphur dioxide at Port Pirie

Nyrstar Port Pirie lead smelter is also the primary

contributor to elevated ambient sulphur dioxide in

Port Pirie. The company is currently undertaking an

exposure level assessment project with the aim of

better understanding the exposure of individuals to

both short and longer term SO2 levels. This is proposed

to take into account meteorological, seasonal and

temporal variables in combination with site emission

data. The EPA and Nyrstar are discussing the format

of an EIP aimed at reducing SO2 emissions. This is

likely to have a longer term focus given the current

agreed emphasis on reducing lead emissions.

Domestic woodsmoke emissions

In 2007, the EPA continued the implementation

of a two-year behaviour change pilot program in

partnership with the Adelaide Hills Council to

encourage households to engage in eff icient wood

heater practices to minimise woodsmoke. This project

includes the EPA monitoring particulates as well

as encouraging residents to take up a ‘SmokeWatch

Challenge’, in which they commit to undertaking

four key eff icient wood heater practices throughout

winter in order to reduce woodsmoke pollution. A

report detailing results of the 2007 program has been

published and is available through the EPA website.

Review of air quality monitoring

The EPA has undertaken a review of its entire air

monitoring system, which will address all aspects of

the organisation’s air monitoring stations and quality

system. The review will provide an opportunity to assess

the current status of the NEPM and focus monitoring

efforts. The review will be used to determine future

directions for air monitoring in South Australia.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM has been effective in providing a legislative

framework to monitor general community exposure to

the criteria pollutants in Adelaide and some regional

centres. It has also stimulated investigations into

localised exposure from particular emission sources

and enhanced the review of the approach taken to

manage regional air quality.

The NEPM reinforces the need to supply high quality

data in a timely manner and thereby ensure that air

quality management decisions are based on sound

science. South Australia has found that this can be

undertaken with confidence only in–house by

appropriately qualif ied staff with practical experience

in operating an extensive network of instruments

on a long-term basis.

For the 2007 reporting year, comparison of monitoring

data to the standards and goals of the Ambient Air

Quality NEPM revealed that:

• the standard and goal was met for CO at the

Elizabeth station but not demonstrated at the

Tandanya station

• for NO2, the standards and goals were met at all

stations

• for O3, the standards and goals were met at all stations

• for SO2 the one-hour standard and goal was not

met at Port Pirie, Oliver Street. All other stations

met the standard and goal for SO2

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Adelaide

ADL01—Tandanya 0 Not demonstrated

ELI01—Elizabeth Downs 0 Met

• for PM10 in the Adelaide region, the standard was

exceeded:

– on one occasion at the Kensington station

– on three occasions at the Elizabeth station

– on three occasions at the Christie Downs station

– on eleven occasions at the Netley station

• for the Spencer region, the standard was not met:

– on f ive occasions at Whyalla, Schulz Park

– on eleven occasions at Port Pirie, Oliver Street

• the PM10 goal was not met at:

– Netley

– Port Pirie, Oliver Street

• for Pb, the annual standard and goal was met at the

Frank Green Park station but not met at the Oliver

Street station

• for PM2.5, the advisory reporting standard was met

at Netley, the one station where monitoring was

conducted.

Continuation of a core network of long-term monitoring

sites in the Adelaide region will assist in development

and verif ication of a regional air dispersion model

that can be used for strategic planning purposes and

for advance public notif ication of likely air quality

on a daily basis. The former will help to ensure that

the NEPM goal and any future goals are adequately

considered in long-term regional scale planning

decisions for the Adelaide region. The latter will

promote awareness of the issue in the community and

help drive behavioural change that will contribute to

achieving the NEPM goal.


THE NEPM









a specified number of days in a calendar year (one day

per year for all pollutants except PM10, which may

be exceeded no more than f ive days per year) and

at least 75% of data is captured in each quarter.

The data are presented in greater detail in

<www.ephc.gov.au/nepms/air/juris_mon_reports_

07.html>.

The monitoring plan for South Australia is available

from <www.ephc.gov.au/nepms/air/prc_juris_mon_

plans.html>.


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1 Hour 1 Year



Adelaide

ELI01—Elizabeth Downs 0 Met 0.003 Met

NOR01—Northfield,

Folland Avenue 0 Met 0.006 Met

NET01—Netley 0 Met 0.009 Met

KEN01—Kensington

Gardens 0 Met 0.005 Met

CHD01—Christie Downs 0 Met 0.005 Met


1 Hour 4 Hours



Adelaide

ELI01—Elizabeth Downs 0 Met 0 Met

NOR01—Northfield,

Folland Avenue 0 Met 0 Met

NET01—Netley 0 Met 0 Met

KEN01—Kensington

Gardens 0 Met 0 Met

CHD01—Christie Downs 0 Met 0 Met


1 Hour 1 Day 1 Year



(ppm)

Adelaide

NOR01—Northfield,

Folland Avenue 0 Met 0 Met 0.000 Met

Spencer

PTP01—Port Pirie,

Oliver Street 29 Not met 0 Met 0.009 Met



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Pb Lead(NEPM standard 1 year = 0.50μg/m3)

Station Annual NEPM goal

average (µg/m3) compliance

Spencer

PTP05—Port Pirie, Frank Green Park 0.18 Met

PTP01—Port Pirie, Oliver Street 0.51 Not met





Adelaide

ELI01—Elizabeth Downs 3 Met

KEN01—Kensington Gardens 1 Met

NET01—Netley 11 Not met

CHD01—Christie Downs 3 Met

Spencer

WHY05—Whyalla, Schulz Park 5 Not demonstrated

PTP01—Port Pirie, Oliver Street 11 Not met



1 Year



Adelaide

NET01—Netley 0 6


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Tasmania


Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure for Tasmania by the Hon.

Michelle O’Byrne MP, Minister for the Environment, Parks, Heritage

and the Arts for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


(Refer to page 152)




The Tasmanian Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) NEPM

process is implemented primarily through the

Environment Division of the Department of

Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts (DEPHA),

the enabling legislation being the Environmental

Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPCA).

National Environment Protection Measures are adopted

as state policies under the State Policies and Projects

Act 1993.


The EMPCA provides for the development of

Environment Protection Policies (EPPs) for various

aspects of environmental management within its

purview. The EPP (Air Quality), which came into

force in June 2005, includes specif ic reference to

meeting the requirements of the AAQ NEPM through

regulation of industry and management of diffuse

sources and planned burning activities. The policy

is available on the DEPHA website at

<www.environment.tas.gov.au>.

As required by the EPP (Air Quality), Tasmania’s Air

Quality Strategy was published in June 2006. The

five-year strategy assesses compliance with the AAQ

NEPM standards in Tasmania and specif ies strategies

for achieving compliance where standards are not being

met. The strategy addresses the management of air

quality in Tasmania and includes programs to further

reduce domestic and industrial emissions of respirable

particles in critical regions of the state. It also

embraces national programs to develop standards for

PM2.5 and air toxics; the diesel emissions NEPM;

national fuel and vehicle standards; and other

programs such as the National Woodheater Action

Plan and the National Firewood Code of Practice.

A primary air quality issue for Tasmania is domestic

woodsmoke. The Environment Division has developed

the Environmental Management and Pollution Control

(Distributed Atmospheric Emissions) Regulations

2007 to control the import, sale and installation of

wood heaters, prohibiting those that do not meet the

current Australian Standard, AS4013. The regulations

make an offence of the emission of excessive smoke

from wood heaters, f ireplaces, hot water and cooking

appliances and barbecues. With certain exceptions,

backyard burning on allotments of less than 2000

square metres is prohibited. The new regulations

were gazetted in August 2007.

The Tasmanian Government provided funding of

$816 000 for the period 2004–08 to develop an air

monitoring capability for PM2.5 particles as required

by the amendment to the AAQ NEPM (May 2003),

and to upgrade existing PM10 monitoring. The new

system which includes PM10 and PM2.5 monitoring

has been operating at Ti Tree Bend monitoring station

in Launceston since August 2005 and at the new

station at New Town in Hobart since May 2006. The

New Town station was established as a result of

increasing evidence that the original station at Prince

of Wales Bay was not representative of population

exposure in greater Hobart. Commissioning of a

similarly equipped air quality monitoring station

at Devonport has been postponed due to lack of

personnel resources. It is anticipated that the station

will be commissioned in late 2008 or early 2009.


At the present time, DEPHA does not comply with

the requirement for NATA accreditation under clause

12 of the AAQ NEPM. Since October 2006, the

Environment Division of DEPHA has completely

revised and upgraded the Air Quality Monitoring

System to comply with the requirements of ISO:17025,


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as part of its commitment to achieving National

Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation

for the Ambient Air Monitoring Program. Staff

training in NATA procedures and requirements was

continued in 2007–08. A NATA advisory visit is to

take place before the end of 2008.

The Environment Division has further developed the

Tasmanian Air Quality Database to be compatible

with the national database. The facility continues

to provide weekly air quality reports to a range of

clients including councils, community organisations,

local physicians and the media. At the present time,

the validated monitoring data are published monthly

on the DEPHA website, with a publication target of

six weeks after the end of a given month. In 2007–08,

the publication processes were streamlined using

purpose-written software. Also in 2007–08, a project

was commenced to provide a signif icant level of

automated data validation. This work is continuing.

In late May 2008, DEPHA began web publishing

indicative, unvalidated TEOM particle data from

NEPM air monitoring stations at Hobart and

Launceston, and also from a non-NEPM station at

Rowella, using an automated reporting method. By

this approach, TEOM data from the previous day

are made publically available each day, along with

summary plots from the most recent week and month.

DEPHA is investigating the feasibility of making

available continuously monitored air quality

parameters in near real-time via the web.

The Environment Division is cognisant of the

importance of developing its air quality dispersion

modelling capabilities and is currently planning the

implementation of a state-wide domestic heating

survey together with a comprehensive review and

collation of stack-test emission results for industry

throughout the state. The information collected will

be used to improve the predictive capability of

dispersion modelling undertaken by the Division and

may facilitate the inclusion of some Tasmanian cities

in the Australian Air Quality Forecasting System

administered by the Bureau of Meteorology.

The schools educational air quality awareness program

was continued throughout 2007–08. The program,

based around the use of portable DustTrak monitors,

is aimed at introducing school students to air quality

issues in the Tasmanian context. A consultant has

been working with several teachers to develop the

relevant teaching materials. These materials will be

made available on the web, and schools will be invited

to use some of the Division’s DustTrak monitors to

gain f irst-hand experience in conducting experiments

involving air quality measurements.


EFFECTIVENESS

The AAQ NEPM has been very effective in Tasmania.

It has contributed to changing the culture of the

community towards improved air quality in populated

areas. It has played an influential role in driving

programs aimed at reducing woodsmoke pollution

during winter, especially in Launceston. As a result,

there has been a marked reduction in the number of

wood heaters in Launceston.

The NEPM has also been a driver of improvements in

the quality of monitoring and reporting of air quality

data in Tasmania.

For the f irst time since regular monitoring began in

1997, in 2007 Launceston met the NEPM goal of no

more than 5 exceedences of the 24–hour PM10 standard.

Of the 5 exceedences of the 50μg/m3 24–hour PM10

standard recorded at Launceston in the calendar year

2007, 4 were attributed to winter woodsmoke and 1

to smoke from a fuel-reduction burn. The number of

exceedences recorded in 2007 continues the downward

trend in exceedences observed since 1997. There were

20 exceedences of the 25μg/m3 24–hour advisory

reporting standard for PM2.5 recorded at Launceston

in 2007, which is 16 fewer than recorded in Launceston

in 2006. Of these 20 exceedences, 15 were ascribed

to winter woodsmoke, 4 were ascribed to planned

burns, and 1 was due to smoke from the Victorian

bushfires in January 2007. The annual average PM2.5

level in Launceston in 2007 was 9.5μg/m3, which

exceeds the annual average advisory reporting standard

of 8μg/m3. A reduction in the number of exceedences

of the PM2.5 advisory reporting standard will be a

major objective for the management of air quality

in the Launceston airshed in the coming years.

For Hobart in the calendar year 2007, there were no

exceedences of the 24–hour PM10 standard of 50μg/m3.

The 24–hour PM2.5 concentration exceeded the

25μg/m3 advisory reporting standard on 7 days. The

annual average PM2.5 concentration was 7.6μg/m3,

compared with the annual average advisory reporting

standard of 8μg/m3.


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THE NEPM









a specified number of days in a calendar year (one day

per year for all pollutants except PM10, which may

be exceeded no more than f ive days per year) and

at least 75% of data is captured in each quarter.

The data are presented in greater detail in Report

against the National Environment Protection Measure

for Ambient Air Quality for 2007, released in June 2008.

The above-mentioned report and the Air NEPM

Monitoring Plan for Tasmania are available from

<www.environment.tas.gov.au>.





Launceston

Ti Tree Bend 5 Met

Hobart

New Town 0 Met

Devonport Monitoring to

commence in late

2008 or early 2009



1 Year



LauncestonTi Tree Bend 20 9.5

Hobart

New Town 7 7.6

Devonport Monitoring to

commence in late

2008 or early 2009


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(Refer to page 152)




The administrative frameworks for implementation

of the NEPM are in place in the Australian Capital

Territory (ACT). Responsibility for the implementation

of the Ambient Air Quality NEPM rests with the

Environmental Protection and Heritage Unit of the

Department of Territory and Municipal Services.


The ACT’s ambient air monitoring program is

conducted in accordance with its approved monitoring

plan. In accordance with the NEPM Protocol, the ACT

requires only one performance monitoring station.

This is located in the southern Canberra suburb of

Monash. It is intended that this remain a permanent

monitoring and trend site.

Health Protection Services (HPS), ACT Health, operate

the ACT Government’s ambient air monitoring

network. In accordance with clause 12 of the NEPM,

HPS are National Association of Testing Authorities

(NATA) accredited.

Consistent with the 2003 NEPM variation, the ACT

continues to monitor PM2.5 at Monash.

The ACT also continues to participate in the Peer

Review Committee.


The ACT has fully implemented the NEPM.


EFFECTIVENESS

Data presented in Part 4 demonstrates that the ACT

is fully compliant with the NEPM goal for gaseous

pollutants. However, as in previous years, data obtained

from implementing the NEPM continues to show that

the ACT has a winter particle pollution problem due

to wood heater emissions. This is clearly demonstrated

by continued PM2.5 monitoring, which shows a

signif icant increase in particle levels during the

colder months of the year.

During 2007, f ive PM10 exceedences were recorded.

Whilst wood heater emissions are usually the

predominant cause of these exceedences this year

only two exceedences were attributed to the build-up

of woodsmoke. The remaining three exceedences

were due to bushfire or hazard reduction activities

in Victoria and New South Wales.

PM2.5 monitoring shows the ACT continues to

experience elevated particle levels during winter and

the government is targeting this problem through

public education, the licensing of firewood merchants,

the implementation of a wood heater replacement

program and ongoing compliance programs.

The ACT Government received NATA accreditation

in April 2007 for its PM2.5 monitoring.


THE NEPM


in tabular form below to enable an evaluation of whether

the NEPM standards and goal were met at each






a specif ied number of days in a calendar year (one

day per year for all pollutants except PM10, which

may be exceeded no more than f ive days per year)

and at least 75% of data is captured in each quarter.

The data are presented in greater detail in the annual

monitoring report to the NEPC for the reporting year

ended 30 June 2007.



Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure for the Australian Capital

Territory by Mr Jon Stanhope MLA, Minister for the Environment, Water

and Climate Change for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


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Canberra

Monash 5 Met



1 Year



Canberra

Monash 8 7.5

1 Hour 4 Hours



Canberra

Monash 0 Met 0 Met

1 Hour 1 Year



Canberra

Monash 0 Met 0.018 Met





Canberra

Monash 0 Met



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(Refer to page 152)




The Department of Natural Resources, Environment,

the Arts and Sport (NRETAS) is responsible for

implementation of the NEPM in the Northern Territory

through the provisions of the Waste Management

and Pollution Control Act 1998 and the National

Environment Protection Council (Northern Territory)

Act 2004.

The Northern Territory’s ambient air monitoring

program is undertaken in accordance with the

approved monitoring plan. The administrative

frameworks for implementation of the NEPM are

in place.


As identif ied in the Northern Territory’s monitoring

plan, the primary air pollutant of concern in the

Northern Territory is particulate matter from landscape

fires. Performance monitoring for particulate matter

(PM10 and PM2.5) commenced in the Darwin region

in 2004.

The Ambient Air Quality NEPM requires the Northern

Territory to have two performance monitoring stations,

based on population—one in the Darwin region

and one in Alice Springs. A monitoring station for

particulate matter operated throughout the reporting

period at Casuarina, Darwin. Monitoring in Alice

Springs has not been undertaken. However, the need

for monitoring in the region is being considered in

the context of establishing a more comprehensive air

quality monitoring network in the Territory.

Air quality monitoring in the Darwin region is

undertaken by Charles Darwin University as a

partnership arrangement with the Northern Territory

Government (NRETAS and the Department of Health

and Families) and Darwin City Council.

NRETAS is continuing to discuss f ire management

in the Darwin region with the Northern Territory

Bushfires Council, because controlled and uncontrolled

burning regimes can affect the resultant emissions

of air-borne pollutants.


Monitoring has been undertaken for particulate matter

throughout the reporting period (2007). Monitoring

for PM10 was undertaken using a Tapered Element

Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM) sampler and a

Partisol Dichotomous sampler. Monitoring for PM2.5

was undertaken using a Partisol Dichotomous sampler.

TEOM monitoring for PM10 reveals that the relevant

NEPM standard was not exceeded in the Darwin

region, and that the NEPM goal has been met. Partisol

monitoring for PM2.5 reveals that the relevant NEPM

daily reporting level was exceeded four times in the

Darwin region. The PM2.5 annual average of 7.3μg/m3

was below the annual reporting level of 8.0μg/m3 set

by the NEPM. The highest recorded daily level of

PM2.5 was 47.7μg/m3, attributed to the release of

fireworks celebrating Territory Day on 1 July 2007.

Other PM2.5 exceedences occurred in the dry season

and are the result of the interaction between smoke

from landscape f ires in the region and prevailing

wind conditions.

The Northern Territory Government has committed

funding in 2008–09 to the establishment and ongoing

operation of a comprehensive air quality monitoring

system for the Darwin region. The new air quality

monitoring system will build on current monitoring

for particulate matter to other pollutants identif ied in

the NEPM, in a manner consistent with the technical

requirements of the NEPM.

Northern Territory


Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure for the Northern Territory by

the Hon. Alison Anderson, Minister for Natural Resources, Environment

and Heritage for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


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EFFECTIVENESS

Monitoring for 2007 demonstrates that the NEPM goal

for PM10 has been achieved in the Darwin region.

The NEPM has provided a useful framework for

current air quality monitoring in the Northern Territory,

and will provide a legal and technical basis for the

implementation of a more comprehensive air quality

monitoring system in the Darwin region.


THE NEPM














The data are presented in greater detail in the Annual

compliance report for the Northern Territory 2007,

available at

<www.nt.gov.au/nreta/environment/air/index.html>.

The monitoring plan for the Northern Territory is

available from

<www.nt.gov.au/nreta/environment/air/index.html>.



Darwin (Casuarina) 0 Met



1 Year



Darwin (Casuarina) 4 7.3





2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8

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Assessment of Site Contamination





NEPM details


(Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure




No GN 51, 22 December 1999, p 4246)



(Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure is set

out in clause 5 (1) of the Measure as follows:

5.(1) National environment protection goal

The purpose of the Measure is to establish

a nationally consistent approach to the

assessment of site contamination to ensure

sound environmental management practices

by the community which includes regulators,

site assessors, environmental auditors,

landowners, developers and industry



Environment Protection (Assessment of Site

Contamination) Measure is set out in clause 5 (2)


5.(2) Desired environmental outcome

The desired environmental outcome for this

Measure is to provide adequate protection

of human health and the environment, where

site contamination has occurred, through the

development of an eff icient and effective

national approach to the assessment of

site contamination.

Evaluation criteria

The assessment of the effectiveness of the

National Environment Protection (Assessment

of Site Contamination) Measure is based on the

following criteria:






requirements



NEPM standards



Specific criteria

No specif ic criteria are set out in the Measure.


(Refer to page 198)




The Commonwealth implements the Assessment of

Site Contamination NEPM as guidelines under the

National Environment Protection Council Act 1994.

The NEPM is subject to review five years from the

date of commencement. The review report was

accepted in November 2006 by the National

Environment Protection Council (NEPC). The NEPC

directed the NEPC Committee to prepare a detailed

proposal to initiate a variation to the NEPM based on

the recommendations from the review. At its meeting

on 2 June 2007, the NEPC agreed to initiate the

variation process to ensure that the NEPM remains

the premier methodology for the assessment of site

contamination in Australia. The variation process

is focussing on three key themes:

• investigation levels (health, ecological and

groundwater)

• key contaminating substances

• implementation activities.

Progress has been made towards implementing

the variation:

• the f inal draft of the ecological investigation levels

framework and methodology, for consideration by

the variation team, is due to be finalised in late 2008

• the variation team has drafted an update of the

Australia New Zealand Guidelines for the

Assessment and Management of Contaminated

Sites and guidance documents on data quality

objectives to be reviewed in September 2008.

Further work on other areas is planned for 2008–09,

for example, work on the groundwater investigation

levels will begin in 2009 by which time the guidelines

that these levels are based on will have been updated.


Commonwealth agencies have incorporated the

requirements of the NEPM into their organisational

activities. Agencies have in place a variety of activities

to implement the NEPM (including Environmental

Management Systems (EMS), compliance audits,

national environment assessment processes, surveys

and audits of properties and environmental management

plans) which ensure ongoing management of land

contamination issues. For example, in accordance

with their EMS, the Department of Defence has

developed a Defence Contaminated Land Strategy,

including staff training and awareness programs

for the management of contaminated sites, and

a Contaminated Sites Register, which provides

a database of information for all staff working to

support the Strategy. Air Services Australia, as part

of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport,

Regional Development and Local Government, and

the Department of Finance and Deregulation also

uses databases for recording property information to

assist in the risk assessment process. The Australian

Antarctic Division of the Department of the

Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA)

uses its contaminated sites database to assist with

prioritising remediation activities, particularly for

Macquarie Island. Another example is Australia Post

where activities to implement its Environmental

Management System have led to the identif ication

of risks associated with underground fuel tanks. Most

of the tanks have been replaced with above ground

tanks and at the three sites where underground tanks

remain, underground water monitoring has been

installed and independent external audits are conducted.

The activities that Commonwealth agencies have in

place are used to ensure procedures are available to

identify contaminated sites and to further reduce the

potential for contamination through risk assessments.


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Commonwealth


Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure for the

Commonwealth by the Hon. Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for the

Environment, Heritage and the Arts for the reporting year ended

30 June 2008


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The Commonwealth agencies’ approach to the

application of the NEPM is one of delivering

a consistent methodology for the assessment of

contaminated sites across Australia. The activities

undertaken by Commonwealth agencies ensure that

resources are available to reduce potential sources

of contamination, identify contaminated sites, and

monitor already identif ied sites. Such programs aim

to ensure adequate management of these areas to

reduce the potential for future contamination. Agencies

also undertake staff awareness and training programs

along with regular reporting to ensure staff adequately

manage and monitor these contaminated sites.


EFFECTIVENESS

Agencies are implementing and achieving the desired

outcomes of the NEPM. They have noted that the

NEPM’s principles have provided a consistent

national methodology in the assessment and detection

of contaminated sites. Several agencies have made

progress toward the desired outcomes, as outlined under

the implementation activities. Agencies commented

that the consistency provided by the NEPM created

a strong basis from which to develop their systems

for maintaining and managing contaminated sites.

DEWHA’s Australian Antarctic Division advised that

investigation levels outlined in the NEPM may not be

appropriate for use in the Antarctic where even very

low levels of contamination could be ecologically

significant. The Department of Finance and Deregulation

was pleased that training had been offered following

requests in previous years. However, they noted that

it would be beneficial for training to be available also

to service providers.


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(Refer to page 198)




The National Environment Protection (Assessment

of Site Contamination) Measure (NEPM) provides

a policy framework, a recommended process for

assessing site contamination, and guidelines dealing

with salient aspects of the assessment process.

Adoption of the NEPM in NSW has been achieved

within the existing legislative framework.

Section 105 of the Contaminated Land Management

Act 1997 (CLM Act) allows the NSW Department of

Environment and Climate Change (DECC) to make

or approve guidelines for purposes connected with

the objects of the Act. The components of the NEPM

have been approved by NSW DECC as guidelines

under section 105 of the Act. These Guidelines must

be taken into consideration when the NSW DECC is

making a decision on whether a site poses a significant

risk of harm according to section 9 of the CLM Act

and when an accredited contaminated site auditor is

conducting a site audit. Guidelines made or approved

in this manner must also be publicly available for

inspection or purchase.


Written advice outlining the approved NEPM

guidelines has been regularly communicated to

consultants, accredited auditors, local government,

other State government bodies, peak environment

groups, peak industry groups and peak organisations

of councils in NSW. The list of all guidelines made

or approved under section 105 of the CLM Act is

available to the public on the NSW DECC’s web site

to help increase public accessibility to the guidelines.

Measures to ensure relevant stakeholders are informed

of the NEPM are ongoing.

As noted above, section 105 of the CLM Act requires

the NEPM to be taken into consideration by the

NSW DECC when making a decision on whether

a contaminated site requires regulation under the

CLM Act and when conducting performance reviews

of accredited contaminated site auditors. The NSW

DECC verif ies that site audits and site audit

statements have been undertaken with due regard

to the NEPM.

The NEPM guidelines are generally applied

by environmental consultancies in undertaking

contaminated site investigation under the

planning process.

NSW has progressed amendments to the CLM Act

during 2007–08 year which aim to improve the

flexibility of the regulatory process, strengthen

the application of the ‘polluter pays’ principle and

replace the term ‘signif icant risk of harm’ as a

trigger for the regulatory process with a set of clearer

more objective triggers. The CLM Amendment Bill

was introduced to NSW Parliament by Minister Firth

on 25 June 2008. In addition, NSW gazetted a

Regulation on 28 March 2008, with commencement

on 1 June 2008, which mandates a preventative

approach to minimising the risk of soil and ground-

water contamination from leaking underground

petroleum storage systems (UPSS).


New South Wales has fulf illed all its obligations

under the Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM

to date. There is substantial stakeholder compliance

with the recommended assessment processes because

the requirements are integrated into pre-existing

regulatory framework.

Since its approval as a guideline under section 105 of

the CLM Act, the NEPM has been taken into account

by the NSW DECC, site auditors and consultants

New South Wales


Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure for New South

Wales by the Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, Minister for Climate Change and the

Environment for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


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when assessing the risks posed by contaminated sites.

During the year ending 30 June 2008, the NSW DECC

finalised 29 signif icant risk of harm assessments

under section 9 of the CLM Act, and approved site

auditors have issued 170 site audit statements

(118 statutory and 52 non-statutory).

There are no legislative requirements for the

application of the NEPM to the redevelopment

of contaminated sites under land-use planning

legislation. As the NSW DECC is not routinely

advised by Councils of redevelopment projects

managed through local planning processes, no

statewide data is available on the number of

contaminated site assessments where the NEPM

guidelines have been applied.


EFFECTIVENESS

As NSW policies and Guidelines were already in

accord with the standards established under the 1992

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for the

Assessment and Management of Contaminated Sites

(which form the basis of the NEPM), the effect of the

NEPM in NSW has been to reinforce and formalise

best practice.

The NEPM leads to increased consistency between

jurisdictions, which has been advantageous for

interactions between the NSW DECC and equivalent

agencies in other states, territories and the

Commonwealth. This process has benefits for all

involved parties, as issues relating to assessment

of land contamination are consistently managed.


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NEPM AND ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES


A key objective within Victoria is to ensure that

the NEPM (Assessment of Site Contamination)

is implemented in a manner that complements and

builds upon existing systems.

Since 1990, the assessment of site contamination

in Victoria has largely been undertaken under the

administrative framework of the Environmental Audit

System (Contaminated Land), or—where an audit

is not required—at least under the same guidance

issued for the audit system. The audit system was

established under provisions of the Environment

Protection Act 1970 (Part IXD). This Audit System

was pioneered in Victoria, and has since been adopted

by other jurisdictions. It has provided a robust platform

for assessing site contamination to ensure protection

for human health and the environment.

Prior to development of the NEPM, site assessment

was based primarily on a combination of national

guidelines developed by the Australian and New

Zealand Environment and Conservation Council

(ANZECC), the National Environmental Health Forum

(NEHF), and some international guidelines (principally

from the Netherlands), plus a variety of policies and

guidelines issued by EPA.

In particular, the audit system adopted State

environment protection policies (SEPPs) as they

became available. SEPPs are key instruments made

under the Environment Protection Act 1970, setting

out the Victorian policy framework to protect

environmental quality. They identify the beneficial

uses of the environment, establishing environmental

quality objectives and indicators and setting out an

attainment program for meeting these objectives.

The SEPP (Prevention and Management of

Contamination of Land) [SEPP (PMCL)] was declared

by Governor In Council in Victoria in June 2002.

The SEPP (PMCL):

• integrates the various elements of EPA Victoria’s

existing systems for preventing, assessing and

managing contaminated sites in one single, consistent

statutory instrument

• clearly specif ies the beneficial uses of land to be

protected, and establishes indicators and objectives

to determine the level of environmental risk, and

appropriate investigation levels, to protect specif ic

beneficial uses. The SEPP (PMCL) adopts the

investigation levels in the NEPM guidelines as the

key objectives for land quality

• sets out requirements for consideration of site

contamination in land use planning, managing

activities which can cause contamination, and the

auditing of contaminated land.

Other statutory instruments of relevance to the

assessment and management of site contamination

include:

• the State environment protection policy

(Groundwaters of Victoria), which sets out the

beneficial uses of groundwater to be protected, the

indicators and objectives to use in determining

whether these uses are protected, and an attainment

program. While the SEPP (Groundwaters of Victoria)

was declared before the NEPM (Assessment of

Site Contamination) was f inalised, it is generally

consistent with the provisions of the NEPM

Schedule B(6)

• the Industrial waste management policy

(Prescribed Industrial Waste), which requires that

the waste hierarchy be applied in the avoidance

and management of prescribed industrial waste,

including contaminated soils. This approach is

generally consistent with clause 6(16) of the policy

framework (Part 4 of the NEPM).

Victoria


Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure for Victoria by

the Hon. Gavin Jennings MLC, Minister for Environment and Climate

Change for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


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The Planning and Environment Act 1987, its associated

Minister’s Direction No.1, and the Victorian Planning

Provisions reflect clause 6(5) of the policy framework

(Part 4 of the NEPM).


The Victorian Government recognises that the

management and protection of the environment

is an important part of protecting public health and

wellbeing and of contributing to f inancial surety in

property development, as well as the inherent values

associated with the environment. Accordingly, the

government has strongly committed to ensuring that

planning processes, including the consideration of

development proposals, incorporate a full assessment

of public health and environmental issues and risks.

This commitment is reflected in the NEPM

implementation activities in Victoria during the

assessment year.

Victoria has continued with a number of processes

to implement the NEPM (Assessment of Site

Contamination), mainly under EPA Victoria. These

activities include:

• adopting elements of the NEPM through the

statutory instrument of the SEPP (PMCL)

• referencing the NEPM in the Environmental

Auditors (Contaminated Land) Guidelines for

the Issue of Certif icates and Statements. These

Guidelines formalise advice to environmental

auditors that they should refer to the NEPM for

guidance on various elements of site assessment

and auditing, including sampling and analysis of

soil and groundwater in contaminated sites, and

assessing the data against health and ecological

investigation levels. The content of the Guidelines

is reviewed and revised regularly as new

circumstances arise

• the Auditor Guidelines and other related policy

and advisory documents are supported by a range

of seminars and workshops (including twice-yearly

Environmental Auditor meetings) aimed at ensuring

auditors and other stakeholders are aware of the

requirements, and especially are updated on recent

developments

• appointing environmental auditors in accordance

with Part IXD of the Environment Protection Act

1970 and EPA Environmental Auditor Guidelines

for Appointment and Conduct issued in 2002 and

revised most recently in August 2007. The Guidelines

reflect the principles in NEPM Schedule B(10)

Competencies and acceptance of environmental

auditors and related professionals.

The NEPM policy framework identif ies an important

role for planning authorities in ensuring that a site

which is potentially contaminated and is being

considered for a change in land use, is suitable for

its intended future use. The Victorian Planning

Provisions have mechanisms to trigger environmental

audits in such circumstances and these are further

clarified in the SEPP (PMCL). Controls are continuing

to be developed to ensure that any conditions on the

use of a site—as stipulated as a result of an environ-

mental audit—are met (e.g. through inclusion in

planning permit conditions) and that contaminated

site information is readily available through the

planning process. A General Practice Note—Potentially

Contaminated Land was approved by the Planning

Minister and published in June 2005. This Practice

Note is assisting planning authorities to more fully

incorporate relevant site contamination issues in

planning decisions. EPA and the Department of

Planning and Community Development (DPCD)

provide joint workshops for planners and others

on implementation of the Practice Note.

Victoria now provides information through the

EPA website identifying those sites that have been

through the contaminated land Environmental

Audit process, to ensure that information relating

to audited contaminated sites is readily available

to the community.

These actions are consistent with the NEPM and the

Victorian Government’s commitment to incorporate

environmental issues into planning considerations.

IMPLEMENTATION SUMMARY AND

EVALUATION

Victoria has a well-established process for the

management of contaminated sites including the

environmental auditing system. Therefore, successful

implementation of the NEPM required only minor

changes to Victoria’s existing framework. In the eight

years that the NEPM has been in operation, substantial

progress has been made in incorporating the NEPM

into statutory instruments and guidelines, particularly

through the declaration of the SEPP (PMCL) thereby

giving effect to elements of the NEPM within Victoria.


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EPA Victoria has published guidelines for

environmental auditors requiring that they refer

to the NEPM as a key reference document when

assessing site contamination. EPA Victoria also

contributes to education, guidance and improvements

in site assessment falling outside the audit framework

(e.g., through workshops attended by assessment

and remediation consultants, land developers, local

government planners). EPA is considering other

means by which to provide further guidance on non-

audit site assessment. Guidance about contamination

assessment of non-audit sites references the

principles of the NEPM framework.

Victoria continues to be a leader in the area of

contaminated site assessment, including the

environmental audit system. Inclusion of aspects

of the NEPM guidelines within Victoria’s statutory

framework has provided a more consolidated and

comprehensive body of guidance for the assessment

of contaminated sites.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM reinforces an existing framework for the

management of contaminated sites in Victoria by

providing consistent consolidated guidance on the

assessment of site contamination. Some improvements

in the consistency of site assessment have resulted

from use of the NEPM. Further improvements in

consistency are the object of ongoing developments.

The NEPM is well supported by environmental

auditors and others in the site assessment industry,

with comments indicating that it is a comprehensive

source of guidance.

It is still the case that the NEPM is being implemented

with a bias toward the assessment of health effects,

e.g. contaminant concentrations are compared to the

health based investigation levels without due

consideration of the ecological investigation levels.

EPA Victoria continues to remind environmental

auditors and site assessor of the need to properly

assess both health and ecological impacts in

accordance with the NEPM. The greater level of

guidance provided in relation to the assessment

of health risk (compared to ecological risk) and the

more comprehensive listing of health investigation

levels (compared to ecological investigation levels)

appears to have contributed to the observed bias in

site assessment practice. However, there is a growing

awareness of the need for assessment of ecological

health risk. This presents one possible area of

attention for the review of the NEPM.

In addition, the NEPM could be more effective

if it was expanded to contain more guidance on

some of the volatile contaminants that are commonly

encountered on many sites, particularly former service

station sites, many of which are being redeveloped

as a result of the rationalisations in the oil industry.

Victoria is represented on the project team

undertaking the review of the NEPM.


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The NEPM is incorporated into the Queensland

Government’s administration of contaminated land

through Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

guidelines and using site specif ic conditions on

statutory approvals relating to site contamination

under the provisions of the Environmental Protection

Act 1994 (EP Act) and the Integrated Planning Act

1997 (IP Act).

The EP Act requires the establishment, operation and

maintenance of registers about contaminated and

potentially contaminated land—the Environmental

Management Register and the Contaminated Land

Register (EMR/CLR). The EMR/CLR can be searched

by the public on a fee-per-lot basis with the aim of

providing public information on site contamination

in accordance with the policy framework in Section

6 (6) of the NEPM.

The EMR lists:

• sites that have been used for potentially contaminating

activities that warrant further investigation should

a change of land use be proposed

• sites that have been assessed as having residual

contamination that can be safely managed under

the conditions of a statutory Site Management Plan

(SMP) for specif ied land uses.

The CLR lists sites that involve serious environmental

harm and where regulatory action is required to address

any human health or environmental risk.

The EPA sets technical guidelines for the assessment

and management of contaminated land that must be

used by private sector environmental professionals

undertaking contaminated land work. In all cases,

assessment work involving statutory decisions under

the EP Act must be conducted according to the NEPM.

In keeping with the policy framework under Section

6 (5) of the NEPM, development applications for

EMR/CLR listed sites and other potentially

contaminated sites must be referred to the EPA under

IP Act regulations. The EPA has a concurrence role

for these developments. Relevant conditions are set

by the EPA that must be attached to development

approvals to ensure that assessment issues are

addressed in accordance with the NEPM and land is

made suitable for its intended use from a contamination

perspective. This link to the planning legislation

provides a process to capture sites with potential

contamination at the redevelopment stage. This stage

usually involves moves to a type of land use where

contamination may cause an increased risk to human

health or the environment.


The EPA is the central administering authority for

contaminated land in Queensland. Local government

is the assessment manager for the majority of

developments including the separation and direction

to the EPA of applications that involve contamination

issues. In addition, local government plays an important

role in notifying the EPA of land with potential

contamination issues for listing on the EMR.

The following relevant operational data estimates

associated with NEPM implementation were collected

in the reporting period 2007–08:

• 59 site assessment and validation reports were

reviewed for compliance with Sections 6 (13)

and (14) of the NEPM prior to statutory decisions

regarding EMR/CLR status of the subject land. Of

these assessments, additional information under

notices was sought from the submitters in 48 cases

• 498 development applications were forwarded to

the EPA under IP Act conditions for contaminated

land issues. Further contaminated site assessment

information to NEPM requirements was sought

from development applicants in 109 cases

Queensland


Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure for Queensland

by the Hon. Andrew McNamara MP, Minister for Sustainability, Climate

Change and Innovation for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


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• 151 sites were finalised as being adequately assessed

according to the NEPM, and were decontaminated

and removed from the EMR. A further 70 Site

Management Plans were issued for development

or use of a site including those that were assessed

and partially decontaminated with management

of residual contamination for restricted land uses.

A total of 1374 sites were deleted from the EMR

under ongoing data validation programs

• 182 permits were issued for the transport and

disposal of contaminated soil in accordance with

NEPM Section 6 (4)

• 64 sites were placed under audit by third party

reviewers (TPRs) appointed under the EPA’s

Operational Policy for TPR. TPRs independently

oversee the work of contaminated land consultants

to ensure that a high standard of remediation work

is achieved.

Thirteen TPRs appointed by the EPA are currently

practicing in Queensland subject to the EPA’s

requirements, including six auditors accredited in

New South Wales and Victoria. In the reporting

period, one additional TPR appointment was made

of a senior professional in accordance with the

NEPM guideline Schedule B (10).


The NEPM has been adopted as a central reference

document for assessment of site contamination in

Queensland, supported by Queensland’s guidelines

on contaminated land. Its use is well established in

contaminated land practices, leading to effective

and practical site and development outcomes.

The use of the NEPM by contaminated land

practitioners is mandated by the EPA through the

provisions of the EP Act and IP Act and by TPRs in

auditing site assessment work. All applications to the

EPA for statutory decisions about site contamination

and altering the status of land on the EMR/CLR

must demonstrate compliance with the NEPM. When

necessary, the EPA seeks additional information

to clarify compliance issues relating to the NEPM,

prior to altering the EMR/CLR status of land.


EFFECTIVENESS

The current NEPM has continued as an effective

technical basis of site assessment for contaminated

site professionals operating in Queensland. Statutory

approval conditions related to development require

adherence to the NEPM. The quality control procedures

applied by the EPA in internal review of assessment

reports involve a review of the practitioner’s adherence

to the NEPM. Additional information is requested

where there is poor reporting or inconsistency with

the NEPM.

Similarly, Queensland-appointed TPRs review site

assessment work, by practitioners, for compliance

with the NEPM. The acceptance of accredited auditors

from other Australian jurisdictions continues to

provide an additional check of consistency between

Queensland and other Australian jurisdictions. In the

reporting period, a total of 151 land parcels were

either removed from the EMR/CLR or made ‘fit-for-use’

through the approval of statutory Site Management

Plans. The use of the NEPM played a major role in

achieving these outcomes.

In the assessment process, ongoing diff iculties are

evident in the misuse by some contaminated land

professionals of the health and ecological investigation

levels listed in Schedule B (1) Guideline on the

Investigation Levels for Soil and Groundwater. This

continues to lead to unwarranted remediation or

underestimation of environmental risk. In some

cases, owners and developers are concerned that any

potential contamination could affect the market value

of their site. This may cause over-remediation, with

the investigation levels used as clean-up criteria. In

these cases, making the land ‘fit-for-use’ under NEPM

guidelines is not sufficient for some owners who

consider that any contamination is to the detriment

of property valuation.

There are other concerns about excessive conservatism

in site clean-up, in particular, related to small residual

quantities of bonded asbestos material in development

sites. Remediation of these sites generates signif icant

costs associated with removal and disposal of large

quantities of essentially uncontaminated soil.

There are also complex issues concerning the use of

appropriate soil criteria for petroleum hydrocarbons

and volatile organic compounds with regard to their

potential to penetrate into building interiors. These

and other issues of concern have been identif ied in

the current review of the NEPM and their revision and

upgrading should improve the NEPM’s effectiveness.


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(Refer to page 198)




The Contaminated Sites Act 2003 (CS Act) and the

associated Contaminated Sites Regulations 2006

came into effect on 1 December 2006. The CS Act

was drafted in accordance with the principles of

the NEPM. The CS Act contains provisions for the

making of guidelines, based on elements of the NEPM.

During 2007–08, the f irst full f inancial year of

operation of the CS Act, the Department of

Environment and Conservation (DEC) received 280

new reports of known or suspected contaminated sites.

Three hundred and sixty three reports were assessed

by DEC Officers and classif ied under the CS Act

(including some sites reported in earlier years). Soil

and groundwater investigations have confirmed the

presence of contamination at a total of 163 sites,

which have been listed on the publicly-available

database on DEC’s website.


To assist compliance with the CS Act and the

principles of the NEPM, DEC has developed the

Contaminated Sites Management Series which

includes fourteen ‘administrative’ and ‘technical’

guidelines. The technical guidelines reference the

NEPM and relevant Australian Standards. These

guidelines are taken into account by DEC when

making decisions on the investigation, clean up

and risk assessment of sites.

No new or updated guidelines were released

in 2007–08.

The DEC has also continued the investigation of

sensitive contaminated sites in WA in accordance

with the principles of the NEPM where the state

has assumed responsibility for investigation and

remediation.

The introduction of accredited contaminated sites

auditors in conjunction with the CS Act has

corresponded with an improvement in the standard

of the investigation and reporting of contaminated

sites and has ensured that more contaminated sites

work is completed in accordance with the principles

of the NEPM.


Western Australia has used the methodology

established under the NEPM to prepare and

implement a successful regulatory and administrative

framework for the assessment and management of

contaminated sites in WA. The classif ication of sites

under the CS Act continues as the main mechanism

for the implementation of the NEPM in WA.


EFFECTIVENESS

The Contaminated Sites Act 2003, Contaminated

Sites Regulations 2006 and the Contaminated Sites

Management Series guidelines enforce the principles

of the NEPM in terms of site investigation and

management in WA. Although the NEPM only covers

the investigation of sites, its principles in terms of

sampling and risk assessment are also able to be utilised

for validation sampling and monitoring as part of the

management of sites. The effectiveness of the NEPM

will be enhanced following its current revision which

will bring the NEPM up to date with contemporary

technology and assessment methods. Inclusion of the

principles of site management and remediation in the

NEPM will go some way to providing a nationally

consistent framework for site management.


Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure for Western

Australia by the Hon. Donna Faragher MLC, Minister for Environment



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Act 2005, Sch 1 enables the continued operation of

the National Environment Protection (Assessment

of Site Contamination) Measure (NEPM), as an


The EP Act now has provisions to address site

contamination. The provisions are provided in the

Environment Protection (Site Contamination)

Amendment Act, 2007 (Amendment Act). The

majority of these provisions are yet to commence.

The planned commencement date is mid 2009.

Regulations subordinate to this Act are in the f inal

stages of preparation.

This Amendment Act is an important step in the

process of managing site contamination in South

Australia. Site contamination is a matter of

international and national concern that has emerged

as a major environmental and land use planning issue

in South Australia over the past decade, following

a number of cases in the late 1980s and 1990s

when development occurred on land where site

contamination was subsequently found to exist.

There are two key principles to the legislation—

polluter pays and risk based decision making.

Site contamination, as defined in the Amendment

Act, exists when chemical substances have been

added to a site through an activity, above background

concentrations and the presence of the chemical

substances results in an actual or potential harm

to human health or the environment, taking into

account the land use. For harm to water, land use

is not considered.

The Amendment Act provides the EPA with the

power to order the person responsible for causing site

contamination to assess and, if necessary, remediate

the property to ensure that there is appropriate

protection for human or environmental health.

The legislation also takes a risk-based approach to

site remediation; that is, the response to managing

a site is based on an evaluation of the degree of the

risk presented by the contaminant, which is linked

to the land use of that site. Remediation is legislated

to include contain, treat, manage and remove.

The Amendment Act allows for the establishment of

recognised experts external to the government for site

contamination management, that is, assessment and

remediation through a system of accredited auditors.

Independent auditors have been accredited under that

site contamination legislation in Victoria, New South

Wales and Western Australia for a number of years.

The Amendment Act is also innovative in that it allows

full or partial liability to be transferred from one

person to another, through the purchase or transfer of

land, where there is a genuine arm’s length transaction.

The legislation allows for voluntary proposals that

enable a person to avoid being served with an order.

The SA EPA continues to provide written and

verbal guidance and information in regard to site

contamination, particularly the NEPM, to planning

authorities, environmental consultants, environmental

auditors, industry and the community.

The establishment of a regulatory framework for

managing site contamination will signif icantly

enhance the SA EPA’s ability to ensure the proper

implementation of the NEPM.


Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure for South

Australia by the Hon. Jay Weatherill MP, Minister for Environment and

Conservation for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008

South Australia


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The principles of the NEPM have been introduced,

where appropriate, into licence conditions, guidelines

and advice issued by the EPA.


Implementation of the NEPM is ongoing.


EFFECTIVENESS

The commencement of a legislative framework for

managing site contamination will be instrumental

in achieving the NEPM's purpose and desired

environmental outcomes.


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Under Section 12A of the State Policies and Projects

Act 1993, NEPMs are taken to be state policies

immediately after they are made by the National

Environment Protection Council. When NEPMs

become State Policies, they come within the

provisions of Section 13 of the State Policies and

Projects Act 1993, including the obligation (Section

13(3)) for the Resource Planning and Development

Commission to amend planning schemes to remove

any inconsistencies with the State Policy. Section

13 (1) of the State Policies and Projects Act 1993

provides that the state policy prevails in the event

of any inconsistency.

Implementation of the NEPM within planning

schemes is progressing, with a number of councils

revising the structure and content of their planning

schemes over the past few years to incorporate the

need to trigger site assessments in the planning

process. A standard planning schedule has been

developed and will be f inalised following extensive

stakeholder consultation.


The management and regulation of contaminated

sites is administered by the Environment Protection

Authority (EPA) and by Local Government. The

NEPM has been adopted by the EPA as a set of

guidelines that should be complied with when

conducting site contamination assessments. Any site

assessment conducted where the proponent requires

the EPA’s endorsement, or site ‘sign-off ’, must be

in compliance with the NEPM.

Amendments were made to the Environmental

Management and Pollution Control Act 1994

which introduced a new Part in the Act specif ically

dealing with contaminated sites. The amendments

commenced on Royal Assent in November 2007.

These changes ensure that notices can be served to

require investigation, remediation and management

of sites and require landholders to notify government

of contamination. These provisions advance the

management of contaminated sites and achievement

of the NEPM goal. When the Director, Environment

Protection Authority requires site assessment or

remediation works in a Notice issued under the


Act 1994, compliance with the NEPM is a mandatory

condition.

The EPA is also currently developing a procedure

for management of underground petroleum storage

systems aimed at preventing site contamination or

identifying it as early as possible. Reference to the

NEPM assessment guidelines will be an integral

part of this procedure.


Tasmania continues to progress the implementation

of the NEPM through the development of a standard

planning schedule, recent amendments to the


Act 1994, development of a procedure for preventing

environmental harm on sites with underground

petroleum storage systems and by incorporating

reference to it in all guidelines produced.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM has provided highly useful guidance

to professional practitioners in the f ield of site

contamination assessment. The review of the NEPM

should increase its effectiveness ensure it takes

account of recent developments in the f ield.

Tasmania


Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure for Tasmania by

the Hon. Michelle O’Byrne MP, Minister for the Environment, Parks,

Heritage and the Arts for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


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In the Australian Capital Territory, the Department

of Territory and Municipal Services (specif ically

Environment Protection and Heritage) has the

responsibility for the implementation and administration

of the National Environment Protection (Assessment

of Site Contamination) Measure.

The provisions of the NEPM were achieved through

amendments to the Environment Protection Act 1997

which came into effect on 18 March 2000.


The Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM has

been fully implemented in the ACT.

The Contaminated Sites Environment Protection

Policy (EPP), made under the Environment Protection

Act 1997, was f inalised in November 2000 and is the

primary policy document for the assessment and

management of contaminated land in the ACT. The EPP

references the NEPM as a key resource for assessing

contaminated land in the ACT.


Environment Protection and Heritage actively

promotes the guidelines contained in Schedule B

of the NEPM as the primary reference tools to be

used by environmental consultant’s and contaminated

land auditor’s when performing contaminated land

assessments in the ACT.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM has proven to be a valuable resource tool

for the assessment of site contamination in the ACT

and has led to a consistent approach to site assessment

across the ACT and ensures the ACT contributes to

a nationally consistent approach to the assessment

of site contamination.

The implementation of the recommendations of the

NEPM review will only add to the effectiveness of

the NEPM into the future and are eagerly awaited

in the ACT.



Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure for the Australian

Capital Territory by Mr Jon Stanhope MLA, Minister for Environment,

Water and Climate Change for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


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(Refer to page 198)




The Northern Territory Government has drafted

an Environment Protection Objective (EPO) under

section 22 of the Waste Management and Pollution

Control Act 1998. The associated guidance material

on contaminated site assessment has been developed

but is not yet f inalised. There continues to be

signif icant delays in f inalising the EPO but it is

hoped that completion and promulgation will occur

in 2008–09.


The NEPM has been implemented in the NT via

administrative processes pending the f inalisation

of the EPO. The Development Consent Authority

(DCA) can issue conditioned permits that require

the development proponent to undertake formal site

assessment with the engagement of a Victorian or

New South Wales accredited site contamination auditor.

This occurs at sites where preliminary contamination

assessment undertaken by credible environmental

consultants has established that investigation thresholds

have been exceeded for contaminants of concern.

In the NT the auditor thus engaged also oversights

the development and implementation of a Remedial

Action Plan (RAP) to render the land f it for purpose.

An auditor’s Statement of Environmental Audit for

any particular site then provides government with the

necessary guidance to place on title a caution notice

or administrative note that gives effect to the auditor’s

recommendations. The proponent cannot proceed

with any development unless the DCA is satisf ied

that its conditions have been met. The DCA relies

on advice for such matters to be compiled and

forwarded from the Department of Natural Resources,

Environment the Arts and Sport.


Notwithstanding the delay in f inalising the EPO,

processes and policies are in place to ensure that

contamination assessment is conducted in a systematic

and thorough way consistent with the NEPM goals.

Engagement of accredited auditors to oversight the

work has ensured that bringing land in the NT to

a f it for purpose state is consistent with national

best practice environmental management.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM has allowed for the ‘level playing f ield’

for site contamination assessment and remediation

to be established in the NT. The NEPM Review

conducted over 2005–06 has been thorough with

priority recommendations now being implemented

at a national level. The Review identif ied some

key areas for improvement and the NT is strongly

supportive of those recommendations. Of particular

importance to the NT will be the reworking of the

1992 ANZECC guidance material to assist in

providing transparency to the process and ensuring

that sensible environmental outcomes are achieved.

Northern Territory


Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure for the Northern

Territory by the Hon. Alison Anderson, Minister for Natural Resources,

Environment and Heritage for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008



2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8


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Diesel Vehicle Emissions




NEPM details


(Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure




No GN 28, 18 July, 2001 p 2014)



(Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure is set out in

clause 10 of the Measure as follows:


The goal of this Measure is to reduce exhaust

emissions from diesel vehicles, by facilitating

compliance with in-service emissions standards





Measure is set out in clause 11 of the Measure

as follows:



Measure is to reduce pollution from in-service

diesel vehicles.

Evaluation criteria









requirements



NEPM standards



Specific criteria

Reporting requirements set out in clause 15 (1) of the

Measure are as follows:

It is intended that each participating jurisdiction

submit a report to the Council on the following

matters:

a) Assessment of the need to take action to

manage emissions from the in–service diesel

fleet, utilising the criteria specif ied in clause 13

b) Description of actions taken.

A brief report of all programs implemented

during the reporting year to manage emissions

from in–service diesel vehicles, including any

programs implemented that are not covered by

the guidelines in Schedule A of this Measure.

This description should take account of:

– the scope of action required to achieve

the Goal and the Desired Environmental

Outcome specif ied in this Measure; and

– any action taken and progress made to reduce

emissions from in-service diesel vehicles

prior to the commencement of this Measure

(relevant to the f irst year of reporting).

c) Assessment of the effectiveness of any

actions taken.

Participating jurisdictions must assess their

progress in reducing emissions from in–service

diesel vehicles identif ied as signif icant

contributors to air quality problems.

This assessment should include:

– an estimation of any change in the proportion

of diesel vehicles out of compliance with

in–service emissions standards; and

– an estimation of the reduction in diesel

vehicle emissions to ambient air.


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(Refer to page 216)




The NEPM is supported by the following Common-

wealth legislative, regulatory and administrative

framework:

• Australian Design Rules under the Motor Vehicle

Standards Act 1989

• Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000

• incentives and fuel tax credit arrangements.

The desired environmental outcome of this NEPM

is to reduce pollution from in-service diesel vehicles.

This outcome complements the emission improvements

arising from Commonwealth legislation such as the

Motor Vehicles Standards Act 1989 and the Fuel

Quality Standards Act 2000.

The Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 establishes

new vehicle emission standards as Australian Design

Rules (ADRs). The ADRs are harmonised to a

considerable extent with the international vehicle

standards developed by the United Nations. New

ADRs progressively tighten vehicle emission standards

and lead to signif icantly reduced emissions of diesel

particulates and other pollutants.

The diesel fuel quality standard set under Fuel

Quality Standards Act 2000 has direct implications

for the improvement of diesel vehicle operations and

emissions. The quality of diesel is continually

improving to meet tighter vehicle emission standards.

For example, the amount of sulphur permissible in

Australian automotive diesel will decrease from

50mg/kg to 10mg/kg on 1 January 2009.

Incentives were introduced by the government in

2003 to capture early environmental benefits of

cleaner fuels. The incentive to refiners and importers

helps to offset the higher costs of producing cleaner

fuels and to bring forward supplies in advance of the

mandated dates.

Under the Fuel Tax Act 2006 businesses wishing to seek

a fuel tax credit for the use of diesel fuel in a heavy

road vehicle must satisfy one of four environmental

criteria to be eligible for the credit. One of these

criteria is passing the Australian Transport Council’s

in-service emission standard for diesel vehicles (also

known as the ‘DT80’ test), provided that test is

performed by a suitably equipped test facility. The

DT80 test was developed as part of this NEPM.


The Commonwealth has undertaken a number

of activities during the reporting year that have

contributed to the NEPM goal of reducing exhaust

emissions from diesel vehicles. The key initiative has

been the continued assistance provided to jurisdictions

to develop in-service emission testing facilities and

inspection programs for petrol and diesel vehicles.

During the reporting year, projects were completed

in Tasmania and continued in New South Wales,

Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and South

Australia. Over $21 million in funding has been

provided under this program.

Other actions by the Commonwealth that will

signif icantly help the management of diesel vehicle

emissions are:

• Euro 4 emission standards were fully implemented

for light duty diesel vehicles on 1 January 2007

and for heavy diesel vehicles from 1 January 2008.

Euro 4 standards are the most stringent United

Nations standards applicable to light diesels that

are currently in place

• a second phase of incentives to encourage the early

supply of 10mg/kg sulphur diesel came into effect

during the reporting year, two years before the

mandated date for this fuel.

Commonwealth


Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure for the Commonwealth by

the Hon. Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage


A key area of attention for the Commonwealth under

the Diesel NEPM is its vehicle fleet. The profile

of the fleet indicates that the vehicles tend to be

relatively new and well maintained. A summary

profile of the Commonwealth’s diesel fleet follows:

• there are approximately 6000 diesel vehicles

operated by Commonwealth agencies

• over 95% of the diesel fleet was manufactured

in or after 1995, the year that ADR 70 (which

set limits on emissions of CO, HC, NOx and

particulates from diesel vehicles) was introduced

• approximately 80% of the Commonwealth’s diesel

fleet is less than f ive years old

• half of the diesel vehicles in the Commonwealth

fleet operate predominantly in rural areas.

All Commonwealth agencies operating diesel vehicles

report that their vehicles are serviced according

to the manufacturer’s specif ications at specif ied

frequencies, thus minimising emissions through

regular maintenance. Agencies also report a variety

of actions undertaken to reduce emissions from

diesel vehicles, including:

• regular change over to new models to facilitate the

ordered upgrade of fleets with newer and more

efficient vehicles

• ensuring vehicle selection is optimised to suit work

conditions and applications

• driver training

• adherence to the Australia Green Vehicle Guide

in making purchasing decisions.

The Commonwealth chaired the review of the

Diesel NEPM, which was f inalised in April 2007

and had its recommendations adopted by the National

Environment Protection Council later in that year.

The Commonwealth is continuing to lead the work

on implementation of the recommendations arising

from the review.


The Commonwealth is making strong progress

towards reducing emissions from in-service diesel

vehicles through:

• administration of the Fuel Quality Standards Act

2000 and the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989

• provision of funding support to jurisdictions to

develop and implement diesel in-service emissions

testing programs and to establish testing facilities

• proper maintenance and management of its

diesel fleet.


EFFECTIVENESS

The Commonwealth considers the NEPM to be

beneficial in reducing emissions from diesel vehicles

across Australia and a useful component of the

broader framework to manage emissions. While the

Commonwealth has no airshed responsibilities in

regard to Diesel NEPM goals, considerable progress

has been made toward achieving these goals through

national initiatives including Australian Design Rules,

fuel quality standards, and incentives to bring

forward supplies of lower sulphur diesel fuel.

As highlighted in the 2007 review of the NEPM, a

signif icant amount of experience has been gained

in its implementation to date. Furthermore, since the

introduction of the NEPM, fuel quality has improved

and new vehicles are required to meet more stringent

emissions limits, both of which impact on in-service

emissions. Updating the NEPM, improving techniques

for evaluation of implementation activities and

further work on emissions testing and standards,

as recommended in the review, will assist in ensuring

the continued relevance and effectiveness of

the NEPM.


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(Refer to page 216)




In New South Wales, the National Environment

Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure (Diesel

NEPM) is implemented under the framework of the

New South Wales Government’s 25–year air quality

management plan, Action for Air. The comprehensive

range of programs and strategies contained in Action

for Air and the Action for Air Updates, of 2002 and

2006, include strategies directed at protecting air

quality through controls on motor vehicle emissions.

The Protection of the Environment Operations Act

1997 (NSW) and, under the Act, the Protection of

the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation

2002 (NSW) (the Regulation), provide the regulatory

framework for action to address emissions from the

in-service diesel fleet. The Regulation underpins the

Smoky Vehicle Program, a key element of Diesel

NEPM implementation in New South Wales.

Specif ically, the Regulation prohibits excessive

visible smoke emissions from vehicles and tampering

with emission control equipment. Warnings, f ines,

inspection notices and defective vehicle notices can

be issued to owners of excessively smoky vehicles

reported under the Smoky Vehicle Program, and

repair of vehicles is sometimes required. In some

serious cases, and for some repeat offenders,

prosecutions are launched by the Department of

Environment and Climate Change (DECC).

The in-service diesel vehicle emission standards

established in NRTC/NTC Regulations provide the

benchmark against which the emissions performance

of diesel vehicles are assessed. In this way, the

in-service standards play an important role in

program development.


Air quality is a major environmental issue for some

parts of NSW, particularly in Sydney and the Greater

Metropolitan Region (GMR). This area includes

Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong and contains

about three quarters of the State's population. Local

topography is particularly important in this region

as the location of human settlements in natural basins

makes them vulnerable to poor air quality under

certain weather conditions.

Motor vehicles emissions estimates

On-road mobile sources contribute approximately

71% oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and 12% particles

(PM10) emissions from all anthropogenic sources in

the Sydney region. Although in 2008 diesel vehicles

made up approximately 10.9% of the on-road mobile

fleet, they contributed disproportionately to air

pollution from on-road mobile sources. Diesel vehicles

contribute approximately 32% NOx and 61% PM10

emissions from on-road mobile sources in the Sydney

Region. (Source: DECC (2007), Air Emissions

Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in

NSW, Criteria Pollutant Emissions for all Sectors:

Results, Department of Environment and Climate

Change, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.)

Emissions from diesel vehicles are predicted to fall

from 2005 to 2010 with the introduction of more

stringent Euro 3 and 4 diesel vehicle emissions standards

and the progressive reduction of sulphur in diesel

(i.e. 50ppm from 2006 and then 10ppm from 2009).

Diesel vehicle fleet profile

Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) registration data

show that the proportion of diesel vehicles in the

fleet continues to grow and constituted 10.9% of the

fleet at 30 June 2008, up from 10.2% in 2007 and 9.7%

in 2006 (see table 1 below). Light commercial vehicles

(LCVs) constitute the largest sector of the diesel fleet

at 51.8%. Off-road passenger vehicles account for

18.1% of the diesel fleet. Together, these categories

account for 69.9% of the total diesel fleet in NSW.

New South Wales


Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure for New South Wales by the

Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment



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RTA registration data indicate that the number

of diesel vehicles registered in New South Wales

increased. Between June 2007 and June 2008, the

overall number of diesel vehicles increased by 43 219

or 10.2%. Light commercial vehicles accounted for

49.8% of the increases. Information gathered to f ill

knowledge gaps prior to the development of the

Diesel NEPM (NEPC Preparatory Project 1—Diesel

Fleet Characteristics) indicated that the proportion

of the total Australian fleet constituted by diesel

vehicles was likely to increase from 8.3% in 1995

to 15% by 2015.

Diesel Vehicles (%)

NSW Passenger Off-road Light Heavy Prime Small Buses Total

June 2006 Vehicles Passenger Commercial Trucks Movers Buses

Vehicles Vehicles

Diesels in Total

NSW Fleet 0.6 2.0 5.6 1.7 0.5 0.2 0.3 10.9

Diesel Vehicles

in Diesel Fleet 5.7 18.1 51.8 15.8 4.4 1.5 2.7 100

Source: RTA registration data June 2008

Table 1: Diesel vehicles by category as proportion of total fleet and diesel fleet

Vehicle type No. of diesel vehicles Change Percentage Proportion Proportion

June June change (%) of total of total

2007 2008 decrease (%) increase (%)

Passenger Vehicles 15473 26472 10999 71.1 - 25.4

Off-Road Passenger Vehicles 75020 84587 9567 12.7 - 22.1

Light Commercial Vehicles 220669 242184 21515 9.7 - 49.8

Heavy Trucks 74066 73661 405 0.5 -0.9 -

Prime Movers 15747 20443 696 29.8 - 10.9

Small Buses 11717 7198 4519 38.6 -10.4 -

Buses 11270 12636 1366 1.2 - 3.2

Total 423962 467181 43219 10.2 100 100

Source: RTA registration data June 2008

Table 2: Change in diesel vehicles by category

Registration data show that, in 2008, 30.3% of the

diesel fleet in NSW was manufactured prior to 1996.

Tighter emissions standards for new vehicles for NOx

and particles were introduced in 1996 under Australian

Design Rule 70 (ADR70). Stricter emissions standards

have been introduced for vehicles manufactured

from 2002 under ADR80.00, and from 2007 under

ADR80.02.

Projected increase in vehicle kilometres travelled

Both the number of diesel vehicles and the vehicle

kilometres travelled (VKT) of diesel vehicles are

increasing. The number of vehicles in the fleet

complying with ADR70 or better is gradually

increasing. However, a number of older vehicles

are still in service with their contribution to VKT

remaining signif icant.

The VKT forecast from the Transport Data Centre

of the Ministry of Transport, that was used in DECC

modelling, estimates an average increase to overall

diesel vehicle VKT in the GMR of 0.91% per annum

from 2001 to 2026.

Ambient air quality monitoring

NSW’s Air Quality Monitoring Program is currently

the largest in Australia, with a comprehensive


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monitoring network operated by DECC. Sydney’s air

has been monitored for a range of pollutants since

the 1960s. Current reporting on ambient air quality

levels is referenced against the National Environment

Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure (Air NEPM).

Air quality monitoring data collected during 2007

demonstrate that New South Wales achieved

compliance with the Air NEPM goals for carbon

monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and lead,

with their levels being well below the relevant Air

NEPM standards.

Compliance with the goals for photochemical smog

was shown in all regions except Sydney in 2007 and

this is detailed in the NSW report in the Air NEPM

implementation. The Sydney, Illawarra and Lower

Hunter Regions complied with the Air NEPM for

particles (as PM10) in 2007. However, the rural towns

of Wagga Wagga and Albury did not. This highlights

the diff iculty of compliance with the PM10 standard

and goal in some rural population centres due to a

combination of drought, agricultural practices and

a relatively high use of solid fuel heaters which

produces elevated levels of particles in autumn

and winter.

DECC’s smoky vehicle program

In New South Wales, it is an offence for a vehicle to

emit visible smoke continuously for more than ten

seconds. An Enforcement Officer (who has undertaken

training and been officially designated to enforce the

relevant legislation) may report an observation that

results in the owner of a smoky vehicle being issued

with a penalty notice. In 2007–08, 495 penalty

notices were issued to owners of diesel vehicles.

Prosecutions may also occur, usually where a person

issued with a penalty notice decides to have the

matter dealt with in court, or where a smoky vehicle

has previously been observed by an authorised

officer on a number of occasions. In 2007–08,

there were twenty-three prosecutions, all involving

diesel vehicles.

In addition, the public may report smoky vehicles via

the DECC’s Pollution Line or DECC website. As a

result of public reports the DECC may issue warning

letters to the registered owners of these vehicles. In

2007–08, 103 warning letters were issued to diesel

vehicle owners.

Annual statistics

Table 3 shows a breakdown of the percentage of

smoky diesel vehicles observed by authorised

officers and the percentage of diesel vehicle owners

that received f ines or warning letters as a proportion

of the total fleet.

Table 3: Smoky Vehicle Statistics NSW

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Total number of vehicles observed (Reports

from authorised officers and general public) 8554 7546 6918 6285 5116 4581 3013 3706

Diesel vehicles observed 3299 3480 3781 3672 2882 2099 1752 1337

Percentage of all vehicles observed that

were diesel vehicles 38.6% 45.5% 54.7% 58.4% 56.3% 45.8% 58.1% 36%

Total number of vehicles that received fines 2392 2042 1847 1545 1175 694 664 616

Diesel vehicles that received f ines 2279 1896 1696 1448 1127 580 527 495

Percentage of all vehicles f ined that were

diesel vehicles 95.3% 93% 91.8% 93.7% 95.9% 83.6% 79.3% 80%

Total vehicles that received warning letters 2860 2880 2901 2398 2017 1405 1123 755

Diesel vehicles that received warning letters 672 523 520 450 303 174 161 103

Percentage of all vehicles that received

warning letters that were diesel vehicles 23.5% 18% 17.9% 18.8% 15% 12.4% 14.3% 14%

Data from the eight years indicate that smoky diesel

vehicles are more likely to receive f ines—with about

90% of all f ines related to excessive emissions from

diesel vehicles. Owners of petrol vehicles, which are

most often reported by members of the public, are

more likely to receive warning letters.

Testing infrastructure

RTA has procured diesel vehicle exhaust emissions

testing equipment with Diesel NEPM funding. The

equipment includes:

• heavy duty dynamometer—in combination with

a laboratory grade analysis unit, provides for

emissions testing research.

• lightweight dynamometer—in combination with

an analysis unit, provides for mobile emissions

testing.

• testing van—contains the analysis equipment

allowing for on-site emissions analysis in

combination with the dynamometers.

• briefcase analyser—will provide a more compact

and affordable emission test system.

Research has enabled previously expensive and lengthy

diesel emission testing conducted in laboratories

to become more accessible. Simplifying the test has

allowed the RTA to take emission testing to fleet

depots and conduct tests in very short times. The

Briefcase Analyser has been trialled and a number of

modifications and improvements were implemented.

This has resulted in an improved ‘briefcase unit’ that

is now the production model. The RTA has ordered

one of the f irst production model briefcase units.

This testing infrastructure will allow the RTA to

conduct vehicle emissions audits for the Clean Fleet

Program, investigate new emissions management

technologies and promote the use of cleaner vehicles

and technologies.

RTA audited maintenance (Clean Fleet)program

The Clean Fleet Program was launched in 2006 and

continues to encourage diesel operators to reduce

diesel vehicle emissions. Currently, there are more

than 5600 vehicles in the program. Participants must

meet four standards which were developed following

an extensive emission testing program. By repairing

the worst-emitting vehicles and then retesting them,

the repair and maintenance factors that have the

biggest impact on pollution levels were identif ied.

Clean Fleet is an accredited program under the

Federal Fuel Tax Credits Program and participants

are eligible to seek a diesel rebate. The Ministry of

Transport requires metropolitan bus systems contract

operators to comply with the Clean Fleet Program

and DECC also requires waste management

contractors to become members of the program

within six months of commencing a waste services

contract with local councils.

Repair industry training

The RTA, in conjunction with TAFE, developed a

How to Reduce Truck Emissions awareness course

which includes a module about how to join the RTA’s

Clean Fleet Program. The four-hour course is targeted

at truck owners, operators, diesel mechanics, and

fleet and workshop managers. The course provides

practical information on emission reduction measures

and covers the impacts of pollution, fault f inding

methods and maintenance. Courses were held during

the period March to June 2008 at TAFE colleges

throughout New South Wales. The RTA has also made

presentations covering diesel testing and maintenance

to TAFE apprentice mechanics and University

undergraduates at its IM240 light vehicle emissions

testing facilities.

Testing and fitting of diesel exhaust

after-treatment technology

Following the successful Diesel Retrofit

Demonstration Pilot Program, the RTA has extended

the program, now known as the NSW Diesel Retrofit

Program. Administration and implementation of the

program involves the RTA, DECC and the State

Transit Authority. Currently over 77 fleets and 365

vehicles are committed to the program. The retrofitting

of emission control devices, called ‘Diesel Oxidation

Catalysts’ and ‘Diesel Particulate Filters’, to older,

more polluting trucks reduces the emissions from

these vehicles.

The catalysts reduce particle emissions by

approximately 30% and improve air quality without

any adverse effect on the maintenance or eff iciency

of the vehicles involved. Particulate f ilters

virtually eliminated particles with reduction rates

of approximately 90%. However, these devices are


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very temperature sensitive and need to be tailored

to match each particular vehicle and duty cycle. If

the incorrect device is f itted to a vehicle it can result

in increased particle emissions or loss of vehicle

performance. As a result, the selection of a suitable

device for each application is critical and requires the

data logging of the exhaust temperatures for at least

two weeks.

A new device, the Partial Particle Trap, is now

available which is not as temperature sensitive as

either the ‘Diesel Oxidation Catalyst’ or ‘Particulate

Filter’ and can be f itted to most diesel vehicles. It

reduces particulate emissions by approximately 50%

and eliminates the need for exhaust temperature

data logging.

The program has received $6.11 million in funding

since its inception. The funds will retrofit around

850 vehicles, reducing particle emissions by 7.9 tonnes

per year and avoiding $2.04 million annually in health

costs. The investment in retrofit is expected to avoid

$19 million in health costs over the likely remaining

life of the diesel vehicles. More financially sustainable

funding options for the program are being developed,

including incorporating energy eff iciency devices

into retrofit packages.


New South Wales has developed appropriate

mechanisms to implement the Diesel NEPM within

the current legislative framework. The importance of

reducing emissions from the in-service diesel vehicle

fleet is recognised and New South Wales has been

actively implementing programs to assist in achieving

this. Since the NEPM was adopted in 2001, New

South Wales has:

• continued to operate the Smoky Vehicle Program

• tested the emissions of nearly 3000 vehicles

volunteered by private and government fleet

operators

• used the results of this testing program to develop

maintenance guidelines for fleet operators

• developed and implemented the Clean Fleet Program

• continued delivering training courses with TAFE for

proper diesel vehicle maintenance with expansion

to regional TAFE colleges

• conducted trials of alternative fuels to assess

emissions benefits

• tested the effect of retrofit devices on reducing

diesel emissions through the Diesel Retrofit

Demonstration Program

• expanded the trial and commenced the NSW Diesel

Retrofit Program.


EFFECTIVENESS

The Diesel NEPM provides a sound framework for

the development of programs to reduce the impact

of diesel vehicle emissions in NSW, particularly in

urban areas. In 2007–08, the seventh year of NEPM

implementation, the focus has been to continue with

the high profile and effective Smoky Vehicle Program,

as well as the expansion of both the NSW Diesel

Retrofit and the Clean Fleet Programs.

Program Effectiveness

Smoky vehicle program

• signif icant participation in the program by the

general public, with an average of 231 reports

of smoky vehicles received from the public each

month, indicated a high level of awareness in the

community of the unacceptability of excessive

smoke emissions.

• an average of 63 warning letters issued per month

in 2007–08 to vehicles observed as excessively

smoky; of those issued following observation

by an authorised officer (average six per month),

approximately 70% were returned with evidence

of subsequent repair.

• authorised officers issued an average of 41 penalty

infringement notices per month in 2007–08 to

diesel vehicle owners.

Audited maintenance guidelines

• completed emission testing of approximately

3000 vehicles since inception of the program

• implementing the Clean Fleet Program with more

than 5600 vehicles currently in the program.

Other initiatives

• industry training developed to achieve improved

maintenance practices directed at improving

emissions performance. Training commenced

in September 2003 and continues to be offered

throughout 2008. The training program has been

expanded and made available to regional areas

in NSW from 2006, including a module about how

to join the RTA’s Clean Fleet Program

• further developed and expanded the Diesel Retrofit

Program to increase the number of vehicles involved

with consequent annual reductions of 7.9 tonnes in

particle emissions and $2.4 million in health costs

• the prototype ‘briefcase’ diesel vehicle exhaust

emissions analysis unit has been evaluated, some

design improvements have been implemented

and the f irst production model has been ordered

by RTA.


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(Refer to page 216)




The Environment Protection (Vehicle Emissions)

Regulations 2003 are the primary legislative tool under

the Environment Protection Act 1970 that addresses

the in-service performance of the motor vehicle fleet

in Victoria. These Regulations were reviewed in 2002

and remade in February 2003.

As part of this review, the in-service emission

standards developed as part of the National


Measure were included in the revised regulations.

This provides an additional regulatory basis to

support the NEPM in the future.

The 10–second smoke rule, which is the basis for

Schedule A1 of the NEPM, was already incorporated

in the previous version of the Environment Protection

(Vehicle Emissions) Regulations and is maintained in

the remade regulations. This rule has underpinned

Victoria’s large in-service smoky vehicle reporting

program in the past and will continue to do so in

the future.


Motor vehicles in general, and diesel vehicles

in particular, remain a key focus of air quality

management activity in Victoria. EPA emissions

inventories and monitoring at the local and regional

level show motor vehicles are a signif icant source of

emissions into the air environment. The information

from these studies is matched by concern expressed

by communities about the impact of motor vehicle

emissions on their health, particularly from people

living near busy roads with high volumes of diesel

truck traff ic. In 2007–08, EPA actively pursued the

implementation of four types of programs to manage

emissions from in-service diesel vehicles.

1. Smoky vehicle programs

EPA Victoria has operated a public smoky vehicle

reporting program for a number of years. This program

allows members of the public to identify smoky

vehicles (diesel and petrol) using the 10–second

smoke rule, and report them to EPA. As a result of

these reports, the owners of the offending vehicles

are informed in writing of the report, are requested

to have the problem fixed and are informed about

the penalties that may apply if they are identif ied

by officers from EPA, VicRoads or the Police.

The program resulted in 6443 smoky vehicles being

reported by the public in 2007–08.

EPA also operates a smoky vehicle enforcement

program where EPA or Police officers can report

vehicles identif ied as emitting greater than ten

seconds of continuous smoke. In 2007–08 946

cautionary letters were issued under this program.

Fines are issued only to repeat offenders.

2. Heavy vehicle maintenance training program

In November 2006 a dedicated test training facility

for diesel vehicle mechanics at Kangan-Batman

Institute of TAFE (KBIT) was opened which has

provided a signif icant enhancement to the training

syllabus. KBIT provides training for 90% of diesel

vehicle apprentice mechanics in Victoria as well as

some training in NSW and South Australia. The facility

is also used for industry and owner-driver courses

and research. The facility is uniquely positioned

to guide the diesel vehicle industry in aspects of

maintenance relating to emissions performance.

In addition to delivery of the formal training course

for diesel mechanics, KBIT was contracted by EPA

to deliver a programme of free modules for diesel

vehicle operators on aspects of vehicle maintenance

related to emissions performance. KBIT actively

promoted the programme through their industry

Victoria


Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure for Victoria by the Hon.

Gavin Jennings, Minister for Environment and Climate Change for the



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network and associated events, and delivered ten

Reducing Exhaust Emissions courses in 2007–08.

In April 2007 KBIT reached an agreement with

Diesel Test Australia to use the test training facility

for testing of vehicles to access the fuel tax credit

for heavy diesel vehicles offered by the Australian

Taxation Office. The diesel testing facility continues

to be used three days a week for DT80 testing by

Diesel Test Australia. This extension to the facility

capability has provided industry in Victoria with

access to test equipment for the verif ication of the

environmental performance of diesel vehicles.

3. In-service diesel vehicle emissions testing

In March 2006 EPA finalised a $1.85 million

agreement with VIPAC Engineers & Scientists Ltd

for provision of a diesel vehicle emissions test

capability. The test capability is underpinned by the

construction of a dedicated heavy-vehicle emissions

test facility at VIPAC’s Port Melbourne premises.

Final hardware at the facility was commissioned

in November 2007. Since then equipment has been

tested and calibrated and quality systems and

laboratory procedures have been developed. It is

envisaged that the testing capability will be extended

into EPA’s smoky-vehicle enforcement program by

December 2008.

4. Targeted diesel vehicle emissions reduction

projects

In June 2006 EPA invited Expressions of Interest

from local government entities to participate in

targeted diesel vehicle emissions reduction projects.

This program is intended to provide funding, project

management expertise and technical guidance in the

implementation of emissions reduction measures


Formal agreements were reached for diesel vehicle

emissions reduction projects with the Cities of

Ballarat, Hobsons Bay and Hume in January 2006,

and the Shire of Nillumbik in February 2007. Ballarat

City Council trialled the use of 20% biodiesel/diesel

fuel (B20) on three of its diesel-engine fleet vehicles.

Testing of two of the vehicles prior and subsequent

to the introduction of B20 indicated particle emission

reductions in the order of 44% on average. This is

similar to f indings from Newcastle City Council

who found a 39% reduction on average across twelve

vehicles. Whilst the absolute results need to be treated

with caution given the small sample size, Ballarat

City Council has indicated it will continue to use B20

in the intermediate future based on the signif icant

particle emissions reductions.

Implementation of the remaining projects is expected

by early 2009, with project review reporting to be

completed by the end of 2009.


During 2007–08 signif icant progress has been made

in the Victorian implementation of the Diesel NEPM

through the delivery of training for diesel mechanics

through the test training facility at KBIT, the

commissioning of the diesel vehicle test capability

at VIPAC, and in progress within the diesel vehicle

emissions reduction projects for local government

fleets.

The partnership with KBIT has seen the existing

training program signif icantly enhanced through the

addition of the test training facility. This facility

is also being used to provide emissions testing for

diesel vehicle operators, and as a teaching aid for

training modules being offered to diesel vehicle

operators by EPA through KBIT.

Delivery of the diesel vehicle test capability through

VIPAC Engineers & Scientists has progressed

signif icantly ensuring that heavy-duty diesel vehicles

will shortly be able to be tested against the in-service

emissions requirements of the Environment Protection

(Vehicle Emissions) Regulations 2003. This will

represent a signif icant enhancement of EPA’s already-

successful smoky vehicle reporting program, as

evidenced by the signif icant numbers of vehicles

reported by both members of the public and VicRoads,

Police and EPA Officers.

The project with the City of Ballarat has demonstrated

signif icant reductions in particle emissions from a

small number of vehicles in the fleet. The City of

Ballarat has indicated it will continue to use B20

in the intermediate term. Projects with the Cities of

Hobsons Bay, Hume and the Shire of Nillumbik will

also provide quantif ied reductions in diesel vehicle

emissions. In addition to this, the project management

framework employed by the councils will provide

case studies for the implementation of analogous

programs by other entities.


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EFFECTIVENESS

The nature of the initiatives implemented to date

generally limits the ability to assess the overall

effectiveness of the NEPM.

The enhancement of the training program for diesel

vehicle mechanics through the addition of the

dedicated test facility is signif icant, however diff icult

to quantify. Based upon anecdotal evidence provided

by the training program coordinators, knowledge of the

aspects of vehicle maintenance as relate to emissions

performance is being signif icantly improved through

experience of the test facility. The influence of this

knowledge upon the performance of the in-service

fleet is felt to be one of the major achievements of

the NEPM, even if unproven.

Reporting from the City of Ballarat’s trial of using

B20 biodiesel in its vehicle fleet indicates signif icant

reductions (44%) in particle emissions can be achieved.

Results from the other council projects implementing

the diesel vehicle emissions reduction projects are

expected to report similar reductions, which when

combined with the fleet mileage data will enable more

robust reporting on the NEPM effectiveness. The

concurrent aim of these projects to provide a model

for implementation of similar initiatives by other

entities will however remain a challenge to evaluate.

The numbers of vehicles reported in EPA’s smoky-

vehicle program continue to provide some insight into

the high level of community awareness and concern

into diesel vehicle exhaust emissions. The program

is expected to experience a quantum leap in

effectiveness following the integration of the diesel

vehicle emissions test capability provided by the

EPA/VIPAC agreement. Implementation of the smoky

vehicle reporting program extension to incorporate

emissions testing has been designed to allow for a

future assessment of the vehicle demographics and

history against the outcomes from the testing itself.


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(Refer to page 216)




The National Environmental Protection Council

(Queensland) Act 1994 provides the framework for

implementing the Diesel NEPM in Queensland.

Queensland Transport is responsible for implementing

and reporting on the Diesel NEPM in line with

Sections 13 (Application) and 15 (Reporting) of

the Act.


Total emissions from diesel vehicles in Queensland

are continuing to decrease. To maintain this situation,

a number of programs are in place to ensure diesel

vehicle emissions are well managed.

Air quality is of greatest concern where there are

high concentrations of transport and/or industrial

activity such as in South East Queensland, where

transport is a major contributor to air pollution.

Particle levels, measured as PM10 and nitrogen

dioxide (NO2), which are relevant to diesel vehicles,

are monitored in South East Queensland, Toowoomba,

Gladstone, Mackay (PM10 only) and Townsville

by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Monitoring indicates air quality is generally good

in these regions and the 2008 goal of the National


Measure (Air Quality NEPM) should be met for

both PM10 and NO2.

The Air Quality NEPM’s goal is that by 2008 the

ambient carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide,

photochemical oxidants as ozone, sulphur dioxide

and PM10 levels, assessed in accordance with its

monitoring protocol, comply with the National

Environment Protection Standards specif ied in

Schedule 2 of the Air Quality NEPM.

Australian design rules and fuel quality

Current and future improvements to vehicle emission

standards under the Australian Design Rules (ADRs),

as well as the introduction of new fuel quality

standards, are expected to significantly reduce overall

noxious emissions from motor vehicles in South East

Queensland. For example, current projections indicate

a 17% reduction in overall noxious emissions between

2000 and 2011. Further, motor vehicle emissions of

PM10, for which commercial diesel vehicles are the

main contributor in the fleet, are expected to reduce

by between 11–23% by 2011. No signif icant changes

are expected in overall fleet emissions of oxides of

nitrogen (NOx) by 2011, as increased vehicle travel,

both passenger and commercial, should be counter-

balanced by tighter emission limits.

Queensland supports ongoing introduction of new

ADRs to improve vehicle emission standards through

its representatives on the national Land Transport

Environment Council (LTEC).

AirCare Program

Queensland Transport is continuing to operate an

‘AirCare’ program in South East Queensland. The

AirCare program is a vehicle emissions action plan

which is a key project within the Integrated Regional

Transport Plan (IRTP) for South East Queensland.

The strategy, which aims to reduce air pollution

generated by motor vehicles, looks at transport

challenges facing the region over the next

twenty-five years.

The Smoky Vehicle Hotline was developed as a part

of the AirCare program. The Smoky Vehicle Hotline

continues to provide the community with an avenue

for reporting vehicles exceeding the ten-second

smoke rule. Reports can be made via the internet or

telephone. Following a data match of the information

provided, a letter is sent to the owner advising them

of the report, and suggesting ways to identify and

Queensland


Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure for Queensland by the

Hon. Andrew McNamara MP, Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change

and Innovation for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


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remedy the problem. If the vehicle is reported three

times within a four month period the owner is issued

with a 'Present Vehicle Order' which requires their

vehicle to be checked for defects by a transport

inspector.

The continuation of the Smoky Vehicle Program

meets the requirements of Schedule A (1) of the

Diesel NEPM, Guideline on Smoky Vehicle Programs.

In 2007, a total of 1460 diesel vehicles were reported

to the Smoky Vehicle Program, compared to 1312

diesel vehicles in 2006. This is an increase of

approximately 11% in diesel vehicles reported,

however, it is lower than the 1995 diesel vehicles

reported in 2005. The proportion of diesel vehicles

compared to the total of vehicles reported to the

Smoky Vehicle Hotline to June 2008 is around 25%;

consistent with the share of diesel vehicles reported

in the last four years.

South East Queensland Regional Plan

The South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005–2026

(SEQRP) is Queensland's statutory regional planning

strategy that guides growth and development in the

south east region. It was developed to help manage

growth and its associated changes, such as transport

growth, in the most sustainable way, as well as

protecting and enhancing the quality of life in

the region.

Since its release in 2005, Queensland's transport

portfolio and other agencies have responded by

developing plans to manage transport growth and

deliver a sustainable transport system for the region.

These plans include:

• the TransLink Network Plan (TNP)—The TNP is

a ten year plan for developing the public transport

network and a rolling four year program of public

transport services and infrastructure improvements.

Delivered by TransLink, with over $900 million

spent in 2007–08, the TNP focuses on improving

and expanding public transport services and

infrastructure in South East Queensland. New

infrastructure includes the South East Busway and

the Inner Northern Busway from Roma Street to

the Royal Brisbane Hospital. Since 2004, public

transport patronage has increased by 30% in South

East Queensland, with the majority of growth being

on week days during peak periods, which helps

reduce traff ic congestion and pollution.

• the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and

Program 2007–2026 (SEQIPP)—The SEQIPP

supports the SEQRP and seeks to provide certainty

on infrastructure developments that will benefit

the community over the next twenty years. It

outlines what investments in infrastructure are

required to support the objectives of the regional

plan. The SEQIPP outlines a balanced program of

investment between transport modes. Improving

transport corridors and freight links are also key

areas of the SEQIPP. These projects will assist in

managing transport-related emissions in South

East Queensland.

• The Integrated Regional Transport Plan (IRTP)—

The IRTP for South East Queensland was developed

as a twenty-five year plan to develop and manage

the transport system, and support the region’s

expected population growth. The IRTP will be

informed by modelling and other investigations

to better understand the implications of regional

growth and other emerging issues.

Heavy vehicle accreditation and testing schemes

A number of schemes are available to industry

to effectively maintain vehicles in order to reduce

in-service emissions. Queensland Transport

encourages heavy vehicle industry participation

in these schemes. The National Heavy Vehicle

Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) encourages heavy

vehicle operators to take more responsibility for

servicing their vehicles and ensuring vehicles are

compliant with the scheme’s accreditation requirements.

Compliance with an accredited maintenance scheme

may remove the requirement for Certif icates of

Inspection to be obtained for vehicles in the scheme.

The vehicles under the NHVAS use diesel as their

primary fuel source.

Currently, under the NHVAS maintenance scheme

there are 23 340 vehicles registered by 286 operators,

and under the NHVAS mass scheme there are 1976

vehicles registered by 249 operators. There are

currently 4607 vehicles that participate in both the

mass and maintenance schemes.

As part of the Brisbane Air Quality Strategy, the

Brisbane City Council (BCC) provides an emission

testing service for all heavy vehicles in Queensland.

The BCC uses the nationally endorsed DT80 test,

which uses a chassis dynamometer equipped with


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gas and particle analysing equipment, to accurately

measure the exhaust emissions. The DT80 test has

been designed to evaluate vehicle emissions during

typical 'real world' operating modes and conditions.

In 2007–08, the BCC tested approximately 500 diesel

vehicles in South East Queensland, including trucks

and buses.

Other opportunities

Queensland Transport is actively exploring the

feasibility of trialling the latest hybrid diesel-electric

bus technology in Queensland. International experience

indicates that this technology offers potentially

attractive benefits in terms of improved fuel efficiency

and reduced emissions.

The Queensland Government is also supporting the

development of a bio-fuels industry in Queensland.

This includes two commercial bio-diesel production

facilities, as well as approximately 60 retail outlets

throughout Queensland, which sell bio-diesel fuel.


Queensland has experienced a continuous gradual

reduction in vehicle emissions since the mid-1990s.

The introduction of more stringent vehicle emission

standards and fuel quality standards are expected

to lead to signif icant reductions in PM10 and NOx

emissions from diesel vehicles in South East

Queensland. This will contribute to reductions in

overall PM10 emissions and no signif icant growth

in NOx emissions from the regional vehicle fleet

in the next few years.

New ADRs for heavy vehicles, with tighter emission

limits, were introduced for all new vehicles from

January 2008. As more of these vehicles replace

older vehicles in the current fleet, overall emissions

are expected to reduce in the next few years.

Implementation of these, and future ADRs, will be

enhanced and complemented by a range of transport

planning and management programs aimed at reducing

in-service diesel vehicle emissions. This will lead

to a further reduction of the impact diesel vehicle

transport emissions have on ambient air quality.


EFFECTIVENESS

In Queensland, the most signif icant reduction in

diesel vehicle emissions is considered to have been

achieved by introducing improved fuel quality and

vehicle emission standards for new vehicles. As the

proportion of newer, less polluting diesel vehicles

increases within the fleet, reductions in diesel vehicle

emissions are expected to continue for the next few

years, despite increasing travel. However, programs

outlined within the Diesel NEPM, such as the Smoky

Vehicle Hotline and maintenance programs, are

useful in-service programs to complement fuel quality

and vehicle emission standards for new vehicles.

Continued public participation in the Smoky Vehicle

Program indicates that there is public awareness and

concern about the impacts of pollutant emissions

on air quality. Industry participation in emissions

testing and maintenance schemes increases industry

awareness, and emphasises the importance of

servicing and compliance to heavy vehicle operators.

Vehicles showing compliance within the schemes also

receive operational benefits from their participation,

such as reductions in the amount of other reporting

requirements.


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(Refer to page 216)




The National Environment Protection Council (WA)

Act 1996 provides the framework for implementing

the National Environment Protection (Diesel Vehicles

Emissions) Measure (Diesel NEPM) in Western

Australia.

Ultra low sulfur diesel (50 parts per million sulfur)

is regulated via the Australian Government Fuel

Quality Standards Act 2000. Prior to this standard

coming into force on 1 January 2006, the sulfur

content of diesel in Western Australia was regulated

to 500 parts per million under the Environmental

Protection (Diesel and Petrol) Regulations 1999.

The ten-second rule for smoky vehicles was introduced

from 1 November 2002 under the Road Traffic

(Vehicle Standards) Rules 2002. This regulation aims

to target visually polluting diesel and petrol vehicles.

The Perth Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) is

a non-statutory management plan established by the

government of Western Australia. The objective of

the Perth AQMP is to ensure that clean air is achieved

and maintained throughout the Perth metropolitan

region over the next thirty years. The Perth AQMP

identif ies that the management of emissions from

the in-service petrol and diesel vehicles is critical to

achieving clean air, and contains a range of initiatives

that target on-road vehicles. The initiatives in the

Perth AQMP are largely complementary to the Diesel

NEPM, and the implementation of the Perth AQMP

and Diesel NEPM are being undertaken in an

integrated fashion.


On 10 January 2005 the Australian Government

and the West Australian Department of Environment

and Conservation (DEC) (previously Department

of Environment) signed an agreement in relation to

funding for a Vehicle Emissions Testing-Pilot Program

for Western Australia. The program, implemented

under the name CleanRun, is the key program in

the implementation of the Diesel NEPM in Western

Australia. The aim of the program is to ‘develop and

implement a range of targeted initiatives to reduce

the impact of motor vehicle emissions, specif ically

from diesel emissions, on the Perth airshed.’

The CleanRun program covers all vehicle emissions

reduction programs undertaken by DEC, and is utilised

when marketing key messages. The CleanRun program

consists of f ive components:

• vehicle emissions testing

• communication/education campaign

• in-service and apprentice mechanic training

• smoky vehicle reporting

• environmental verif ication.

Implementation of the CleanRun vehicle emissions

reduction program continues. Progress is provided

for each of the f ive components below.

Vehicle emissions testing

Vehicle emissions testing has been completed into

two phases, with phase 1 testing of 167 heavy duty

diesel vehicles completed in November 2006. A

summary of the test results for phase 1 were provided

in the 2007 annual report and the full report is available

from DEC’s website: <www.dec.wa.gov.au/airquality>.

Phase 2 involved testing the emissions of 376 diesel

and petrol vehicles (Tables 1 and 2). Diesel Test

Australia (DTA) was identif ied as the most suitable

service provider to complete this work and the

contract was awarded in September 2007. Work

commenced soon after this date.

Western Australia


Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure for Western Australia

by the Hon. Donna Faragher MLC, Minister for Environment for the



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DEC provided DTA with a matrix of vehicles to be

tested, based on vehicle research data obtained from

the Australian Bureau of Statistics Motor Vehicle Census,

March 2006. The matrix provides a representative

sample of the Perth vehicle fleet across both year

of manufacture and make and model. DTA followed

this matrix as closely as possible and managed to

meet the majority of vehicle categories. The major

exceptions were the older diesel vehicles, where lack

of vehicle availability proved to be an issue.

The vehicles were tested according to the DT80 and

IM240 test procedures. Emissions of smoke opacity,

particles (PM), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon

monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) were

measured. The results for smoke, PM and NOx

were compared with the guideline values set by the

Australian Transport Council under Rule 147a of

Schedule 1 of the National Transport Commission

(Road Transport Legislation—Vehicle Standards)

Amendment Regulations (No. 1). The testing was

completed on 11 February 2008 and the results are

being collated and analysed. Once the f inal report

is completed it will be made available at

<www.dec.wa.gov.au/airquality>.

In addition to the dynamometer based vehicle testing

outlined above, roadside remote sensing was carried

out at six sites around Perth in February 2007. The

testing was a partnership between the CleanRun

program and the Australian Government’s Clean Air

Research Programme. The remote sensing devise

measured four pollutants; CO, hydrocarbons (HC),

NOx and uvSmoke (a proxy for particulate emissions).

Data on vehicle age, fuel type, usage and engine size

was gathered to provide an assessment of on-road

vehicle emissions.

More than 14 000 vehicles passed though the roadside

emission sensors over the f ive day duration of the

project. The number of vehicles with valid readings

exceeded 11 000. In addition to the roadside testing,

a Community Information Day was held. Community

members were invited to have their vehicle checked

for emissions free-of-charge; consult with DEC staff

about vehicle emissions and air quality and were

given a CleanRun information pack to take away.

The project has resulted in a better understanding

of Australian vehicle fleet emissions and their

implications for health effects, along with a new

database of real world on-road vehicle emissions.

Diesel

Pre ADR70 (Pre 1996) ADR70 (1996-2001) ADR80/00 (2002-2005)

GVM GVM GVM GVM GVM GVM GVM GVM GVM GVM GVM GVM <3.5t 3.5t - 12t - > 25t < 3.5t 3.5t - 12t - > 25t < 3.5t 3.5t - 12t - > 25t Total

12t 25t 12t 25t 12t 25t

Total tested 33 10 24 28 46 20 21 30 32 22 12 13 291

Total required 45 20 20 30 45 20 20 30 35 10 10 10 295

Balance -12 -10 +4 -2 +1 0 +1 0 -3 +12 +2 +3 -4

Table 1: Diesel vehicles tested in phase 2

Petrol 4WD Petrol Ute Petrol Van

(1986-1996) (1997-2003) (1986-1996) (1997-2003) (1986-1996) (1997-2003)

GVM < 3.5t GVM < 3.5t GVM < 3.5t GVM < 3.5t GVM < 3.5t GVM < 3.5t Total

Total tested 13 14 14 15 14 15 85

Total required 13 13 13 13 14 14 80

Balance 0 +1 +1 +2 0 +1 +5

Table 2: Petrol vehicles tested in phase 2


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233

The results have been compiled into a report that

covers the Perth tests as well as those undertaken in

Brisbane and Sydney. When complete, a link to the

final report will be available fro the DEC’s website.

Communication delivery and community

education

An extensive communication and education campaign

continues to be implemented under CleanRun. This

campaign is aimed primarily at highlighting the

benefits of a well-maintained vehicle. The campaign

also informs State and local government, industry

and the community of the vehicle emissions testing

and repair program and its potential benefits, so there

is a higher level of awareness and participation.

Communication delivery

Following the public launch of CleanRun on

16 August 2006 by the West Australian Minister for

Environment in front of an audience of approximately

seventy guests, work has continued to develop the

CleanRun brand for the Diesel NEPM programs in WA.

The aim is to make the program name immediately

identifiable to facilitate the promotion of key messages.

Implementation of communication delivery has

continued with web based information and a series

of posters, fact sheets and brochures. Attention has

also been focused on integrating key Diesel NEPM

messages through learning materials and activities

targeted with established community involvement

programs such as AirWatch and TravelSmart.

Behaviour Change Initiative

An important component of the communication and

education campaign is the CleanRun Behaviour

Change Initiative (CR–BCI). The CR–BCI is an

innovative new approach proven to reduce diesel

emissions through driver behaviour change.

Community-based social marketing (CBSM), which

is informed by social psychology, is used in the BCI

to foster the change. The pilot stage of this program

commenced in January 2007 and was completed in

February 2008. Because of the ground-breaking nature

of this program, it was necessary to conduct this trial

over the course of two separate but interconnected

trials. Both three-month trials were completed in

collaboration with staff at a national express courier

company with a fleet of diesel vehicles.

The first trial was successful in achieving its objectives

of providing CleanRun staff with practical experience

in applying a CBSM-based approach in the private

sector as well as essential knowledge of the transport

industry. After extensive research and consultation

with courier company staff, ‘keeping idling to a

minimum’ was chosen from a list of driving behaviours

to be the focus of the second trial. It was chosen as

it had the potential to be an important contributor to

vehicle emissions and exposure; and is a behaviour

that drivers have the ultimate power to change.

Results have shown that drivers who were exposed to

all behaviour change tools used in the CR-BCI reduced

their unnecessary idling by 87%, or approximately

three hours per week. The average reduction across

all drivers who participated in the CR-BCI was 72%,

or approximately two hours per week. Anecdotal

evidence showed that turning off became a permanent

change with many drivers. The results from installed

on-board computers, used to measure incidences of

frequency and duration of driver idling, supported

these conclusions. In addition to the results above,

a signif icant proportion of drivers surveyed said their

behaviour outside work had also changed. Upon

completion, the CR-BCI evaluation report will be

available on DEC’s website at

<www.dec.wa.gov.au/airquality>

CleanRun staff have evaluated the outcomes of these

trials and designed a program that they will use to

reduce emissions across a broad segment of the

in-service vehicle fleet. It is expected that drivers in

new companies where this program is implemented

will show similar reductions in unnecessary idling.

In-service and apprentice mechanic training

Training will be offered via the implementation

of the Technical and Further Education (TAFE)

emissions competency standard units. Swan TAFE

and DEC entered into a Memorandum of

Understanding where DEC has provided funding

for Swan TAFE to purchase emission testing, control

and abatement equipment to enhance delivery of their

apprentice mechanic training programs. To date,

Swan TAFE has purchased and installed diesel engine

exhaust catalytic converters and particulate f ilters,

developed and released a tender for the purchase of

a portable diesel engine and exhaust emission analyser

and is developing a tender for a Euro 4 heavy duty


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diesel engine. The purchase of the Euro 4 engine has

been delayed due to availability issues.

The agreement also specified the provision of emissions

related training to apprentices and in-service diesel

mechanics. The new automotive training package,

AUR05: Automotive Industry Retail, Service and

Repair Training was introduced in 2006. Currently,

Swan TAFE is running Certif icate I: Automotive

(Pre-Apprenticeship Mechanical—Vehicle Servicing—

Heavy Road Transport) and is utilising the above

equipment in the delivery of this training. They are

also operating Certif icate III courses for indentured

apprentices incorporating the AUR05 competencies

and emissions equipment.

DEC and Swan TAFE also entered into an agreement

for the delivery of a series of in-service mechanic

training short courses. The Road and Traffic Authority

of New South Wales (RTA) has developed a three

hour in-service mechanic training session that offers

practical advice on the causes of diesel pollution and

how emissions can be managed. The training is aimed

at in-service mechanics, fleet managers and owner

operators. RTA have allowed DEC and Swan TAFE

to deliver the course in WA. In May 2007, New South

Wales TAFE provided training for lecturers from

Swan TAFE in delivery of the course.

The RTA was consulted on the methods used to

promote their courses and their approach was to use

industry mailing lists and advertising in major

newspapers. Feedback indicated that the majority

of participants came from the industry mailing lists.

DEC adopted these methods and promoted the course

through major industry groups such as the Motor

Trades Association, Royal Automobile Club, Main

Roads and DEC mailing lists. A promotional flyer,

advertising and personalised emails were developed

and distributed through the above channels. It was

anticipated that this would reach an audience of

between 10 000 to 30 000 potential participants.

The response to this course promotion was less than

expected. Verbal feedback from industry groups and

potential participants was sought and the general

response was that the heightened level of business

activity in Western Australia prevented people from

attending courses such as this. There was a reluctance

to commit staff time to courses where there was no

‘real benefit’ to the business. A review is currently

underway to determine alternative means of reaching

and attracting participants. It is also being assessed

whether the course is viable at this time, given the

current climate in Western Australia.

Smoky vehicle reporting

DEC operates a smoky vehicle reporting program

which integrates the 10-second rule for smoky

vehicles under the Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards)

Rules 2002 into a public reporting system.

As noted in the 2006–07 annual report, a review

of the operation and performance of the SVRP was

undertaken with regard to achieving its desired

objective of ‘identifying on-road vehicles that emit

excessive amounts of visible smoke and, where

possible, require that these vehicles be repaired’.

As a result of this review, a number of new reporting

methods were recommended including a new telephone

number for reporting smoky vehicles (1800 0SMOKY

or 1800 076 659), a reporting booklet and web based

reporting to further encourage reporting. New

technologies such as short message service (SMS)

reporting are also being investigated.

The revised program has not yet been relaunched as

negotiations are still underway with the Department

for Planning and Infrastructure for DEC to receive

vehicle registration and fuel type details. The

unresolved issue relates to privacy legislation and the

supply of personal information. Registration details

are necessary to identify vehicle owners for follow-

up purposes and fuel type information will allow

identif ication of diesel vehicles for reporting by the

smoky vehicle program under the Diesel NEPM.

Environmental verification

Verifying the effectiveness of the CleanRun initiative

has been identified as an important step for any future

State policies which may be developed to manage

vehicle emissions. A component of such an evaluation

is ‘real world’ air quality measurements. Roadside

monitoring of particle emissions at three metropolitan

sites has commenced to assist with this evaluation.


During 2007–08, signif icants effort has been made

to implement the Diesel NEPM in Western Australia,

through continued implementation of CleanRun.


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Vehicle emissions testing has shown the majority

of vehicles are operating within national in-service

standards. This could mean the vehicle fleet is

performing adequately. Alternatively, this f inding

could suggest the test standards set out in Australian

Vehicle Standards Rule 147A are too lenient and

should be tightened to drive meaningful reductions

from in-service vehicle emissions. The later

interpretation is consistent with recommendations in

the National Environment Protection (Diesel Vehicle

Emissions) Measure—Review Report (April 2007).

The communications delivery and community education

component of CleanRun continues to highlight the

benefits of having a well maintained vehicle. The

CR–BCI has targeted a particular area of the light

commercial diesel vehicle fleet to reduce emissions.

Following the success of the trial, CleanRun staff

continue to work with the light commercial diesel

vehicle fleet through the next stage of the program

to reduce emissions.

The training component of CleanRun has introduced

the Diesel NEPM messages to apprentice mechanics.

A series of short courses, based on the New South

Wales RTA program were proposed, but the current

economic environment in Western Australia has been

a signif icant barrier to attract participants. DEC is

investigating alternative methods to promote the

CleanRun message to the community and industry.

Further enhancements to the smoky vehicle program

to increase the number of reports received and

introduce a f irmer enforcement procedure for repeat

offenders has been delayed until the privacy issues

surrounding the use of vehicle registration data to

follow up with smoky vehicles reports is resolved.

Following resolution, under a revised program, an

active educational campaign will help elevate the

profile of the program and include more diesel

specif ic reporting to help gauge the effectiveness

of reducing diesel emissions.


EFFECTIVENESS

The Diesel NEPM provides a framework for the

development of programs by jurisdictions to ensure

that in-service diesel vehicles are adequately

maintained.

Vehicle emissions testing continued during 2007–08

to quantify the emissions performance of the Perth

diesel vehicle fleet. The results from the phase 1 and

2 testing will identify the need for and focus of any

ongoing management strategies.

Given the current delays with implementing the

smoky vehicle reporting program there is expected

to be limited impact on in-service vehicle emissions

during 2007–08. Work is ongoing to resolve these

outstanding issues.

To complement and improve the effectiveness

of the Diesel NEPM, communication, training and

education components of CleanRun continue to be

implemented. Equipment has been purchased to assist

with the delivery of apprentice mechanics training.

Furthermore, by working with the transport industry

the CR–BCI has shown it is possible to achieve

measurable changes in driver behaviour. This in turn

is expected to translate directly to reduced diesel

vehicle emissions from the fleets engaged. Work

is now progressing to develop a model for broader

implementation in the transport sector.

Although not assessed quantitatively or detailed in

the schedules of the Diesel NEPM, the regulation

of ultra low sulfur diesel will contribute to the

lowering of particle emissions from all diesel

vehicles. Furthermore, the regulation of diesel fuel

will allow the introduction and marketing of lower

emitting vehicles.


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(Refer to page 216)




In South Australia, National Environment Protection

(Diesel Vehicles Emissions) Measure (NEPM) came

into operation as an environment protection policy

under repealed Section 28A of the Environment

Protection Act 1993. Section 4 of the transitional

provisions in the Environment Protection

(Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2005, Sch 1 enables

the continued operation of the Diesel NEPM as an


Following the initial operation of the policy and

consistent with the State Government Consultation

Group established during the assessment phase of the

Diesel NEPM, a State Government working group

incorporating key government representatives from

the Environment and Conservation, Transport, Energy,

Business, Manufacturing and Trade and Health

portfolios was created. The Department of the Premier

and Cabinet was also included in the distribution

of documentation generated by this working group.

The aim of the working group was to assist in the

selection of appropriate strategies for reducing

emissions from in-service diesel vehicles, after

consideration of environmental, economic, social

and equity issues. Since the inception of this working

group, further consultative groups have been established

to progress the diesel emissions reduction strategy.

For example, during preparations for a strategy to

increase the number of bio-diesel buses in the public

transport fleet a group comprising Environment

Protection Authority (EPA), and the Agencies for

Primary Industries and Resources SA, Transport,

Public Transport, Premier and Cabinet and Business,

Manufacturing and Trade was established. When

evaluating the benefits and practicalities of operating

bio-diesel in the bus and train fleet and managing all

aspects of procurement for the fleet, further groups

representing the Public Transport and Transport

Planning Divisions, Public Transport providers and

Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure

(DTEI) [formerly Transport SA], were also established.

These parties did not meet formally throughout the

current year.

Whilst the Environment and Conservation portfolio

has responsibility for leading South Australia’s

response to this NEPM, DTEI is developing and

implementing the relevant strategies.


Adelaide generally has reasonably good air quality,

although the national environment protection

standard and goal for PM10 cited in Part 3 of the

National Environment Protection (Ambient Air

Quality) Measure, as amended 2003, is exceeded

in some regions of the airshed. Ozone levels also

approach the current standards during summer, and

potential tightening of the standards over the next

few years raises concerns for management of

photochemical smog precursors, of which motor

vehicles are a major source in urban areas. There

are also investigations underway into emissions of

criteria pollutants from traff ic along major roadways,

because of concerns about risks for the signif icant

sub-population (4% to 10%) living in the near vicinity

of these roadways. Because of the nature of current

monitoring practices under the Air NEPM protocol,

these risks are poorly understood. Some of these

concerns have been prompted by discussions raised

during the current review of the Air NEPM, which

is due to be completed in early 2009.

Emissions from diesel vehicles contribute

disproportionately to pollution in urban areas.

Although they comprise less than 10% of the total

Australian vehicle fleet, they are estimated to

South Australia


Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure for South Australia by the

Hon. Jay Weatherill MP, Minister for Environment and Conservation for



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contribute between 60 and 80% of particle emissions.

This, coupled with the continued growth in fuel

consumption by the diesel fleet, provides a clear

‘trigger’ for the reduction of emissions from in-service

diesel vehicles. Diesel consumption on a national

basis is projected to be 13% of all road transport fuels

by 2009–10 and 16% by 2019–20. (Apelbaum, 2008)

The current state of knowledge about the condition

of the in-service diesel fleet in South Australia is

growing. Within the current reporting period, 2007–08,

the Department for Transport Energy and Infrastructure

(DTEI) has continued exhaust emissions testing of

diesel fuelled vehicles within its Demonstration

Diesel NEPM Test and Repair Program. Emissions

data generated from the program will be used for

the modelled evaluation of ‘whole of diesel fleet’

performance. The program included testing up to 500

diesel vehicles operating in South Australia and also

included repairs to the worst 20% of those vehicles.

As SA has the second oldest vehicle fleet in the

nation we can expect environmental gains as a result

of any future diesel emissions management programs.

Issues to be addressed include recognition that the

diesel repair industry generally focuses on vehicle

drivability and performance rather than monitoring

exhaust emissions. In addition, enforcement agencies

have been focussed on managing vehicle safety rather

than emissions. Any attempt to reduce polluting diesel

vehicle exhaust emissions must be underpinned by

long term management strategies, developed in

consultation with key stakeholders, which raise

awareness and understanding within enforcement

agencies, the diesel repair industry and with those

of our community who operate diesel vehicles.

TAFE training in Diesel Emissions is conducted at

O’Halloran Hill. Two day modules are delivered with

approximately f ifteen participants per course. To date

a total of ninety diesel mechanics and other interested

participants from vehicle maintenance industries. The

two day course provides information and training in

Diesel Emissions focussing on engine performance,

engine testing and maintenance to reduce exhaust

pollutants. From the commencement of 2008 the

course has been introduced into the apprentice

training curriculum. Fifty apprentices have visited

the vehicle emissions test facility as part of their

vocational training.

Provision of further information to relevant stake-

holders during delivery of the demonstration test and

repair program will assist in raising awareness and

supporting change. Involvement of relevant groups

in the program will also aid in demystifying issues

around motor vehicle emissions testing and testing

procedures.

The Demonstration Test and Repair Program’s

objectives are to:

• evaluate the condition of the diesel vehicle fleet

in South Australia and repair the worst polluting

vehicles

• raise awareness of key DTEI employees, the

industry and diesel vehicle operators, owners and

the public to Diesel NEPM in-service standards

and related testing protocols

• develop a support infrastructure for the training

of emissions testing facility personnel and diesel

mechanics

• support the evaluation of the need to manage diesel

emissions as required under the Diesel NEPM

• develop recommendations about future emissions

programs and emissions enforcement programs

in South Australia.

The program outputs include:

• completed testing of 111 diesel buses from the

public transport bus fleet in accordance with the

Diesel NEPM requirements

• completed testing of a representative sample of

371 private diesel vehicles

• repair and re-testing of the worst polluting vehicles

(23 of the 84 vehicles that failed DT 80 testing)

• delivery of a National Road Transport Commission

developed eco-maintenance training program for

industry and other key stakeholders including DTEI

• a communications campaign

• establishment of a f ixed emissions testing facility

with the option to provide the ability to test diesel

and petrol vehicles.

The demonstration test and repair program elements

developed within the framework provided by the

Diesel NEPM include:

• program management

• communications campaign

• vehicle selection

• vehicle recruitment


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• incentive scheme

• emissions testing

• ‘eco-maintenance’ training

• vehicle repair

• Quality Assurance, data analysis and reporting

• consideration of future uses of the emissions

testing facilities.

Smoky Vehicle Program

Consideration is being given to issues associated with

delivering this type of program.

The framework for delivery of a program is currently

under review subject to:

• the evaluation of results obtained from the

demonstration test and repair program

• extent of impacts of motor vehicles exhaust

emissions on ambient air quality to be reported in

an upcoming State of Environment Report 2008

• development of an appropriate funding and

resourcing model.

Bio-diesel Bus and Train Operation

The South Australian Government has made a

commitment to use bio-diesel in a signif icant portion

of its public transport fleet. Currently all metropolitan

trains are operating on a 10% biodiesel blend (B10).

A blend of biodiesel and diesel is now being used in

all diesel powered metropolitan buses. About 10% of

the bus fleet is operating on B20, 65% is operating

on B5 with percentage share of buses on B20

increasing gradually and the remaining 25% already

running on compressed natural gas) and in all diesel

trains. Other bio-diesel blends (B20, B50 and B100)

have been tested under laboratory conditions and

several buses are in regular operation running on

B20. Increasing the bio-diesel blend for the bus and

train fleet as a whole to B20 is being investigated.

Public Transport Bus Procurement

The SA Government is currently procuring a range

of new public transport buses. The use of technologies

other than diesel powered vehicles has been highly

valued in the assessment of the tender submissions.


The DTEI has implemented a Diesel NEPM

Demonstration Test and Repair Program at the

government-owned and operated vehicle emissions

test facility located at Regency Park in Adelaide’s

north western suburbs. The program received funding

from the Federal Government.

The program has achieved a several important

milestones, including:

• a pilot program of emissions testing completed, of

111 public transport buses, 12 of which were retested

• the upgrade of TAFE SA’s O’Halloran Hill

Campus lab commissioned, to include emission

measurement equipment.

A communication campaign was developed and

delivered a several outcomes, including:

• the launch of the facility in October 2006 was

officially opened by the Parliamentary Secretary

to the Premier and received coverage in South

Australia on radio, television and newspapers

• a brochure providing information regarding the

facility and the Demonstration Test and Repair

Program were distributed initially at the opening

of the facility

• fact sheets providing information on the Diesel

Vehicle In-Service Performance, DT80 Drive

Cycle, Diesel Vehicle Emissions, Demonstration

Test and Repair Program, the Learning Outcomes

of the Diesel Emissions training module and a

Capability Statement of the Facility have been

developed and are available on request or through

the internet web site

• a DTEI internet website has been created for the

Vehicle Emission Test Facility which contains

documents produced for the facility including the

newsletter, brochures and fact sheets

<www.transport.sa.gov.au/transport_network/

vehicle_emissions/index.asp>

• posters have been developed to attract potential

customers to volunteer their vehicles for the Test

and Repair Program or to have their heavy vehicles

tested to receive an emissions test report for

purposes of the Australian Tax Office (ATO)

fuel tax credit. Posters have been distributed to

metropolitan Registration and Licensing Customer

Service Centres and key heavy vehicle operators,

repairers and bus companies

• at a recent Motor Show in South Australia, the

Royal Automobile Association (RAA) distributed

the Vehicle Emissions brochures to visitors at

their promotions stand


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• an article has appeared in recent RAA editions

of the ‘SA Motor Magazine’ and the approved

repairer’s network newsletter ‘RAA Issues’

• meetings held with transport operators and

associations in both the heavy truck and bus

industry.

Several other initiatives are also in progress

at this time:

• currently evaluating the results from conducting

a test and repair pilot program of a representative

sample of South Australian registered diesel vehicles

using the in-service Diesel Emission Standard and

Composite Urban Emission Drive Cycle, to date

482 vehicles have been tested from the passenger,

light commercial and heavy vehicle categories

• actively delivering industry-wide training in line

with the NTC ‘Cleaning the Air: Protecting the

environment from diesel emissions’ Training Plan

in conjunction with TAFE SA for up to 200

industry representatives

• the course has recently been included into the

Apprentice Training Curriculum.

It is expected that the program will deliver other

benefits to South Australia, including:

• improving data/knowledge of the emissions

performance of the diesel vehicle fleet in South

Australia

• emission reductions gained by repairing some

of the worst polluting vehicles

• the capacity to train emissions facility operators

and diesel mechanics in the emissions aspects

of diesel engine maintenance

• improving the awareness/understanding of

key stakeholders (e.g. regulators and industry)

to Diesel NEPM processes and practicalities

• improved public awareness of diesel emissions

management strategies

• increased potential to implement Diesel NEPM

related programs.

In addition, this program will build the potential and,

to a significant degree, allow for the future development

of an in-service emission testing of the non-diesel

components of the fleet (i.e. petrol and alternative

fuels) where required.


EFFECTIVENESS

Preliminary evaluation of the results from the

Demonstration Diesel NEPM Test and Repair

Program indicates approximately 10% of diesel

fuelled vehicles are likely to be heavy polluters and

following the application of appropriate servicing

and maintenance a reduction of approximately forty-

five tonnes of pollutants ( NOx and PM combined)

per 1000 vehicles may be achieved.

A formal program of strategies to reduce emissions

from in-service diesel vehicles taking into account

environmental, economic, social and equity

considerations is under consideration.


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(Refer to page 216)




Under Section 12A of the Tasmanian State Policies

and Projects Act 1993, NEPMs made under Section

14(1) of the National Environment Protection

Council (Tasmania) Act 1995 are taken to be State

Policies which have been passed by both Houses

of Parliament.


The contract between the Department of Tourism,

Arts and the Environment and the Commonwealth

Department of the Environment and Water Resources,

to fund a series of diesel engine skill gap training

workshops in the south, north and northwest of the

State in both 2006 and 2007 through TAFE Tasmania,

has now been f inalised. In total $439 823.50 was

expended in the purchase of diesel emissions testing

equipment and in the running of free three-hour

training courses for 321 qualif ied mechanics.

Since the end of the program TAFE Tasmania has

conducted additional training on a fee-paying basis

($100 per participant). Attendance has been small

indicating that the State’s training needs in this area

have largely been met. TAFE Tasmania intends to

continue to offer this training on an ‘as required’ basis.


As of 30 June 2008 there were 11 655 diesel powered

heavy vehicles (that is vehicles over 4.5 tonnes) and

54 635 diesel powered light vehicles registered in the

State. This represents an increase of 3.4 % and 9.1 %

respectively for the previous reporting period. Of the

total of 505 151 vehicles registered in Tasmania at

30 June 2008, 13.1 % were diesel powered.


EFFECTIVENESS

The need for training in this area, within the

transport industry throughout the State, appears

to have been met.

Tasmania


Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure for Tasmania by the Hon.

Michelle O’Byrne MP, Minister for the Environment, Parks, Heritage and

the Arts for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


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(Refer to page 216)




The Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation

2000 requires emission control systems supplied

by vehicle manufacturers to remain f itted and

functional. This is consistent with NEPM goals.


Approximately, 4% of the ACT’s registered vehicle

fleet of 272 000 vehicles are powered by diesel.

Aggregate air quality data indicates that air pollution

caused by diesel emissions is not a signif icant

contributor to the urban airshed in the ACT. Pollutants

associated with diesel emissions in the ACT are well

below NEPM trigger values. Therefore, no actions

are taken in the ACT as a result of measures against

the Diesel NEPM.

Notwithstanding the above, the ACT has introduced

a number of measures consistent with achieving the

goal of the NEPM, these include:

• adoption of the Australian Design Rules, as

requirements under Schedule 1 of the Road

Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000

• requiring emission control equipment f itted to

a vehicle to remain f itted and be maintained in

a condition to ensure that it operates essentially

in accordance with the system’s original design

under Schedule 1 of the Road Transport (Vehicle

Registration) Regulation 2000

• implementation of random on-road and car park

inspections

• implementation of arrangements enabling members

of the community to report vehicles that they consider

unroadworthy, including those that emit excessive

smoke, and enabling appropriate action against

those vehicles

• ACT Government subscription to Greenfleet for the

planting of trees to offset its vehicles fleet emissions

• supporting ACT representation on the fuel standards

consultative committee.

While statistics on the number of inspections and

how many defects and warnings are collected at this

stage, the reason for these enforcement actions are

currently not collated. In general, ACT inspectors

would not normally issue an infringement notice

to a vehicle emitting excessive smoke. The ACT has

found it more beneficial to require a vehicle to be

repaired than to impose a monetary penalty. Issuing

a monetary penalty is likely to delay repairs or make

it more diff icult for owners to repair their vehicles.

In addition to the above, as part of the ACT

Government Fleet Efficiency Program, the ACT has

purchased sixty-six compressed natural gas (CNG)

powered buses, which are currently in service.

It is proposed that a further four CNG buses will

be introduced into service before the end of 2008.

This would bring the total number of CNG powered

buses in the ACT to seventy. Two buses that were

converted to operate on CNG have been returned

to diesel operation as the trial of these two vehicles

was unsuccessful.


An assessment of the need to manage the emissions

from the ACT’s in-service diesel fleet has

indicated that:

• air pollution caused by diesel vehicles is not

a signif icant contributor to the urban airshed

in the ACT

• there appears to be a high level of compliance

with the in-service emissions standards.


EFFECTIVENESS

Not applicable. The ACT airshed quality is such that

actions under NEPM are not triggered.



Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure for the Australian Capital

Territory by Mr John Hargreaves MLA, Minister for Territory and

Municipal Services for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


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A number of initiatives are implemented to control

diesel vehicle emissions. Vehicle standards are

enforced through the general provisions of the Motor

Vehicles Act and the Australian Vehicle Standard Rules

which require all vehicles to comply with Australian

Design Rules when in service. Vehicle roadworthy

inspections are undertaken for all light and heavy diesel

vehicles and these inspections include checking that

all required emission control equipment is f itted as

well as the detection of smoky vehicles.


The diesel vehicle fleet in the Northern Territory

comprises less than 5% of the national diesel fleet.

Currently, there are approximately 42 000 diesel

vehicles registered in the Northern Territory,

approximately 23 000 of which are registered in the

greater Darwin area.

A signif icant restructure has occurred in the road

transport industry in the Northern Territory over the

last 2–3 years in response to the advent of freight

services on the Adelaide to Darwin rail corridor.

FreightLink (the rail operator) has suggested it has

secured around 90% of the railable freight task and

as a result there are signif icantly increased short-haul

operations around rail terminals in Darwin, Alice

Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine.

Aggregate data on diesel emissions for the Northern

Territory is not available. However, ambient air

quality studies and the National Pollutant Inventory

indicate that motor vehicle traff ic is not a major

contributor to air emissions in the larger urban centres.

A smoky vehicle program is undertaken as part of the

Territory’s vehicle registration and roadworthiness

testing procedures. Records of diesel vehicles issued

with defect orders show that only a minor fraction

of vehicles checked as part of the vehicle registration

process received a defect notice due to engine smoke.

The majority of the Northern Territory road train

fleet is less than f ive years old and employs the latest

technology in engine management systems to minimise

fuel consumption costs. On a payload per emission

basis, road trains operating line haul operations in

remote Australia are considered to be some of the

most environmentally eff icient road freight vehicles

in the world. The Territory’s open access policy

provides for ‘as of right’ access for road trains and

100% network access for vehicles operating at higher

mass limits. In addition the Territory’s innovative

vehicle policy promotes the development of high

productivity innovative vehicle combinations which

can deliver further eff iciency benefits.

Pollutants associated with diesel emissions in the NT

are well below emission standards. Therefore, current

air quality is not considered a ‘trigger’ for change

in relation to managing diesel emissions in the NT.

The Northern Territory will continue to monitor the

need for action on diesel emissions and will take

appropriate action as required.


Measures are in place to control diesel vehicle

emissions in the Territory. Pollutants from diesel

vehicles are not a major contributor to air emissions

in larger urban centres.


EFFECTIVENESS

Although diesel vehicle exhaust emissions are not

a major source of pollution in the Northern Territory,

administrative procedures are in place to reduce

pollution from in-service diesel vehicles.

Northern Territory


Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure for the Northern Territory

by the Hon. Alison Anderson, Minister for Natural Resources, Environment

and Heritage for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


Movement of Controlled Waste betweenStates and Territories NEPM

2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8

Movement of Controlled Waste between States and Territories

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NEPM details

Title: National Environment Protection Council

(Movement of Controlled Waste between States and

Territories) Measure



(advertised in the Commonwealth of Australia

Gazette No. GN 27, 8 July 1998, p 2212)


The desired goal for the National Environment

Protection (Movement of Controlled Waste between

States and Territories) Measure is set out in clause 11


11. The national environment protection goal

of this Measure is to assist in achieving the


clause 12 by providing a basis for ensuring

that controlled wastes which are to be moved

between States and Territories are properly

identif ied, transported, and otherwise handled

in ways which are consistent with environ-

mentally sound practices for the management

of these wastes.


The desired environmental outcome for the National


Waste between States and Territories) Measure is set


12. The desired environmental outcomes of this

Measure are to minimise the potential for

adverse impacts associated with the movement

of controlled waste on the environment and

human health.

Evaluation criteria



Waste between States and Territories) Measure is







requirements



NEPM standards



Specific criteria

Clause 13(1) of the NEPM states that:

In order to facilitate reporting on the implement-

ation and effectiveness of the NEPM, the relevant

agency of each participating state and territory

should provide collated summary information

on the:

(i) movement of controlled waste into each

jurisdiction, indicating jurisdiction of origin,

waste code and quantity of waste;

(ii) level of discrepancies (e.g. non-arrival

of a consignment) as a percentage of total

authorised controlled waste movements; and

(iii) benefits arising from the implementation

of the Measure.

Commonwealth


Protection (Movement of Controlled Waste between States and Territories)

Measure for the Commonwealth by the Hon. Peter Garrett AM MP,

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts for the reporting



(Refer to page 244)




The Commonwealth implements the NEPM by using

State and Territory tracking and reporting systems.

Until a declaration applying State and Territory

legislation to Commonwealth activities is prepared

under the National Environment Protection Measures

(Implementation) Act 1998, the Commonwealth will

continue to implement the NEPM administratively.

Through its involvement in the Implementation

Working Group (IWG), the Commonwealth is working

with the States and Territories to continue to implement

the NEPM in a consistent approach.


Six Commonwealth portfolio agencies reported on

the NEPM. They were the Department of Defence,

Department of the Environment, Water Heritage and

the Arts (Australian Antarctic Division and National

Film and Sound Archive), Department of Innovation,

Industry, Science and Research (Australian Institute

of Marine Science—AIMS, Australian Nuclear

Science and Technology Organisation—ANSTO and

Commonwealth Scientif ic and Industrial Research

Organisation—CSIRO), Department of Infrastructure,

Transport, Regional Development and local government

(Airservices Australia, Airports Branch), Department

of Resources, Energy and Tourism (Geoscience

Australia) and the Treasury (Royal Australian Mint).

All of the reporting agencies indicated that they

had incorporated activities under the NEPM in their

environmental management systems, waste management

tracking systems or occupational health and safety

requirements. Some of these agencies also reported

that they were actively incorporating audits of their

systems and those of waste management contractors.

Four agencies relied on their contractors to comply

with the NEPM. One of the agencies provided

environmental training programs to the contractors

on a site by site basis while another reported that it

had implemented a new Environmental Management

Policy that would include a review of the management

of chemical waste. One of these agencies also

performed an annual audit to provide information

to management on the level of wastes on site and

its compliance with its waste strategies.

One agency reported that it had undertaken an

investigation of the implementation of the NEPM.

Another agency indicated that it had designated

environmental safety officers to provide advice on

waste disposal and NEPM. One agency was using

a risk management database to record activities that

resulted in a movement of controlled waste, with

links to licences and receipts. All agencies reported

that either relevant training was provided to the staff

involved with the reporting of the NEPM or if the

NEPM reporting was outsourced, licensed and

trained contractors were appointed.


The IWG is focused on resolving practical aspects

of the implementation of the NEPM. The Common-

wealth contributes to this work because of the similar

issues that are faced in implementing the Hazardous

Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989,

particularly in the area of compliance and enforcement.

Information seminars were undertaken by the

Department of the Environment, Water Heritage and

the Arts to assist with the NEPM reporting.

One agency reported that it had undertaken an

investigation of the implementation of the NEPM

at its sites. The investigation discovered some

inconsistencies in the documentation requirements

between jurisdictions, but on the whole, it was found

that the agency’s contractors were largely complying

with the relevant state requirements. Another agency

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reported that for the movement of its wastes into

Australia, a ‘single classification and approval’ system

be developed that would incorporate the requirements

under other legislation as well as obligations under

international treaties.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM generally operates efficiently and provides

an effective framework for implementation across the

States and Territories. Significantly, no Commonwealth

agency indicated any problems in meeting the

requirements of the NEPM.

New South Wales



Measure for New South Wales by the Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, Minister for

Climate Change and the Environment for the reporting year ended

30 June 2008


(Refer to page 244)




The Protection of the Environment Operations Act

1997 (NSW) provides the legislative framework for

the implementation of the NEPM, which is given

effect through the Protection of the Environment

Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005 (the Regulation).

Note that the Environment Protection Authority

(EPA), which administers the Regulation, is now part

of the Department of Environment and Climate

Change (DECC).


Around 90% of controlled waste movements into NSW

are now tracked on-line. There has been a substantial

drop in non-compliance with NEPM requirements

since the introduction of on-line waste tracking in

2006. More than 98%of controlled waste movements

are now compliant with NEPM requirements (Table 2).

Importantly, no incidents resulting in environmental

harm were reported in 2007–08.


has released a set of nine fact sheets to inform various

stakeholders about waste tracking responsibilities.

While all the fact sheets are applicable to interstate

controlled waste movements, one fact sheet specifically

addresses interstate movements. The fact sheets are

available in hard copy and on the DECC website.


Since the introduction of streamlined legislation and

on-line waste tracking in 2006 and following a series

of targeted compliance campaigns, there has been an

increase in compliance levels within the controlled

waste industry in NSW. The Controlled Waste NEPM

has been important in achieving these improvements

by providing common waste tracking requirements for

controlled waste movements within NSW and interstate.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM continues to provide an effective tool in

minimising the potential for adverse impacts associated

with the movement of controlled waste on the

environment and human health. A total of 102 901

tonnes of controlled waste in 6312 movements was

reported this period as having been transported into

NSW (Tables 1 and 3). This is a 20% increase on the

83 690 tonnes and 5044 movements in 2006–07.

The increase is primarily due to the high price of

lead, resulting in a substantial increase in lead acid

batteries being transported into NSW for resource

recovery, increased movements of biosolids from

Queensland into northern NSW for use as fertiliser

and increased amounts of grease trap waste and

contaminated soil from the ACT being transported to

treatment and disposal facilities in surrounding NSW.

Other signif icant changes include reduced inorganic

chemicals from Victoria and increases in paints, resins,

inks and organic sludges and putrescibles/organic

waste from Victoria and inorganic chemicals from

Tasmania. These latter changes appear to have been

brought about by changes in contractual arrangements.

In October 2007, the NSW Government introduced

a $38.60 per tonne levy on trackable liquid waste

received at licensed NSW treatment facilities. The

levy includes deductions to encourage resource

recovery and to prevent double charging for waste

subsequently sent elsewhere for further treatment

or disposal. The levy is applied to many controlled

liquid wastes, but does not apply to waste oil, grease

trap waste, sewerage sludge and spent pickle liquor

destined for reuse.

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NSW has undertaken compliance campaigns during

2007–08 targeting waste transporters and has used

video surveillance in campaigns against illegal dumping.

No unlawful activity by interstate controlled waste

transporters was identif ied during these campaigns.

Further campaigns, targeting specif ic waste streams

and using waste tracking data to target potential areas

of non-compliance are planned for 2008–09.


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Table 1: Quantity of controlled waste into New South Wales for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008

Tonnes per waste category by State/Territory

Code Description Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Total

(tonnes)

A Plating & Heat

Treatment 21.48 21.48

B Acids 11317.44 4.47 5.83 11327.74

C Alkalis 22.48 50.28 72.76

D Inorganic chemicals 29578.46 17783.65 1010.62 79.57 4481.92 174.42 85.42 53194.06

E Reactive chemicals 0.07 0.07

F Paints, resins, inks

organic sludges 2622.45 938.83 1.04 16.00 64.41 3642.73

G Organic solvents 445.08 275.97 185.13 89.03 30.18 1025.39

H Pesticides 564.28 0.07 564.35

J Oils 4397.11 373.78 54.54 26.24 1574.17 6425.84

K Putrescible/organic

waste 3914.49 12937.25 3558.42 20410.16

L Industrial washwater 0.00

M Organic chemicals 166.16 1107.39 43.80 24.21 7.00 129.91 1478.47

N Soil/sludge 1461.90 333.92 19.26 2688.07 4503.15

R Clinical &

pharmaceutical 0.20 33.79 118.81 152.80

T Misc. 27.99 2.00 52.33 82.32

State Totals (tonnes) 53931.28 34399.29 1295.13 208.81 4534.42 8446.97 85.42 102901.32

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Table 2: Discrepancies in movements of controlled waste into New South Wales for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008

Percentage of total movements

Discrepancy Type Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT

Consignment non-arrival

Transport without authorisation 0.57

Non-matching documentation 1.72 0.36 2.86 0.54 2.28

Waste data

Table 3: Number of movements of controlled waste into New South Wales for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008


2739 1926 70 68 185 1317 7



(Refer to page 244)




The key legislative instruments consist of the

Environment Protection Act 1970, the Environment

Protection (Prescribed Waste) Regulations 1998 and

the Industrial Waste Management Policy (Movement

of Controlled Waste between States and Territories)

2001 (IWMP). The Environment Protection (Prescribed

Waste) Regulations 1998 are currently under review,

however there will be no impact on the IWMP which

underpins Victoria’s enforcement of the NEPM.


The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria

is committed to the key guiding principles of the

Measure. In Victoria, the NEPM is implemented

through State policy, the IWMP. The Environment

Protection (Prescribed Waste) Regulations 1998

provide provision for the tracking system, and the

recognition of a transport licence issued in another

jurisdiction.

The Environment Protection Victoria is committed

to f ind ways to improve the effectiveness of the

Measure. Efficient administration including

compliance monitoring is a priority focus for the

tracking program. Close cooperation is maintained

between the State and Territory agencies, and the

Commonwealth representatives. In 2007–08, Victoria

continued to contribute to the working group.

For the 2007–08 reporting period, 649 authorisations

were issued, which is an increase from 520 in 2006–07

(25%). This increase is partly due to authorisations

with a limited timeframe. The total number of

movements (4127) into Victoria was higher than that

of the previous year (3608). This increase is an

indicative of the availability of a dynamic waste

recycling industry, which can deal with the full range

of recyclable wastes.


Through the enactment of implementation statute

(IWMP), Victoria has given legislative effect to the

Measure. The IWMP has provided Victoria with means

to assess each application on a consistent basis.

The consultation process and the reporting

mechanism provide closest possible uniformity with

the NEPM. Cooperation and dialogue between the

States and Territories is effective, with discrepancies

and illegal shipments being effectively resolved. EPA

Victoria maintains a close relationship with interstate

agencies, and is committed to long term engagement

to assist with enforcement efforts.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM continues to provide the framework that

is consistent with the requirements of the Victorian

industrial waste management policies. The framework

allows managing incoming wastes in such a way that

ensures that the potential for impacts associated with

the movement of controlled waste are minimised.

Victoria has in place a framework to avoid and

promote re-use and re-cycling of hazardous wastes.

Transport of wastes to and from other jurisdictions

for disposal is discouraged unless it is environmentally

preferable to do so.

Table 1 presents summary movements into Victoria

for the period 2007–08. The total amount of controlled

waste that was brought into Victoria during the

reporting year was 55 292 tonnes. This represents an

increase of approximately 1600 tonnes, compared

with the amount reported in 2006–07.

These increases reflect a consolidation of operations

within the waste management industry in Victoria.

Increased waste volumes are attributed to waste oils

Victoria



Measure for Victoria by the Hon. Gavin Jennings MLC, Minister for

Environment and Climate Change for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008

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for reuse, and lead acid battery and smelter waste for

reprocessing. Waste tracking documents show that a

very high percentage (> 90%) of the wastes are destined

for reuse, recycling or energy recovery. The amount

of recyclable waste brought into Victoria has increased

for most controlled waste categories. Wastes brought

into Victoria for energy recovery operations account

for nearly 8% of the total waste stream.

Victoria and other jurisdictions have worked together

to prevent and detect the possible breaches relating

to cross border movements of controlled waste.

During the past year, Victoria has been involved in

the provision of data extracts to other jurisdictions

to assist with their enforcement efforts.

Table 1: Quantity of controlled waste into Victoria for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008


Code Description NSW Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Total

(tonnes)

A Plating & Heat

Treatment 5.00 5.00

B Acids 334.03 0.75 20.98 1.55 357.31

C Alkalis 1809.92 0.64 1810.56

D Inorganic chemicals 15257.02 377.59 3558.33 10793.54 1357.39 0.05 851.00 32194.92

E Reactive chemicals 10.02 0.11 0.05 10.18


organic sludges 2768.74 769.14 140.20 105.38 6.28 3789.74


H Pesticides 100.16 9.94 10.31 1.42 0.56 122.39

J Oils 7623.46 2038.55 138.50 299.29 29.00 10128.80


waste 2574.86 2574.86

L Industrial washwater 105.95 105.95

M Organic chemicals 208.87 21.96 1.78 64.36 20.00 316.97

N Soil/sludge 1.96 5.38 5.78 13.12

R Clinical &

pharmaceutical 162.03 0.15 30.19 4.68 197.05

T Misc. 41.76 6.60 2.69 51.05


Table 2: Discrepancies in movements of controlled waste into Victoria for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008


Discrepancy Type NSW Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT

Consignment non-arrival 2.1 6.2 4.1 2.3 5.0 2.4 6.6

Transport without authorisation 15 1.9 1.4 5.5 43.3

Non-matching documentation 1.9 1.6 0.5 3.9 5.5 3.3

Waste data

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Table 3: Number of movements of controlled waste into Victoria for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008

NSW Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT

2490 303 193 727 343 41 30


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(Refer to page 244)




The Queensland Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) is responsible for the administration of the

Controlled Waste NEPM in Queensland. The

NEPM is implemented under the Environmental

Protection Act 1994 (EP Act), principally through

the Environmental Protection (Waste Management)

Regulation 2000. Consistent with the NEPM, the

regulation includes provisions for the tracking of

controlled waste and requirements for the prior

approval of consignments of controlled waste into

Queensland. Legislative requirements for the licensing

of controlled waste transporters are included in the

EP Act and the Environmental Protection Regulation

1998. In Queensland, administration of the NEPM

administration is integrated with intrastate tracking,

regulated waste licensing and compliance activities.


During the period 2007–08, the Queensland EPA

issued 150 consignment authorisations, compared

with 172 during the period 2006–07 and 164 for

2005–06. All consignment authorisation decisions

were made within the required timeframes.

Five consignment applications were refused during

the period. All of the applications were refused on

the basis that the proposed receiving facility was

not appropriately licensed to receive the waste. Ten

applications were refused in 2006–07 and three were

refused in 2005–06. The Queensland EPA consulted

with the applicant and the jurisdiction of origin when

a refusal decision was made.

The Queensland EPA provided comments on seventy-

eight consignment applications made to other

jurisdictions for controlled waste proposed to be

moved from Queensland, the same number as in

2006–07, and compared with eighty-one for 2005–06.

All comments were made within the required

timeframes. A total of 949 movements were tracked

into Queensland in 2007–08, compared with 843

movements in 2006–07 and 1252 in 2005–06. During

2007–08, increased quantities of inorganic and f ilter

cake waste for chemical treatment and waste oil for

recycling were transported into Queensland.

Inter-jurisdictional consultation continued to be an

important aspect of the NEPM. The Queensland EPA

continued to participate actively in the Implementation

Working Group.


The Queensland EPA has continued to administer

the NEPM to help ensure that controlled wastes are

appropriately managed. The prior approval process

through consignment authorisations and ongoing

inter-jurisdictional consultation has helped ensure

that controlled wastes are consigned to appropriately

licensed facilities.

Table 1 provides a summary of movements into

Queensland. The total amount of controlled waste

transported into Queensland was 11 358 tonnes during

2007–08, an increase from 8784 tonnes the previous

year. The 30% increase was mainly associated with

increases in chemical treatment of inorganic and filter

cake wastes and in waste oil recycling.

Discrepancies recorded in Table 2 were associated

with failures to complete waste transport certif icates

correctly. Discrepancies have been corrected and

waste handlers advised of their responsibilities under

the Environmental Protection (Waste Management)

Regulation 2000.

Queensland



Measure for Queensland by the Hon. Andrew McNamara MP, Minister for

Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation for the reporting year

ended 30 June 2008


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EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM is continuing to provide an effective

monitoring framework for inter-jurisdictional movement

of controlled waste. Jurisdictional cooperation on the

administration of the NEPM continues to help ensure

an eff icient and effective system for the protection of

the environment from environmentally hazardous wastes.

The prior notif ication system for movements of

consignment authorisation is proving effective in

identifying potential non-compliant movements

before the movements occur.

Table 1: Quantity of controlled waste into Queensland for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008


Code Description NSW Vic WA SA Tas ACT NT Total

(tonnes)

A Plating & Heat

Treatment 0.00

B Acids 35.79 12.00 1.58 0.88 0.45 4.64 55.34

C Alkalis 82.11 82.11

D Inorganic chemicals 721.75 3.39 9.53 734.67



organic sludges 495.24 495.24

G Organic solvents 0.68 0.80 1.48

H Pesticides 33.91 8.40 53.13 95.44

J Oils 5551.29 85.28 101.00 5737.57


waste 654.86 654.86


M Organic chemicals 302.92 47.13 350.05

N Soil/sludge 172.67 10.85 18.50 1103.62 1305.64

R Clinical &

pharmaceutical 290.60 1553.76 1844.36

T Misc. 0.00


Table 2: Discrepancies in movements of controlled waste into Queensland for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008


Discrepancy Type NSW Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT

Consignment non-arrival

Transport without authorisation

Non-matching documentation

Waste data 9 4 7


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Table 3: Number of movements of controlled waste into Queensland for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008

NSW Vic WA SA Tas ACT NT

579 289 1 14 55 11


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(Refer to page 244)




The Environmental Protection (Controlled Waste)

Regulations 2004 provide for the licensing of the

transport of controlled wastes and the provision of

permits detailing what waste is carried by whom and

where it is taken. This is the mechanism by which

implementation of the Controlled Waste NEPM has

been achieved in WA. The Industry Regulation

Branch of the Environmental Regulation Division

has carriage of this function.

The web based interactive tracking system implemented

by the Department in early 2004 to coincide with the

gazettal of the regulations is proving to be a valuable

tool in tighter enforcement of the regulations in

addition to providing accurate information on volumes

and categories of controlled wastes transported

intra-state. However the tracking system is not suitable

at present for the tracking of interstate transport of

controlled wastes. This is not a serious problem as

the volumes moving into WA are relatively low, are

readily tracked and approvals are entered in a simple

Excel spreadsheet.

The Environmental Protection (Controlled Waste)

Regulations 2004 are being reviewed and some changes

may be made, so as to improve the administration of

the Controlled Waste NEPM in WA.


Through the Controlled Waste Regulations the NEPM

has been implemented State-wide in WA.

There is no evidence to suggest that there has been

less than full compliance with NEPM requirements

for the year ending June 2008.

Regular contact has been maintained with other

jurisdictions and the required administrative protocols

have been followed with all movements of controlled

waste across the WA border. Some possible non

compliance has been observed, however through this

inter-jurisdictional contact, these cases have been

resolved and found to be compliant transactions.


It is believed that implementation of the NEPM

in association with the Environmental Protection

(Controlled Waste) Regulations 2004, has achieved

the stated environmental outcome to minimise the

potential for adverse impacts on the environment

and human health associated with the movement

of controlled waste across the WA borders.


EFFECTIVENESS

Whilst there are limited numbers of movements

of controlled waste across the Western Australia

borders, twenty six in 2007–08, f ifteen in 2006–07

as compared and thirty four in 2005–06, the NEPM

is effective in that:

• the environmental outcomes have been met. Whilst

there are no known instances of waste coming into

Western Australia untracked or being disposed of

inappropriately there is general increased diligence

by this jurisdiction in scrutinising waste transport

• there is clear data available on the known movements

• the waste industry, especially the transport sector

has clear guidelines on the transport of controlled

wastes across State and Territory borders. These

are consistent between States and Territories, the

same codes are used and similar forms are used.

The willingness of the waste industry to comply

with the NEPM requirements indicates that it

appreciates this uniformity.

Western Australia



Measure for Western Australia by the Hon. Donna Faragher MLC,

Minister for Environment for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


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Table 2: Number of movements of controlled waste into Western Australia for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008

NSW Vic Qld SA Tas ACT NT

7 12 2 1 2 2

Table 1: Quantity of controlled waste into Western Australia for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008


Code Description NSW Vic Qld SA Tas ACT NT Total

(tonnes)

A Plating & Heat

Treatment 0.00

B Acids 0.00

C Alkalis 0.00

D Inorganic chemicals 60.00 60.00

E Reactive chemicals 0.00


organic sludges 69.00 69.00

G Organic solvents 0.00

H Pesticides 0.70 8.00 9.60 18.30

J Oils 100.00 100.00


waste 6.00 6.00


M Organic chemicals 0.00

N Soil/sludge 72.00 76.00 1.00 80.00 229.00

R Clinical &

pharmaceutical 0.00

T Misc. 104.07 152.67 256.74


No discrepancies were reported for the period of 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008.


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(Refer to page 244)




The Environment Protection Authority undertakes the

administration of the Measure. The Measure operates

as an Environment Protection Policy in South Australia

pursuant to provisions of the Environment Protection

Act 1993 (the Act). It is implemented through

conditions attached to an Environmental Authorisation

in accordance with Section 45 of the Act.


The Measure is now fully implemented in South

Australia. Waste producers, transporters and operators

of waste facilities are required to:

• utilise Waste Transport Certif icates

• where necessary apply for consignment

authorisations prior to consigning, transporting

or receiving controlled waste.

Information received from Waste Certificates is entered

into the EPA’s database that enables reconciliation

of waste transported against waste received and

summaries of waste types and amounts managed

in accordance with the Measure.


The assessment of the information received via Waste

Transport Certif icates enables compliance measures

to be taken in regard to persons not appropriately

authorised or licensed to transport or receive controlled

wastes. This measure has assisted in ensuring that

controlled wastes are properly transported and managed

at facilities and minimises the risk of these activities,

which accords with the goal of the Measure.

Communication between South Australia and other

jurisdictions has been regular, frequent and open, and

has assisted in understanding the issues relating to the

inter-jurisdictional management of controlled wastes.


EFFECTIVENESS

The continued implementation of the Measure has

provided improved opportunities and provided a

medium for consultation and communication with

other jurisdictions in regard to waste management.

The Measure has assisted the waste management

industry’s understanding of the clear requirements

for the transportation of waste into and out of South

Australia. It has enabled the Environment Protection

Authority to ensure that controlled wastes entering

South Australia are transported and treated in a fashion

that minimises the potential for adverse impacts on

the environment or human health. It has also allowed

for controlled wastes to be transported to other

jurisdictions for treatment in a proper and satisfactory

fashion, reducing stockpiles in South Australia.

South Australia



Measure for South Australia by the Hon. Jay Weatherill MP, Minister for

Environment and Conservation for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


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Table 2: Discrepancies in movements of controlled waste into South Australia for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008


Discrepancy Type NSW Vic Qld WA Tas ACT NT

Consignment non-arrival 38 16 38 21 67 27

Transport without authorisation 1 2

Non-matching documentation 98 61 85 62 99 79

Waste data 13 26 38 36 3

Table 3: Number of movements of controlled waste into South Australia for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008

NSW Vic Qld WA Tas ACT NT

313 170 34 81 141 217

Table 1: Quantity of controlled waste into South Australia for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008


Code Description NSW Vic Qld WA Tas ACT NT Total

(tonnes)

A Plating & Heat

Treatment 0.75 11.56 0.44 12.75

B Acids 1.44 11.43 12.87

C Alkalis 38.10 38.10

D Inorganic chemicals 790.29 2456.05 1235.90 2343.92 1.15 6827.31



organic sludges 117.80 44.85 1.44 164.09


H Pesticides 12.87 12.87

J Oils 39.40 415.89 715.43 2483.60 3654.32


waste 0.00


M Organic chemicals 2.50 2.50

N Soil/sludge 345.01 0.25 345.26

R Clinical &

pharmaceutical 2.00 73.24 75.24

T Misc. 75.62 75.62



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(Refer to page 244)




In Tasmania the NEPM is a State Policy under the

State Policies and Projects Act 1993. The key legislative

instrument for implementation of the NEPM is the


Act 1994. By early 2009, Controlled Waste Tracking

Regulations will be in force to further strengthen the

regulatory framework for the NEPM. The Department

of Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts is the

responsible Agency for the purposes of implementation

of the NEPM.


The NEPM is fully implemented in Tasmania. It is

delivered primarily through specif ic requirements on

waste transport companies by issuing Waste Transport

Business-Environment Protection Notices (WTB–EPNs)

under the Environmental Management and Pollution

Control Act 1994. New transport regulations will be

in place by early 2009 and will introduce a tracking

system analogous to the NEPM, by requiring waste

transport certif icates to move controlled waste.

Tasmania regularly consults with the other jurisdictions

on NEPM matters such as issuing Consignment

Authorisations and appropriateness of treatment/

disposal facilities. Tasmania continues to participate

in all implementation aspects of the NEPM including

exchange of relevant information, through active

membership in the Implementation Working Group

which has met face to face during the reporting period.

Issues raised by industry, waste transport companies

and other Agencies continue to be satisfactorily

resolved through this forum.


Compliance of the NEPM requirements by waste

producers, transport companies and receiving facilities

has been good and there have been no discrepancies

over the reporting period. This reflects a high level

of awareness by the industry of their requirements

under the NEPM. The Environment Division continues

to assist waste producers and transport companies in

identifying controlled wastes to ensure appropriate

handling and disposal. Tasmania consults on a regular

basis with other jurisdictions to ensure compliance

and exchange of key information about controlled

waste movements.


EFFECTIVENESS

A significant impetus in achieving the NEPM goal has

been on-going consultation between waste producers,

transporters and DEPHA on controlled waste matters.

A reduction in risks of adverse impacts associated

with transport of controlled waste on the environment

and human health has been achieved through improved

waste management and tracking. There have been

additional consultations between jurisdictions (with

Victoria in particular) in relation to the appropriateness

of issuing consignment authorisations. This reporting

period has seen a large increase in the movements

of waste into Tasmania. The main reason for this

was Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) dust from Victoria

and New South Wales for reprocessing; however the

State still relies on access to appropriate facilities

of neighbour States for various classes of

controlled wastes.

There is a high level of awareness and compliance

with the NEPM requirements in Tasmania as evidenced

by more accurate waste tracking documentation being

received by the Environment Division.

Tasmania



Measure for Tasmania by the Hon. Michelle O’Byrne MP, Minister for the

Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts for the reporting year ended

30 June 2008


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Table 2: Number of movements of controlled waste into Tasmania for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008

NSW Vic Qld WA SA ACT NT

34 236 13

Table 1: quantity of controlled waste into Tasmania for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008


Code Description NSW Vic Qld WA SA ACT NT Total

(tonnes)

A Plating & Heat

Treatment 0.00

B Acids 2.16 2.16

C Alkalis 0.00

D Inorganic chemicals 622.96 4735.56 0.13 5358.65



organic sludges 0.00

G Organic solvents 18.20 18.20

H Pesticides 0.00

J Oils 4.80 4.80


waste 30.21 30.21


M Organic chemicals 0.00

N Soil/sludge 35.54 35.54

R Clinical &

pharmaceutical 0.00

T Misc. 0.28 0.28



Note: ACT figures reflect waste from the Australian Antarctic Territory


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(Refer to page 244)




Environment Protection and Heritage part of

Environment and Recreation, Territory and Municipal

Services Department is responsible for the administration

of the NEPM through the Environment Protection

Act 1997 (the Act) and Division 7.2 (Transport of

Controlled Waste) of the Environment Protection

Regulations 2005.


The NEPM has been fully implemented in the ACT.

Environment Protection and Heritage continued to

work with industry during 2007–08 to ensure efficient

implementation of the NEPM.

NEPM documents (which include an explanation of

producer, transporter and waste facility responsibilities

and instructions on how to complete a waste transport

certif icate) produced by Environment Protection and

Heritage continue to be of great benefit to stakeholders

in ensuring compliance with their statutory

requirements.

All parties bound by the NEPM have complied with

the NEPM’s protocols and information reporting

requirements. Regular contact has been maintained

with other jurisdictions to ensure cooperative

administration of the NEPM.

Environment Protection and Heritage continued to

participate in the Implementation Working Group for

the NEPM.


The ACT has continued to administer the NEPM to

ensure that the goal of the NEPM is achieved. The

NEPM has been fully operational in the ACT since

March 2000 and no major issues have been identif ied

with its operation. To the end of the reporting period

a total of f ifty-four consignment authorisations have

been issued, this number includes the renewal of

ongoing consignment numbers.

A large number of movements have continued into

the ACT for the treatment of polychlorinated biphenyl

contaminated oil treatment by the ESI (Energy Services

Invironmental) facility and Stericorp for the

treatment of clinical waste.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM continues to provide an effective means

of tracking hazardous waste between jurisdictions,

and minimising environmental risk from interstate

transportation of controlled waste.




Measure for the Australian Capital Territory by Mr Jon Stanhope MLA,

Minister for the Environment, Water and Climate Change for the reporting



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Table 2: Number of movements of controlled waste into the Australian Capital Territory for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008

NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas NT

935 1

Table 1: Quantity of controlled waste into the Australian Capital Territory for the period

1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008


Code Description NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas NT Total

(tonnes)

A Plating & Heat

Treatment 0.00

B Acids 0.00

C Alkalis 0.00

D Inorganic chemicals 0.00



organic sludges 0.00

G Organic solvents 0.00

H Pesticides 0.00

J Oils 269.38 269.38


waste 0.00


M Organic chemicals 478.25 11.90 490.15

N Soil/sludge 0.00

R Clinical &

pharmaceutical 258.93 258.93

T Misc. 0.00




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(Refer to page 244)




The Waste Management and Pollution Control Act

1998 (the Act) provides the legislative basis to regulate

and administer the NEPM. The Department of

Natural Resources, Environment the Arts and Sport

currently administers the NT’s obligations through

licensing of scheduled activities that involve the

movement of controlled wastes across State/Territory

boundaries and the issuing and receipt of Waste

Transport Certif icates. This level of involvement

is commensurate with the terms of the Agreement

between States and Territories on matters relating

to the implementation of the NEPM. The level of

environmental safeguard is further bolstered within

the Territory by the NT Worksafe administration of

the Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Act.


The Northern Territory is currently meeting its

obligations under the NEPM requirements and

complying with NEPM protocols. The Territory is

administering tracking requirements via the 5 docket

Waste Transport Certif icates currently adopted by all

other signatories to the Agreement with the exception

of NSW. The level of sophistication in tracking

movements is fairly rudimentary, and the Territory

is of the opinion that any increase in the technology

afforded to tracking should be carried out at a national

level and made available to all States and Territories

in order to maintain continuity and consistency in the

approach to tracking.

Activities involving the transfer of controlled wastes

across State and Territory boundaries are scheduled

under the Act and are licensed in accordance with the

NEPM protocols.

There were no recorded movements of controlled waste

into the NT in the reporting period. No discrepancies

have been recorded.


The Northern Territory considers that current tenor

in which the NEPM is being implemented is sufficient

to meet the obligations under the Agreement. It

has, however, been considered that should the NT

experience a marked increase in controlled waste

movements and/or has become the focus for movements

into the Territory, further consideration as to the

development of an Environmental Protection Objective

under section 22 of the Act may be necessary.


EFFECTIVENESS

Currently the Territory is a net exporter of controlled

wastes interstate. Licensing for the movement of

controlled waste interstate and general reporting

obligations under the Act have not indicated any

inconsistencies in meeting NEPM Goals and Desired

Environmental Outcomes.

Tracking of controlled wastes through the current

docket system does give rise to some inconsistency

in the receipt of treatment/disposal documentation.

This has on occasion been alleviated by contacting

reciprocal off icers in other jurisdictions. The

Territory is aware of steps in other jurisdictions to

implement electronic tracking and supports the move

to speed up and improve the transfer of information

on waste movements and to reduce the administrative

burden to both the Public and Private sectors. The

Territory is, however, unable to support the cost of

developing its own electronic tracking system due

in part to the relatively small volume of controlled

waste moved interstate, the small number of licensed

entities from which revenue could be derived in

support of such a move and the complexities of

trying to legislate for intrastate waste movements.

Northern Territory



Measure for the Northern Territory by the Hon. Alison Anderson, Minister

for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage for the reporting year

ended 30 June 2008



2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8

National Pollutant Inventory


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NEPM details


(National Pollutant Inventory) Measure

Made by Council: 27 February 1998

Commencement Date: Clauses 1 and 2 of the Measure

commenced on the date of Gazettal 4 March 1998


No. S89, 4 March 1998, p 1) with the remaining

provisions of the Measure commencing on 1 July 1998.


The environment protection goals are established

by clause 6 of this Measure as follows:

6. The national environment protection goals

established by this Measure are to assist in

reducing the existing and potential impacts of

emissions of substances and to assist government,

industry and the community in achieving the


clause 5 by providing a basis for:

(a) the collection of a broad base of information

on emissions of substances on the reporting

list to air, land and water; and

(b) the dissemination of information collected

to all sectors of the community in a useful,

accessible and understandable form.

In summary, the NPI NEPM provides the framework

for the development and establishment of the NPI

which is an Internet database designed to provide

publicly available information on the types and

amounts of certain chemicals being emitted to the

air, land and water.


The desired environmental outcomes, as set out

in clause 5 of the Measure, are:

(a) the maintenance and improvement of:

(i) ambient air quality; and

(ii) ambient marine, estuarine and fresh

water quality;

(b) the minimisation of environmental impacts

associated with hazardous wastes; and

(c) an expansion in the re-use and recycling

of used materials.

Evaluation criteria









requirements



NEPM standards



Specific criteria

Longer term performance indicators relating to the

effectiveness of the National Pollutant Inventory

(NPI) have been listed in some Memoranda of

Understanding (MOU) between the Commonwealth

and the State and Territories for the years 2005–09.

They have been included to provide jurisdictions

with a guide to the type of information that could

be reported. Indicators could include:

• number of ‘hits’ on data base

• number of facility reports on the database

• feedback/data from industry indicates that the

process of emission estimation and reporting from

the NPI has led to increased consideration of waste

minimisation and cleaner production initiatives

• feedback from users of the database on its usability

and on the relevance of the information for their needs

• total number of reporters in comparison to 2006–07

• range of industry sectors reporting

• number of new reporters

• new industry sectors reporting

• any other indicator identif ied.

Jurisdictions should report on those specif ic criteria

that are appropriate for their responsibilities under

the NPI Measure.

Commonwealth


Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure for the Commonwealth

by the Hon. Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage



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(Refer to page 266)




The NEPM is implemented through administrative

arrangements.


Overview

Commonwealth activities focused on:

• participating in the 2008 NEPM minor variation

process

• implementing the outcomes of the 2007 NEPM

variation process, for example the reporting of

transfers of waste

• progressing and rolling out the online reporting

system for industry reporters

• improving data quality with revised emission

estimation technique manuals and new

calculation tools

• publishing the year nine (2006–07) facility data

and other information on the NPI web site

• hosting the inaugural NPI Conference in May 2008

• improving the NPI web site

• promoting the NPI to raise awareness of the

NPI program.

Strategic directions

Following the enactment of the National Greenhouse

and Energy Reporting Act 2007 in September 2007,

all existing greenhouse gas and energy reporting

requirements within the NPI ceased to have effect.

In order to remove these reporting obligations, a minor

variation of the NPI NEPM was initiated. A project

team comprising of representatives from the Australian

Government, Queensland and New South Wales was

formed. The team developed documentation outlining

the proposed changes and released it for public comment

in June 2008. A final decision on the variation to the

NPI NEPM will be made in 2008–09 at a future

meeting of environment ministers.

Implementing the changes from the major NPI NEPM

variation which was agreed to by all environment

ministers in June 2007, has taken place, in particular

with the introduction of industry reporting their

transfers of waste. The Australian Government has

developed guidance material to assist reporters to

determine their transfers. Industry will commence

collection of their data from 1 January 2008

(calendar year reporters) and 1 July 2008 (f inancial

year reporters). In accordance with the usual

jurisdictional procedures, the f irst year of transfers

data will be published on the NPI web site on

31 March 2010.

Other priorities for the Australian Government

included publishing facility data for the 2006–07

reporting year and progressing recommendations

from the 2005 NPI Review that relate to

operational issues.

During 2007–08, the Commonwealth focussed on

improvements to the systems and processes essential

to the NPI program. Changes included:

• development and roll out of the NPI online

reporting system to simplify the process by which

industry reports their emissions to the NPI, as

well as provide improved validation. This, in turn,

will feed into an enhanced jurisdictional database

system allowing for more effective auditing of

emissions data. The Australian Government ran

a series of training workshops across the country,

instructing over 100 reporters on the usability

of the new system

• reviewing and updating materials provided to

industry to help them estimate emissions from their

facilities. This work includes reviewing current

emission factors, revising emission estimation

technique manuals and developing calculation

tools to make it simpler for industry to estimate

their emissions

• redesigning the NPI web site to improve the

database search functionality.

Implementation

The Commonwealth is responsible for collecting

facility data from other Australian Government

agencies, and this year collected data from one

agency, the Department of Defence. Due to national

security provisions, emission reports were received

from Defence administrative facilities only. Other

government agencies reported to the jurisdiction

where the facility is located.

Strategic linkages are continuing with industry

associations to improve data quality and streamline

reporting. Consultancies were undertaken to update

the emission estimation technique (EET) manuals for

combustion in engines, combustion in boilers, railway

yard operations, fuel and organic liquid storage and

cement manufacturing. The NPI and the Aluminium

Council liaised to update the alumina refining emission

estimation technique manual and also liaised with the

Water Services Association of Australia to update the

potable water emission estimation technique manual.

Consultancies were also let to update the airports,

maritime operations, sewage and wastewater treatment

and municipal solid waste landfill emission estimation

technique manuals.

Other EET manuals that are in initial development

include mining (gold), and plastics and chemical

manufacture. The allied health sector is also expected

to become a signif icant reporter as a result of the

lowering of the mercury NPI reporting threshold.

Updated NPI reporting and industry guidance material

will result from these consultancies and reports.


Meetings of the Implementation Working Group were

held in July and October 2007, and February and

June 2008.

The main issues discussed were:

• progress of the NPI NEPM variation and

associated funding

• provision and publication of data for the 2006–07

reporting year

• design and development of the new NPI online

reporting system and improvements to the NPI

web site

• review and revision of industry reporting materials

• communication activities including development

of a marketing strategy to raise awareness of the

NPI, NPI conference and production of a range

of promotional materials.

Emerging issues

There will be ongoing work to develop industry

guidance materials, database modifications and

industry training. The NPI online reporting system

will streamline reporting and reduce the compliance

burden on industry. NPI calendar year reporters

submitted their emission reports on the new system

in early 2008. Official online system reporting

training commenced in February 2008 and then

again in June 2008.

Facility emission reports

Facility emissions data for the 2006–07 reporting

year was published on 31 March 2008. The number

of facilities reporting increased to 3955 compared

to 3890 the previous year.

NPI database and website

Database

With the implementation of outcomes of the NPI

NEPM variation, there are now ninety-three reportable

substances on the NPI database.

Most of these substances are considered in diffuse

emissions to air in air shed studies. The boundaries

of NPI air sheds are selected by government agencies.

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NPI reporting facilities

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2000

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A total of thirty-three studies were completed by the

end of 2006–07, covering all capital cities and many

urban regions in Australia. The most recent airshed

study was that of the Greater Sydney, Newcastle and

Wollongong Regions within NSW. This airshed study

replaced the Sydney Newcastle Wollongong airshed.

The boundaries of water catchments are determined

by the drainage of interconnected river systems,

which sometimes cross state or territory borders. To

date, thirty-two catchment studies have been completed

for the main urban and rural areas in Australia.

Website

In 2007–08, the NPI web site had 591 644 new user

sessions compared to 562 391 new user sessions in the

previous year. This is an increase of 5% in 2007–08.

Amendment to the NPI web site is an ongoing task.

In 2007–08, work commenced to develop an

educational resource for students and teachers exploring

sources of pollution which will be published on the

NPI web site in 2008–09.

Industry reporting materials

In collaboration with industry and industry

associations and/or state and territory environment

agencies, changes have been made to the NPI industry

reporting materials including combustion in engines,

combustion in boilers, railway yard operations, fuel

and organic liquid storage, cement manufacturing,

alumina refining, potable water airports, maritime

operations, sewage and wastewater treatment and

municipal solid waste landfill.

Education programs

To raise the profile of the NPI, a two day conference

was held in May 2008. The conference brought

together a range of stakeholders to discuss a number

of themes around the NPI including enhance and

increase awareness of the program and to encourage

discussion on ways to improve and support informed

decision making processes at an environmental and

economic level.

To assist industry in using the new NPI online

reporting system, the Australian Government has held

training sessions with reporters across the country.


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Map of Australia showing the locations of NPI reporting facilities for 2006–07,

air sheds and water catchments

One of the main goals of the NPI is to encourage

facilities to use cleaner production techniques to

reduce substance emissions and decrease waste. The

NPI has been working collaboratively with industry

to develop new case studies on particular facilities

that have implemented cleaner production techniques

and installed pollution control equipment.

A range of promotional materials was produced to

promote the NPI to different users. These items were

distributed to reporters attending the training as well

as at the NPI Conference. NPI stakeholders also

received a copy of the 2006–07 summary report.

The NPI had a presence at the 14th International Union

of Air Pollution Prevention Associations (IUAPPA)

World Congress held in Brisbane from 9–13 September

2007 to raise awareness of the program.


The Commonwealth continues to work cooperatively

with all jurisdictions to implement the NPI NEPM,

and improve the online inventory so that reporting

is easier for industry, data accuracy is upgraded

and its use is increased by the community, industry

and government.


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PART 3 — ASSESSMENT OF NEPM EFFECTIVENESS

Participation levels Feedback from the community, Implementation

industry and government activity/effectiveness

PUBLIC

• 591 644 new user sessions

on database

• Widespread support from

industry, community advocates

and government for the NPI

• Web site needs some

improvement in terms of

usability and data presentation

to meet the needs of dual

audiences

• Industry guidance materials

need to be updated to ensure

that inappropriate and outdated

methodologies are removed

• Need for ongoing public

awareness programs to promote

use of the NPI to a wider

audience

• Inaugural NPI conference for

NPI stakeholders

• Distribution of promotional

materials at conferences and

training sessions

• Maintenance of the free call

phone line receiving more than

twelve calls a month, in

conjunction with a public email

inbox replying to about 200

emails annually

• Ongoing development of

educational resources and case

studies of industry emission

reduction activities



GOVERNMENT

• no desktop audits

• no on-site audits

• no regulatory actions

• Scoping study into the sources

of mercury in Australia, with

a focus on compact fluorescent

lamps

• Air Toxics Tier 2 prioritisation

methodology

• Inaugural NPI Conference held

in May 2008.

• Inclusion of NPI into the

Defence risk matrix and EMS.

• Provision of support and advice

to the South African

Government in the formation

of a bilateral climate change

agreement.

PART 4 — REPORTING REQUIRED BY THE NEPM

Reporting information is available on the National Pollutant Inventory website at <www.npi.gov.au>.


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INDUSTRY

• 3955 reports for 2006–07

• 3890 reports for 2005–06

• 215 new reporters

• no new sectors reporting

• no confidentiality claims

submitted

• Industry has been supportive

of the new online reporting

system.

• Industry representatives have

been supportive of improving

NPI reporting materials and

emission factors. The NPI has

developed positive working

interactions with these bodies.

• Development of the online

reporting system to streamline

reporting and improve data

quality. Subsequently, training

of NPI reporters across each

jurisdiction to utilise the NPI

online reporting system.

• Updated 8 industry manuals

• Responding to industry queries

for assistance with reporting

received in the public email

box or by phone.

• Regular liaison with industry

through visits to industrial

sites, and consultation with

industry reporters and industry

associations.


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New South Wales


Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure for New South Wales

by the Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, Minister for Climate Change and the



(Refer to page 266)




The NSW Department of Environment and Climate

Change (DECC) implements and enforces the NPI

under the provisions of the Protection of the

Environment Operations (General) Regulation 1998.

The regulation establishes reporting requirements

for industrial facilities in NSW and also prescribes

the offences for which penalty notices may be issued,

which include failure to lodge a report when due

and failure to keep and produce records.


Overview

The NSW Government has a strong commitment

to the NPI as part of its strategy to ensure that the

community has access to environmental information.

NSW continued to focus on improving data quality

in order to improve the usefulness of the dataset and

participated in a range of other activities to raise

awareness of the NPI.

NSW delivered comprehensive updated diffuse

sources data for the Greater Metropolitan Region

(GMR) airshed. The study area covers 57 330 km2

and includes the greater Sydney, Newcastle and

Wollongong regions. The study commenced in 2004

and took three years to complete. The inventory

includes emissions from biogenic (i.e. natural) and

anthropogenic (i.e. human) derived sources. GMR air

emission inventory includes diffuse emissions from

seventy-three different NPI substances from 23 sources.

NSW delivered a series of information and training

sessions to industry that included a basic background

to the NPI; guidance on the new Online Reporting

System; and information regarding the introduction

of transfers reporting.

NSW continued to take an active role in the NPI

NEPM Variation process ensuring that all stakeholders

participated in the consultation process and the costs

and benefits to industry, government and the

community associated with the proposed changes

were identif ied and examined.


New South Wales continued to focus on improving

the quality of facility reports and encouraging new

reporters by maintaining a high level of support

for industry. The Department of Environment and

Climate Change used NPI data to inform policy

and regulatory approaches and support cleaner

production activities.

New South Wales continued to provide support to

national processes. New South Wales reviewed all

updated industry manuals and actively contributed to

the refinement of the Online Reporting System. New

South Wales provided additional support in project

managing a review of the Chemical Industry manuals

and the update of the Maritime Operations manual.

Implementation

New South Wales provided signif icant staff resources

to manage and implement the facility reporting

elements of the NPI. Data accuracy has improved

with DECC verif ication procedures resulting in

querying the data of more than one hundred and f ifty

facilities and amendment of data from eighty facilities.

In December 2007, the NSW facility data was

delivered to the Commonwealth on time for release

on the NPI database in March 2008. Reminder

notices were sent to thirty facilities concerning late

submission of their reports. No facilities were issued

with Penalty Infringement Notices for failing to meet

reporting deadlines for the second consecutive year.


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The data for the update of the aggregated emissions

inventory for the Sydney–Newcastle–Wollongong

airshed was f inalised and has been released by the

Commonwealth. The updated dataset contains emissions

data from a wider range of diffuse sources which

will provide a far more comprehensive representation

of emissions in the greater metropolitan region.

NSW attended the National Pollutant Inventory

Conference 2008; 10 Years of NPI: Tracking

pollution across Australia. A DECC staff member

delivered a presentation on Air Emissions Inventory

of the GMR in NSW – the study which was used to

provide updated diffuse sources data to the NPI.


New South Wales continues to actively participate

in the Implementation Working Group processes

with DECC officers attending IWG meetings and

teleconferences. Regular contact was maintained with

staff from NPI teams in other jurisdictions in order

to discuss technical, policy and administrative issues

and ensure consistency in implementation.

Emerging issues

National Pollutant Inventory reporting processes

are well-established in NSW and industry annually

provides robust emissions data. The variation to the

NPI NEPM, particularly the reporting of transfers,

will result in substantial changes to the reporting

requirements for industry and the administration

role for the DECC.

A signif icant concern for NSW will be the increased

workload for the DECC to provide industry with the

necessary level of support for them to understand the

new requirements to report transfers.

DECC officers continue to provide education and

support for the use of the new Online Reporting

System which should streamline reporting for

companies that report for multiple facilities and

reduce the data entry load for DECC.


• 769 NSW facilities reported, up from 757 in the

previous year

• 49 facilities reported for the f irst time

• each facility reported an average of 9.3 substances

• 81 of the 90 substances were reported against

• 390 facilities reported costs at an average of

$3,630, down from $3,730 per facility in the

previous year

• 476 reporting facilities hold environment protection

licences under NSW environmental legislation.


New South Wales notes the continuing efforts of

the Commonwealth to improve the presentation of

information on the website. A major concern for

NSW is the limited presentation of aggregated water

emissions data, which means that website users are

unable to utilise the full range of data available.


New South Wales continues to provide on-going

comments on NPI industry reporting material, such

as the review of emission estimation technique

manuals. New South Wales facilities are able to use

load calculation methodologies allowed under the

Load-Based Licensing Scheme to calculate emissions

for equivalent substances under the NPI. Some

facilities have received approval to use alternative

emission estimation techniques based on site-specif ic

data or engineering techniques.

New South Wales has project managed a review

of the three chemical industries manuals; Chemical

Product Manufacture; Inorganic Chemicals

Manufacturing; and Organic Chemical Processing to

determine whether these manuals should be updated.

New South Wales also project managed the update

of the Maritime Operations manual and provided

content for the Transfers Information Booklet.

Education programs

New South Wales continues to provide technical

advice and support, education and information about

other aspects of the NPI program including advice

on accessing the NPI database, the NSW regulatory

requirements and the purpose of the NPI to reporters,

industry researchers, local government and students.

Industry groups, local government and non-government

organisations are regularly informed of NPI progress

through DECC correspondence and briefings.

New South Wales delivered a series of information

and training sessions to industry that included a basic

background to the NPI; guidance on the new Online

Reporting System; and information regarding the


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PUBLIC

• 591 644 new user sessions on

database

• Academics and researchers are

using NPI data for modelling

and/or other studies.

• Some members of the public

are using the NPI database

to f ind out about emissions

in their area.

• Anecdotal evidence suggests

that the presentation of NPI

data needs to be reviewed and

presented in a more user

friendly means.

• Increased use of NPI data in

the media illustrates growing

awareness of the dataset.

INDUSTRY

• 769 reports for 2006–07



• No new sectors reporting

• 1 confidentiality claim

submitted and refused

• New reporters benefit from

extensive support provided

by NPI officers.

• Reporters are indicating that

NPI reporting is less onerous

as they have established

systems and processes to

complete their reports.

• Reporters are indicating that

NPI staff are informative and

approachable.

• Ongoing advice and assistance

is provided to industry.

• Information and Training

Sessions were attended by

approximately 150 reporters.

introduction of transfers reporting. Information

sessions were delivered at four regional centres

throughout NSW and nine training sessions were

held in Sydney which enabled attendees to gain hands

on experience with the new Online Reporting System.

The Sydney training sessions were delivered in

collaboration with the Commonwealth.


New South Wales efficient data-entry and verification

process resulted in the timely submission of the

2006–07 NPI industry data before the 31 December

deadline. There is good industry acceptance and

compliance with NPI reporting requirements in NSW.

The majority of reporters are demonstrating a better

understanding of reporting requirements and

submitting reports with improved accuracy. This year

thirty facilities received notif ication that their reports

did not meet the statutory timeframes for reporting.

No facilities received Penalty Infringement Notices

for failure to meet statutory timeframes for the

second consecutive year.


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GOVERNMENT

• 769 desktop audits

• No on-site audits

• No penalty infringement

notices issued

• 30 notif ication letters sent for

failure to submit NPI report

by due date

• NPI emissions data was used

by government agencies to

inform their policy and

regulatory approaches.

• NPI emissions data assists

DECC in assessing impacts

of regulation by catchment,

airshed, industry sector and

substance.

• Internal presentations improve

the awareness of DECC staff

on the value of NPI data.





(Refer to page 266)




In the State of Victoria, EPA Victoria (EPA) under the

provisions of the Environment Protection Act 1970,

implements and enforces the National Environmental

Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure

(NEPM) on behalf of the Victorian Government

through the Industrial Waste Management Policy

(National Pollutant Inventory) (IWMP NPI). The

NPI NEPM was gazetted in February 1998, while the

IWMP NPI came into operation upon publication

in the Victorian Government Gazette (No. S 107)

on 6 October 1998.

Following the 2005 program review, Victoria

together with other Australian jurisdictions agreed

to participate in a variation to the NPI NEPM. After

rigorous work by the project team and extensive

public consultation, the varied NEPM was published

in August 2007 and included the reporting of transfers

of NPI substances in waste to f inal destinations and

greenhouse gases, lowering the threshold for mercury

and adding acrolein, polychlorinated biphenyls and

fine particulate matter of 2.5 microns or smaller to

the current substance list.

Subsequent to the passing of The National Greenhouse

and Energy Reporting Act 2007, NEPC initiated in

April 2008 a minor NPI NEPM variation process to

revoke the reporting requirements from the NPI

related to greenhouse gas emissions.


Overview

The Victorian Government has a strong commitment

to the NPI as a means of providing environmental

information to the community and prompting

industry to identify possible areas for environmental

improvement within their operations. This commitment

is reflected by the EPA actively participating in the

NEPM variation and in the NPI conference in May

2008; contributing to the further development of

industry reporting materials; assisting industry in

understanding NPI reporting methodologies and

recent program changes; and raising public awareness

about the NPI.


In 2007–08, EPA Victoria focused on further

improving the quality of industry emissions data

on the public website, enthusiastically contributing

to the development by the federal Department of

Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA)

of the new web-based reporting system and assisting

industry in adapting to the signif icant changes posed

by the varied NEPM and the new reporting system.

Implementation

In Victoria, NPI implementation was jointly funded

by the Federal and State Governments in accordance

with the Memorandum of Understanding signed in

September 2005 to cover the period of 1 July 2005

to 30 June 2009. The NPI team of three full-time staff

provided support to industry reporters and verif ied

emission data. An additional short-term officer was

employed during the peak report assessment period.

The interaction and cooperation between the NPI

team and other EPA staff contributed to industrial

facilities assessment and emissions trend analysis.

The Air Quality Study team continued enhancing

the aggregated air emission estimates for the Port

Phillip region.

EPA Victoria continued its efforts to expand the

number of industries participating in the NPI program.

Since the intensive agriculture sector was identif ied

as having a low participation rate, Victoria together

with other jurisdictions continued discussions with

state and national industry associations and directly

Victoria


Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure for Victoria by the

Hon. Gavin Jennings MLC, Minister for Environment and Climate Change


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with individual companies to develop alternative

reporting methods and to encourage new reporters.

To improve the existing industry information booklet

and the quality of emissions data, two officers from

DEWHA and EPA Victoria visited several poultry

farms in early 2008 and discussed with the farmers

the commonly used and emerging methods of manure

collection, storage and disposal.

In late 2007, EPA Victoria together with other

jurisdictions migrated to the Australian and New

Zealand Standard Industrial Classif ication (ANZSIC)

2006 codes. The new, more contemporary industrial

classif ication structure replaced the existing

classif ication, ANZSIC 1993, in both the integrated

EPA’s database and on the NPI website.

In the second half of 2007, the National Reporting

Tool (NRT) remained the only method of reporting

electronically and was deployed in seven out of eight

jurisdictions. EPA Victoria continued managing the

electronic NRT data transactions from reporting

facilities to the appropriate participating State and

Territory agencies. The number of reports received

electronically by participating states and territories

dropped from 2068 for 2006–07 to 1989 for 2007–08,

and the percentage contribution of electronic reports

dropped to 62% of all reports in these jurisdictions.

The apparent decline in the NRT usage across

Australia was predominantly caused by the companies’

restrictions on the installation and use of third party

software and the threat of computer viruses. Due to

an increase in the number and severity of computer

viruses being circulated via email over the last years,

companies placed heavier restrictions on their

incoming email traff ic, which led to an increase of

email messages with NRT attachments being rejected.

An ever-increasing number of reporters expressed the

need for a nationally consistent web-based reporting

application.

Having managed the electronic NPI data transactions

in several jurisdictions and developed an on-line

reporting system for prescribed industrial waste

tracking, EPA Victoria confidently contributed to the

building of a new web-based reporting system by the

Federal Government department. The new electronic

reporting system is expected to eventually simplify

the NPI reporting and evaluation processes and result

in the enhanced emission data quality.


In 2007–08, EPA Victoria keenly participated in the

activities of the national Implementation Working

Group (IWG) such as attending the IWG meetings

and the NPI conference in Canberra, taking part in

the teleconferences, proposing improvements to the

design of the web-based reporting system, sharing

technical information and contributing to the further

development of industry reporting publications.

Following the NPI NEPM variation in August 2007,

special attention was given by the IWG members

to the development of a booklet investigating and

discussing waste transfer reporting requirements.

Emerging issues

The NEPM, as varied in August 2007, requires

reporting of acrolein and particulate matter

(2.5 microns or smaller) from September 2008, and

of polychlorinated biphenyls from September 2009,

by companies that exceed the applicable reporting

thresholds. The threshold for mercury and compounds

for 2007–08 has been lowered to 5kg/yr.

The 2007 NEPM requires reporting of transfers of

NPI substances in waste to f inal destinations, namely,

for containment or destruction, by companies

triggering the applicable substance usage thresholds

during 2007–08. The federal DEWHA allocated an

additional $37 000 for the initial implementation

of waste transfer reporting by EPA Victoria.

While the web-based reporting system has been used

by industry reporters and the NPI officers for several

months, a signif icant contribution from the NPI team

will be required to ensure that this reporting system

fully satisf ies the requirements of Victorian reporters,

is compatible with EPA Victoria’s integrated database

systems, thus improving reporting eff iciency for both

industry and governments.


A total of 794 Victorian reports were forwarded to

DEWHA for the reporting period of 2007–08, up

from 780 for 2006–07. All Victorian NPI reports

were individually assessed, and where omissions,

inconsistencies and errors were identif ied, these were

investigated and corrected by (or in consultation

with) reporters. In Victoria, there were 33 industrial

facilities submitting their NPI report for the f irst

time in 2007–08. At the same time, some industrial

facilities that reported in previous years dropped

from the reporting list because they either did not

trigger the reporting threshold in 2007–08, were

closed down, or failed to report in time. Reminder

letters were sent to all companies that did not submit

their reports in time.

Due to recent migration of the NPI database to the

new, more contemporary ANZSIC 2006 codes,

comparison with the previous years is not straight-

forward. Some industrial facilities are now classif ied

slightly differently, as there are now more industrial

categories than previously. The NPI reporters for

2007–08 represented twenty-nine industry sectors

under the new ANZSIC 2006, in comparison with

twenty-three industry sectors for 2006–07. There was

a more even spread between various industry sectors

from intensive agriculture and mining to food and

chemical product manufacturing, thus creating a more

accurate emissions profile for Victoria. The chemical

manufacturing and food processing industry contributed,

respectively, 121 and 126 reports, replacing basic

material wholesaling (i.e. major oil companies’ fuel

depots) as the largest reporting industry in the initial

years of the NPI (or in early 2000s).

After plummeting from forty in 2005–06, the number

of reports from poultry farmers remained at twenty-

five for the second year. At the same time, the

number of reports from pig farmers almost doubled

from thirteen for 2006–07 to twenty-five for

2007–08. Taking into consideration the severe

drought affecting Victorian farming communities,

the NPI team abstained from putting any additional

pressure on farmers even if they failed to submit

their NPI reports for 2007–08.

The number of NRT reports in Victoria decreased

from 593 for 2006–07 to 567 for 2007–08 and the

NRT percentage contribution dropped from 76 to

71% of all Victorian industry submissions. Similarly

to the national situation, the decrease in the NRT

uptake in Victoria was attributed to the companies’

restrictions on the third party software and the threat

of computer viruses, mistakenly associated with the

NRT files distributed through email messages.

The web-based reporting system developed by the

Federal Government department was used for the first

time in early 2008 by Victorian companies reporting

for the 2007 calendar year. While using the web-

based reporting system, companies had the advantage

of using a variety of new Excel calculation tools.

The 321 industrial facilities (out of 794) voluntarily

reported the internal and/or external costs of

preparing their NPI submission for 2007–08. Based

on the 40% response rate, the median cost of reporting

was $900, while the average cost was $2967. In

comparison, the median and average reporting cost

on the shorter, thirty-six substance list for the f irst

NPI reporting year of 1998–99 was $100 and $3480,

respectively.


Through the use of the NRT and established rules

and procedures, EPA Victoria continued to contribute

to the improvement in the quality of the information

posted on the NPI website in March 2008.

The EPA values the ongoing effort by the Department

of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to

improve the data presentation on the NPI website,

to develop the new web-based reporting system and

to enhance the facility data validation tools. At the

same time, the capability of the public database for

aggregated emissions data remains limited. While the

NPI database keeps multiple datasets of industry data

(i.e. one for each reporting year), it has just one

dataset of aggregated air emissions from domestic,

commercial and transport sources. As a result, the

comparison between the emission contribution from

industry and aggregated sources for the same

reporting year is not possible, thus making it diff icult

to investigate the trends in emissions from year to year

and to quantify any possible changes in air quality.


Attempting to improve the poultry manual, the

officers from the state and federal departments

visited several Victorian poultry farms in early 2008

and discussed with the farmers the commonly used

and emerging methods of manure collection, storage

and disposal.

The EPA Victoria provided comments on several

other emission estimation technique manuals updated

and published in the f irst half of 2008. This is an

ongoing process and there are still a number of

emission estimation technique manuals that require

review to improve their quality and usefulness for

Victorian reporters.


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Furthermore, EPA contributed to the preparation of

the industry booklet investigating and discussing the

waste transfer reporting requirements.

Education programs

In August 2007, six industry training sessions were

conducted; two in Melbourne and one in Bendigo,

Geelong, Traralgon and Wangaratta. The training

session in Dandenong was cancelled due to a lack

of interest. These training sessions covered the NPI

reporting requirements and estimation techniques,

the NEPM variation changes and the web-based

reporting system that was being developed.

Two additional training sessions were organised in

Melbourne in February 2008 for the calendar year

reporters intending to use the newly developed web-

based system. Overall, 115 people attended Victorian

training sessions. The general feedback on the

training sessions was positive and industry reporters

found them to be valuable.


In 2007–08, NPI implementation activities in Victoria

focused on further improving the quality of emissions

data on the public website. EPA staff effort resulted

in the assessment and smooth electronic submission

process of 780 industry reports to the Commonwealth,

in the agreed format and before the due date of 30

November 2007.

The number of Victorian NPI reports submitted to the

Commonwealth increased for the 2007–08 reporting

period, as awareness of the NPI reporting requirements

grew and NPI reporting gradually became an integral

part of industry operations.


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PUBLIC


on database

INDUSTRY




• new sectors reporting (NA,

due to ANZSIC changes)

• No confidentiality claims

submitted

• 794 Victorian reports received

for 2007–08, an increase of

2% in comparison with the

previous year;

• 567 Victorian facilities

submitted NRT reports for

2007–08;

• 1422 interstate NRT reports

forwarded to the appropriate

states/territories for 2007–08;

• 57 Victorian facilities

submitted reports for 2007–08

via the newly-developed

web-based system;

• EPA held eight industry

workshops, providing general

NPI information and detailed

demonstration of the NRT and

web-based reporting system.

• Continuous helpdesk support

was provided to reporting

companies.

• Positive feedback from

environmental scientists,

university students and EPA

staff using the NPI website;

• The NPI website becoming an

important resource for the

insurance and f inancial sector;

• EPA developed an active media

strategy to provide some

guidance on correctly interpreting

NPI emission data and to raise

public awareness.


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GOVERNMENT

• 794 desktop assessments

• 4 onsite audits

• 4 onsite visits

• No regulatory actions

• NPI emissions data was

used in the review of the

Environment Protection

(Scheduled Premises and

Exemptions) Regulations.

• NPI data was utilised by EPA’s

operations staff for their

industrial facility assessments.

• The NPI team analysed

emission data to assist EPA’s

Operations staff in their work

prioritisation.

• The NPI team prepared a report

on emission data in EPA regions.




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(Refer to page 266)




In Queensland, the National Pollutant Inventory

NEPM (NPI NEPM) is implemented under the

Environmental Protection Act 1994. Changes were

made to the Environmental Protection Regulation

1998 (EP Regulation) in September 1999, to include

a new section for statutory implementation of the

NPI. The EP Regulation provides for penalties of

up to $1500 for non-compliance with a reporting

requirement and/or naming of the non-compliant

party in the NEPC annual report. The EP Regulation

is currently being remade, with expected commencement

on 1 January 2009, and will include changes which

reflect the NEPM variation (the reporting of

transfers, some substance and threshold changes,

and administrative changes).


Overview

Implementation of the NPI NEPM is carried out by

the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental

Reporting Unit (ERU), in accordance with the current

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the

Commonwealth Government. The Industry Reporting

Team is a sub-group of the ERU, which employed the

equivalent of f ive full-time staff during the period

to implement the NPI NEPM.

Delivering a high level of support to reporting

facilities and improving the coverage of reporting is

an important component of Queensland’s implementation

activities. The focus in 2007–08 was on improving

reporting from industry sectors through:

• collaborative improvements to industry reporting

materials and emission estimation techniques

• enhancing reporting mechanisms

• provision of ‘hands-on’ training, workshops

and conferences

• communication with, and the involvement of,

industry associations

• visits to facilities to discuss and ‘ground-truth’

the NPI reports.

Improvements to facility reporting were complemented

by increased activity in the collection and calculation

of annual emission amounts from mobile, domestic,

sub-threshold facilities and other sources.


The main focus of NPI NEPM implementation

in Queensland is maintaining and improving the

coverage and quality of industry reporting and

increasing the coverage and quality of emissions

data from other sources.

Implementation

Under the current MOU, both Queensland and the

Commonwealth each contribute $150 000 per year

to jointly fund the NPI implementation program

in Queensland. Implementation is carried out in

accordance with the agreed elements of the MOU

and the requirements of the EP Regulation. An

additional $37 500 was provided this year by the

Commonwealth to implement the NPI NEPM

Variation in Queensland. The Industry Reporting

Team, with support from other members of the ERU,

implemented the NPI NEPM with a view to closer

integration with environmental performance

reporting activities such as State of the Environment

and Waste and Recycling reporting. Implementation

also focussed on supporting environmental licensing,

compliance and air quality investigations. The

synergies of the programs result in more effective

and eff icient implementation.

Queensland


Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure for Queensland by the




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The main implementation activities were the following:

1. Providing support and training for industry

reporters:

• online Reporting System (ORS) training

sessions were held in Brisbane in February

2008 and were attended by reporters representing

thirty facilities (mostly calendar year reporters).

This training covered how to report using the

ORS, and the NPI NEPM variation with a focus

on reporting of transfers

• telephone and e-mail support was provided

(and accessed by most reporters) to address

technical queries and reporting issues

• individual site visits were made to eleven

facilities. These visits included checking

information submitted in the 2006–07 reports,

tours of sites, discussion regarding the NPI

NEPM Variation, and submission of the

2007–08 reports

• in February 2008, the inaugural meeting of the

NPI Industry Liaison Group (ILG) was held

in Brisbane attended by twenty-four people

covering eleven industry associations or

representative bodies. Information and discussions

covered topics such as NPI reporting, NPI NEPM

variation, and communication issues. These

meetings are to be held every twelve months.

2. Data receipt, processing, checking and submission

Queensland received 1029 NPI reports for

2006–07. All facility reports were processed in

accordance with data verif ication procedures.

These procedures include checks to ensure that

the emissions are commensurate with the size

of the facility, the amount of fuel burned and the

types of emissions expected from the particular

type of facility. More than 700 facilities were

contacted for further information as part of the

verif ication process. See ‘facility emissions

reports’ for further detail.

3. Promoting the NPI data to the community

The Queensland EPA developed a Queensland

Pollutant Emissions Report Card 2008. The report

card presents information about trends in the

amounts of pollutant emissions from large industrial

facilities in Queensland using data submitted to

the NPI annually. The report card will become

an annual publication.

The Queensland EPA has also developed a NPI

video which provides a snapshot of the NPI and

its purpose. This has been incorporated as a

feature in the EPA’s environmental information

kiosk used for conferences, displays and other

community events.

The Clean and Healthy Air for Gladstone Project

(CHAG) is a two year project, coordinated by the

Queensland EPA and Queensland Health, which

was established to gain a better understanding of

air pollution in the Gladstone area and to identify

any potential associated risks to public health.

Community engagement is a critically important

aspect of the CHAG project. The study will use

aggregated emissions data (AED—annual emission

amounts from mobile, domestic, sub-threshold

facility and other sources, sometimes called diffuse

emissions data) collected by the Queensland EPA

and also relies heavily on data submitted by

industries in Gladstone to the NPI.

4. Aggregated emissions estimations

There was increased activity in the collection

and calculation of AED. Air AED includes annual

emission amounts from mobile, domestic, sub-

threshold facilities and other sources. Water AED

includes annual emission amounts from land-use

activities (e.g. agriculture and urban development)

and sub-threshold sources.

Additional work on diffuse emissions to air

mainly concentrated on utilising the NPI

methodology for the estimation of aggregated

emissions from the Gladstone area. A number of

diffuse sources were estimated and amalgamated

as part of the CHAG project (see above). This data

will be collated and sent to the Commonwealth

for publication in 2008–09.

Diffuse sources emissions of nutrients from the

Burnett-Mary water catchment were calculated.

This information was submitted to the

Commonwealth for incorporation into the NPI

database in 2008–09.

5. Investigation into improving the guidance materials

The Queensland EPA worked with an external

consultant to develop a local government reporting

package. The work will result in improved quality

and consistency of reporting for waste disposal

services and sewage and water treatment processes.

The reporting materials for these industries were

also updated and will be incorporated into the

reporting package and distributed in 2008–09.

6. Ensuring national consistency in implementation

Queensland actively participated in the

Implementation Working Group (IWG) for the

NPI to ensure a nationally consistent approach

“to implementation. Further details are

outlined below.


Representatives from the Queensland EPA were

actively involved in IWG activities and email

discussions during the reporting period. The IWG

held four face-to-face meetings (Canberra—July 2007,

Hobart—October 2007, Brisbane—February 2008

and Melbourne—June 2008). Queensland contributed

strongly on the following topics:

• development of performance indicators for NPI

implementation

• review of industry reporting materials

• implementation of communication activities

• development of electronic emissions estimation tools

• undertaking of compliance activities—including

naming of late reporters

• preparation of NPI facility audits

• compilation of a Queensland NPI facility data

summary

• production of Local Government Reporting

Packages

• a proposed NPI NEPM Variation.

The twelfth meeting of the OECD Task Force on

Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs)

occurred from 12–14 March 2008 in Paris, France.

The national nature of the NPI program was

emphasised with a delegate from the Queensland

EPA accompanying the Commonwealth Government

delegate. This was the f irst time that a State or

Territory representative had participated in the

Australian delegation. Valuable information and

strategies for enhanced NPI implementation and

data presentation were obtained.

The f irst NPI Conference was held in Canberra in

May 2008, which included six presentations by

Queensland EPA staff. The conference was attended

by over 150 delegates including a wide range of

industry, government and community representatives.

Emerging issues

1. Facility data quality

Data quality is increasingly becoming an issue.

Reporting numbers and the complexity of reports

are growing, as is the interest shown in the NPI

by the media and the community. Initiatives such

as the online reporting tool and associated

electronic emission estimation tools will simplify

the reporting process for facilities and provide

assistance for the facilities to robustly estimate

their emissions and submit reports. These tools

will also reduce the time that the EPA spends

verifying submitted data and identify gross errors.

Increasingly, however, it is becoming apparent

that there is a need for greater scrutiny of data

to ensure that facilities are diligent in fulf illing

their reporting requirements.

2. Waste transfers

The 2008–09 reporting period introduces waste

transfer reporting (see varied NPI NEPM for

further details <www.ephc.gov.au/pdf/npi/npi_

draft_nepm_variation_06_06.pdf>) for facilities

triggering the appropriate thresholds. A small

amount of additional funding from the Common-

wealth was made available for implementing

changes resulting from the variation of the NPI

NEPM. This has allowed for the preparation of

industry training which will be conducted in

several locations around Queensland in early

2008–09. Additional resources will be needed

for effective implementation of waste transfers

reporting, particularly to support the anticipated

increased demand for technical support by

industry reporters.

3. Aggregated emissions data (AED)

In Queensland, coverage of AED is restricted due

to resource limitations and priority being given

to facilities reporting. For emissions to air, the

only coverage is for South East Queensland and

for emissions to water, only the Dawson, the

Johnstone and South East Queensland catchments

are covered. Data for the Burnett-Mary system

was submitted to the Commonwealth in 2007–08

but is yet to be published. Data is currently being

prepared for the Gladstone air shed and for some

additional reef catchments (for submission to the

Commonwealth in 2008–09). Lack of coverage

and currency of AED, particularly for major


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emission sources such as motor vehicles, is

increasingly affecting the usability and credibility

of the NPI as a pollutant data source.


Queensland received 1029 NPI reports for 2006–07,

an increase of approximately 0.5% from 2005–06

(1025 NPI reports). Reports from Queensland

accounted for 26% of all reports submitted to the NPI

(nationally 3955 reports were received for 2006–07).

Of the 1029 facilities reporting:

• 535 facilities (52%) submitted their reports

electronically via the National Reporting Tool

• 261 facilities (25%) reported using a simplif ied

industry-specif ic reporting form

• 233 facilities (23%) reported using either the

official paper reporting form or their own version

of the official form.

For 2006–07, forty-three new facilities reported;

however, a number of facilities that reported in

2005–06 did not report in 2006–07 due to facility

closure or falling below reporting thresholds.

Reporting facilities can voluntarily report the cost

of compiling and submitting their NPI Report. This

year, 265 facilities out of 1029 reported their costs—

the average being approximately $3675; up from

$3285 the previous year. However, the majority of

facilities (approximately 80%) either reported costs

of $200 or less or did not report their costs. Due

to the small numbers of facilities reporting NPI-

associated costs, it is diff icult to establish reasons

for increases or decreases. Anecdotal evidence

suggests that most of the facilities who do not report

their costs actually have negligible costs which can

be assumed to be in the category of $200 or less.

Under this assumption, the average cost per facility

is approximately $880, with a median of $200 or less.

Non-compliance with reporting requirements

In accordance with clause 25 of the NPI NEPM and

clause 38T of the Environmental Protection Regulation

1998, ninety facilities that either did not report or

reported late were asked to provide reasons for their

non-compliance. All but f ive of these facilities

responded by outlining reasons which were deemed

to be reasonable by the Queensland EPA. The remaining

five facilities were served with a formal ‘show cause’

notice, advising them that it was proposed that they

would be named in this report as a person who has

failed to comply with NPI reporting requirements

and giving them the opportunity to show cause why

this action should not be taken. These facilities

consequently outlined mitigating circumstances and

have acknowledged the requirement for reporting

to the NPI. Therefore, no Queensland facilities are

named in this report. This outcome demonstrates the

effectiveness of the naming process as a compliance

tool for the NPI. It is anticipated that the Queensland

EPA will continue to use the naming process and

penalties imposed by a magistrate, if required, in future

years to ensure NPI reporting requirements are met.


The NPI website (<www.npi.gov.au>) is used as a

major reference for reporter queries. Reporters are

referred to the website to obtain reporting information

and to download manuals and other reporting aids.

This service makes it possible for the Queensland

EPA to provide effective telephone and email support

to remote reporters. Ongoing improvements to the

website by DEWHA will further enhance the services

provided to industry and the community by the NPI.

The Queensland EPA has provided input and

encouragement to DEWHA in the development

of a NPI Kids’ Website. Testing of the concept by

DEWHA occurred at a Queensland State School.

The Queensland EPA views the development and

presentation of aggregated emissions data (AED) as

an important component of an emissions inventory.

The EPA has placed an increased focus on the

collection of AED. Estimates of emissions for a

number of aggregated sources in the Gladstone air

shed have been made in preparation for submitting

comprehensive AED to the Commonwealth for this

air shed. This data has also contributed to the CHAG

project mentioned in ‘Promoting the NPI data to the

community’ (implementation activity 3). Providing

AED allows NPI stakeholders to compare facility and

non-facility emissions. This adds depth to the overall

understanding of pollutant emissions. While effort

has been put into developing AED, the majority of

NPI resources in Queensland are focussed on facility-

based reporting.


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The Queensland EPA has been actively managing the

change in focus, from ‘Industry Handbooks’ under

the previous version of the NPI NEPM, to broader

and more useful industry reporting materials under

the current NPI NEPM (following the June 2007

variation). The NPI industry reporting materials

are considered high quality compared with similar

emissions inventory programs internationally and

set the standard worldwide for industry specif ic

guidance materials. Continual improvement through

review and amendment ensures that Queensland

industry has the most up-to-date emissions estimation

techniques available. The Queensland EPA worked

with the DEWHA during the reporting period to

identify and prioritise industry reporting materials

that require updating. In particular, the Queensland

EPA worked collaboratively with DEWHA to ensure

that new and improved industry reporting materials

were developed for sewage and wastewater treatment,

municipal solid waste landfills, maritime operations

and airports.

Education programs

The fourteenth World Clean Air and Environment

Congress was hosted in Brisbane in September 2007

by the International Union of Air Pollution Prevention

and Environmental Protection Associations (IUAPPA).

An information stand for the NPI was established

by DEWHA and the Queensland EPA. This provided

information about the NPI to the 440 delegates from

twenty-nine countries who attended the congress.

In particular, delegates from countries considering

(or in the process of) establishing their own PRTR,

expressed interest in the NPI program.

In May 2007, the Queensland EPA presented the NPI

information at a stand at the two–day Eco Expo at

Beaudesert. On Day 1, ‘Student Day’, which focussed

on school children and the NPI promotional materials –

the frisbees proved popular. Day 2, ‘Community Day’,

was also popular with many adults asking questions

about the NPI and taking home information in the

NPI ‘blue’ re-useable shopping bags.

An industry reporter education session held in

Brisbane was attended by over forty people representing

state-wide reporting facilities.


Queensland implementation activities focused on

compliance with reporting requirements outlined in

the NPI NEPM. Activities were broadly driven by

the collection, verif ication and communication of

point (facility) and non-point (AED) source data. For

2006–07, Queensland collected, verified and submitted

1029 facility reports and collated and submitted

aggregated source data for the Burnett-Mary water

catchment. The Queensland EPA completed this work

and submitted the validated facility reports to the

Commonwealth Government within the statutory

timeframes. As discussed under the ‘NPI database

and website’ section, AED is a critical component

of a successful emissions inventory.


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PUBLIC


on database

• Production of summary

reports is important for the

promotion of the NPI to the

public and other stakeholders

• Members of the public are

using the database to f ind out

about emissions in their area

• Public information sessions

held in Brisbane

• Media interest is continuing

to increase

• Survey results show that a lack

of publicity is a major reason

for the public not accessing the

website

INDUSTRY

• 1029 reports for 2006–07

• 1025 reports for 2005–06


• no confidentiality claims

submitted

• Industry report satisfaction

with the level of support

provided

• There is a high level of use

of electronic calculation tools,

with satisfaction expressed

by the users and a demand

for greater coverage of these

tools. A positive response has

been received from industry

regarding development of

new tools

• On-line reporting training was

held in Brisbane covering 30

facilities (mainly calendar year

reporters)

• Phone, e-mail and on-site

support was provided to industry

reporters to assist them meet

their reporting requirements

GOVERNMENT


• 11 on-site audits

• 90 regulatory actions under

the ‘naming process’. All 90

provided mitigating

circumstances and subsequently

no Queensland facilities are

named in this report.

• Area-specific summary reports

developed, circulated and

discussed with EPA District

Managers. These reports were

used to demonstrate the

usefulness of NPI reporting as

part of regional environmental

management strategies

• NPI emissions data was used

in risk profiling of environ-

mentally relevant activities for

development of a new licensing

regime under the Environmental

Protection Regulation (which

is currently being re-made)

• Air quality monitoring and

modelling staff members are

using NPI data as an input into

regional air quality modelling

• Incorporation of NPI data into

the EPA spatial information

systems allows it to be combined

with other information resulting

in greater accessibility by

licensing and planning officers

• Publication of the QLD

Pollutant Emissions Report

Card demonstrates ‘at a glance’

the pattern of industrial

pollutant emissions


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Western Australia


Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure for Western Australia




(Refer to page 266)




In Western Australia, the NPI is implemented by the

Environmental Protection (NPI NEPM) Regulations

1998, under the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

For the reporting year ending 30 June 2007 (for which

data was managed in 2007–08), the Department of

Environment and Conservation (DEC) had

responsibility for implementation of the NPI NEPM.


Overview

Implementation of the NPI NEPM in WA during

2007–08 was carried out by DEC National Pollutant

Inventory Section, in accordance with the Memorandum

of Understanding (MOU) with the Commonwealth.

Priority activities included:

• processing emissions data from 681 WA facilities

for the ninth NPI reporting year and providing

these to the Commonwealth for publication on

the Internet

• conducting an industry training session in Bunbury

• continuing project management of a contract to

update the Perth airshed emissions study

• representation on the NPI NEPM Variation Project

Team, the Jurisdictional Reference Network (JRN)

and the Online Reporting System Design Team

• project management of Swan Canning and Peel-

Harvey catchment studies to estimate aggregated

emissions of nutrients in the catchments.


The main focus of the National Pollutant Inventory

Section in 2007–08, in line with the NPI NEPM and

MOU, was on delivering facility emissions data for the

ninth reporting year (2006–07) according to NEPM

key dates and MOU priorities.

Priority areas in 2007–08 included:

• continuing to ensure that WA industry facilities

are well informed about NPI processes and their

obligations to report estimated emissions

• ensuring that data from industry facilities covered

agreed reporting parameters for upload to the

Internet

• streamlining data processing for facility reports

• provision of input to the NPI NEPM variation

process

• introduction of NPI NEPM variation changes in WA

• implementation of the new Online Reporting System.

Future priorities include:

• smooth introduction of reporting of transfers of

NPI substances in waste

• integrating NPI with other corporate systems

(licensing, audit) and strategies (community

awareness, cleaner production, and sustainability).

Implementation

A three year MOU between the Commonwealth

and WA covers the period July 2006 to June 2009.

Under the MOU, both the Commonwealth and WA

committed to jointly funding the NPI program,

with each contributing $150 000 per year.

The National Pollutant Inventory Section included

3.0 full time equivalent staff in 2007–08. Staff

turnover impacted on implementation activities

in the latter half of 2007–08.


Western Australia participated in the activities of the

Implementation Working Group (IWG), providing

input to many technical issues and suggesting

improvements to information available to reporters

on the NPI website. During 2007–08 the IWG met in

Canberra, Hobart, Brisbane and Melbourne. Regular


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contact was maintained with NPI staff in other

jurisdictions throughout the year to discuss NPI

NEPM policy, technical and administrative issues.

Emerging issues

With the introduction of transfers reporting to begin

in 2008–09 a detailed guide has been published

on the NPI website with other reporting materials.

Industry reporters may require increased guidance

during the phase-in stage and some unforeseen

reporting diff iculties may be identif ied.


A total of 681 emission estimation reports from WA

reporting facilities were submitted for the ninth NPI

reporting year (2006–07) for public display on the

NPI internet site. Facility reports were assessed for

compliance with mandatory data requirements and

for data integrity to identify any signif icant emission

anomalies. Between 30 September 2007 and 31 March

2008, all reporters were contacted for confirmation

and follow-up (if necessary) on technical and

administrative issues.

Potential 2007–08 reporting facilities were identif ied

and contacted by e-mail in December 2007 (calendar

year reporters) and June 2008 (financial year reporters)

to inform them of their reporting obligations.

A large number of ‘national’ reporters (companies

with facilities in more than one jurisdiction) and

some local reporters elected to report to the NPI on

a calendar year basis, with reports for calendar year

2007 due by 31 March 2008. The National Pollutant

Inventory Section received and processed 113 of

these reports by 30 June 2008 through the new

Online Reporting System.

Under an MOU between EPA Victoria and DEC,

EPA Victoria maintained registration details of WA

National Reporting Tool (NRT) reporters in a central

data warehouse up until the end of 2007. This service

was discontinued following the introduction of the

new Online Reporting System.

The f ibreglass and foundry industries were selected

for enhanced follow-up in January 2008. Letters were

sent to identif ied facilities informing them of the NPI

and their potential emission reporting obligations.


WA notes the continuing efforts by the Commonwealth

in 2007–08 to improve the presentation of information

on the NPI website. The new Online Reporting

System went ‘live’ in February 2008 and coincided

with three training sessions conducted in Perth by

the Commonwealth for calendar year reporters.

The National Pollutant Inventory Section was also

represented at each training session.


Eighty-two industry handbooks have been published.

In WA, industries directly associated with f ifty of

the handbooks reported to the NPI (not all industry

sectors have facilities in WA).

Education programs

Western Australia conducted one industry training

workshop for NPI reporting, covering the application

of the NPI Guide and reporting materials to facilities,

as well as electronic reporting of data. Updated

reporting instructions were provided to the WA

industry and consultant client base in December 2007

and June 2008.


The NPI program in WA in 2007–08 focussed on the

agreed elements of the MOU, as well as administering

the NPI NEPM and WA NPI regulations.

The number of facility reports submitted to the

Commonwealth increased from 645 in Year 8 to 681

in Year 9 (2006–07). The National Pollutant Inventory

Section, in conjunction with other jurisdictions,

continued to improve the processing and assessment

of reported information.


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on database

INDUSTRY






submitted

• Diminishing response to

industry workshops and fewer

queries from industry and

consultants indicates growing

familiarity with NPI reporting.

• Industry and consultants are

successfully using the NPI

database to compare their

performance between years

and with others in the same

industry.

• A large number of calendar

reporters successfully used the

new Online Reporting System

to submit reports for 2007–08

to the NPI Section.

• One industry workshop was

conducted in Bunbury.

• Updated reporting instructions

were distributed to all reporters.

• Comprehensive feedback on

reports was provided to reporters.

• NPI–NEPM Variation Project

Team, Jurisdictional Reference

Network and Online Reporting

System Design Team

representation.

GOVERNMENT


• 1 on-site audit

• 16 late reports compared to

more than 100 the previous

year

• No action necessary against

late reporters

• Full validation checks carried

out as part of report processing,

including checks on sub-

threshold reports received, are

considered to be desktop audits.

• NPI data is being used to

prepare information on air

quality for the Collie region.


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(Refer to page 266)




In South Australia, the National Environment Protection

(National Pollutant Inventory) Measure (NEPM)

came into operation as an environment protection

policy under the repealed Section 28A of the

Environment Protection Act 1993. The Environment

Protection Authority (EPA) implemented the NPI

under the Environment Protection Act 1993 (SA)

until 30 March 2008, however strict penalties were

not in place for failure to comply with the policy.

With the variation of the NEPM, work was conducted

to make an environment protection policy to reflect

the NEPM variation and mandatory provisions. The


Policy 2008 (NPI EPP) was gazetted on 21 February

2008 and came into effect on 31 March 2008. The

NPI EPP provides clarity in the enforcement options

available for non-reporting: naming the offending

company in the NEPC annual report, an expiation

fee of $300 and a maximum fine of $4000.


Overview

• the 2007–08 financial year is the tenth year

of NPI implementation

• the number of reports submitted from South

Australia was similar to last year with 403 reports

being submitted to the website for the 2006–07

reporting period compared with 394 reports for

the 2005–06 reporting period

• the primary strategic direction for South Australia

in 2007–08 was to improve the accuracy of the NPI

database through contacting new reporters and

through the implementation of a Quality Systems

approach for validation procedures

• South Australia has supported the development

of an online reporting system, has assisted in

testing the quality assurance system and has been

proactive in encouraging reporters to register to

use the system

• a newsletter for 2008 was released on the EPA

website and sent to reporters via email

• three NPI officers from South Australia attended

the national NPI conference in May 2008. South

Australia presented two sessions on risk assessment

and aggregate emission data and moderated

several sessions

• updated aggregate water emission data was

submitted to the Commonwealth for publication

on the public website

• the NPI steering committee which includes key

managers from the EPA met on a quarterly basis

• the NPI team provided data for the new EPA

licensing fee system (LFS), which includes a

resource eff iciency fee component based on

emissions of key NPI pollutants.


In 2007–08, South Australia concentrated on the

following priority areas:

• providing high quality facility emission data, in

accordance with the requirements of the NEPM

and the MOU

• identifying and recruiting new reporters

• providing support to new and existing reporters

• ensuring a desktop audit was completed on all

facility reports

• submitting validated reports to the Australian

Government by 31 December 2007

• supporting the Australian Government and

contributing to their development and testing

of the new online reporting system

• investigating the impact of changes to the NEPM

on South Australian legislation

South Australia


Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure for South Australia by

the Hon. Jay Weatherill MP, Minister for Environment and Conservation



• developing the Environment Protection (National

Pollutant Inventory) Policy 2008

• assisting reporters to register for online reporting.

Implementation

Implementation of the NPI was carried out in

accordance with the MOU between the Australian

Government and South Australia. The MOU commits

the Australian Government and South Australia to

jointly fund the NPI program, each contributing

$90 000 per annum.

South Australia employed three full time officers

to implement the NPI program during 2006–07. One

officer focused on diffuse emissions investigation

while the other two focussed on point source emissions

or industry reporting. From October to December

2007, an additional staff member assisted with the

validation of the industry reports.

South Australia met the MOU criteria and in December

2007 submitted, to the Australian Government, 403

NPI industry reports with each having undergone a

desktop assessment. These reports were released on

the database in March 2008.


South Australia actively participated in all national

NPI Implementation Working Group meetings held

during 2007–08. South Australia was actively involved

in national NPI activities and email discussions,

providing comments, advice and information on

Australian Government documentation to achieve

national consistency on NPI issues.

South Australia provided signif icant input to the

development of the web-based online reporting

system to ensure that the proposed system met the

requirements of all parties and included quality

assurance mechanisms. Officers from South Australia

travelled to Canberra and assisted in testing of the

online reporting system.

The Australian Government has initiated a review

of the industry sector reporting manuals and SA has

provided input to these reviews where appropriate.

Emerging issues

In June 2007, the Environment Protection and

Heritage Council (EPHC) agreed on the NPI NEPM

variation. There has been an increased workload to

implement these changes. In the lead up to

renegotiation of the next MOU, South Australia will

strongly recommend the need for more resources in

order to carry out the requirements of the NPI program,

for example the inclusion of more site audits.

Current updated aggregate emissions data is required

for reliable comparison with industry emissions

however this is still an area in South Australia that

requires additional work. Work has been carried out

on the water aggregate emissions. However a more

detailed air emissions inventory remains a priority for

both the NPI program and the South Australian EPA.

There is a need for training of reporters using the

online system. Reporters have made enquiries about

how the introduction of transfers will effect their

reporting requirements. There is potentially a need

for workshops based specif ically on transfers.

Reporters have enquired about the development

of site specif ic transfer factors.


South Australia submitted a total of 403 industry

emission reports for the 2006–07 reporting period.

The reports were supplied in the required format

to the Australian Government for release on the

NPI database. In SA, twenty-six new or returning

facilities reported, whilst sixteen facilities that

reported in 2005–06 did not report in 2006–07

due to site closure or falling below threshold.

The following companies reported to the NPI for the

first time in 2006–07:

• Campbell Brothers Ltd

• Children Youth & Women’s Health Service

• EPIC Energy South Australia (nine sites)

• Infratil Energy Australia (two sites)

• Oxiana Ltd (now Oz Minerals Prominent Hill

Operations Pty Ltd)

• SA Sawmilling

• International Linen Service Pty Ltd.

All reports received in 2006–07 underwent a desktop

audit to ensure the accuracy and validity of the data.

Facilities were contacted regarding any errors or

anomalies identif ied in the reports and necessary

corrections made. The assessment process followed

the standard protocols developed in previous years.

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South Australia reported its facility emission data in

December 2007 in accordance with its NPI NEPM

and MOU reporting responsibilities.

South Australia fully supports the efforts by the

Australian Government to improve the structure of

the website. South Australia has provided and will

continue to provide input into this project to ensure

that user requirements are met.


South Australia supports the Australian Government’s

review of the industry handbooks and provides input

and comment on the revised manuals and associated

reports when appropriate. South Australia continues

to notify the Australian Government of any errors

identif ied within the industry handbooks.

Education programs

Through 2007–08 a number of promotional and

educational activities occurred including:

• contacting all current reporters to remind them

of their reporting requirements

• contacting ‘non-reporters’ to ensure that they were

aware of their NEPM reporting requirements and

offering one-on-one training of new reporters to

assist with NPI reporting

• development of a newsletter to update current

reporters on the changes to the NPI

• publishing a brochure on ‘Changes to the National

Pollutant Inventory in South Australia’ and posting

a copy to all technical contacts

• development of a presentation to inform reporters

about the legislative changes to the NPI focussing

on transfers.

Online training session for calendar year reporters

were held in Adelaide in conjunction with the

Australian Government in February 2008.


Data was provided to the Australian Government for

the March 2008 website launch in accordance with

the MOU for 2005–09.

South Australia has continued to address the issue of

data reliability through the ongoing implementation

of a QA system for validation procedures.

NPI data continues to be a key resource in the

development of a load based licensing fee system

for SA.




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PUBLIC


on database

INDUSTRY





• One confidentiality claim

submitted

• There has been positive

feedback about the online

reporting system and the

features that it offers

• A great interest has been shown

in NPI online reporting training

• More site audits have been

requested for continuous

improvement feedback

• Many sites require one-on-one

assistance in understanding what

transfers they need to report

• A newsletter for 2008 was

released on the website to

inform reporters about

legislative changes, online

reporting and updates to

industry guidance material

• Industry enquiries via email

and phone have been followed

up on a one-on-one basis

GOVERNMENT


• Four on-site audits


• The EPA utilised NPI data to

develop the resource

efficiency component of load

based licensing due to start on

1 July 2008

• An internal presentation was

held to raise awareness about

work on aggregate water

emissions


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(Refer to page 266)




Under Section 12A of the Tasmanian State Policies

and Projects Act 1993, NEPMs are taken to be State

Policies, which have been passed by Parliament. This

enables compliance and enforcement tools available

under the Environmental Management and Pollution

Control Act 1994 to be used to ensure NPI reporting

requirements are met.


Overview

Implementation of the NPI NEPM during 2007–08

was carried out by the Environment Division of the

Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage and

the Arts.

An extension of the Memorandum of Understanding

between Tasmania and the Commonwealth was signed

extending the NPI program for another year.


Tasmania continues to focus on ensuring that all

industry sectors are aware of their reporting

requirements and improvements in data quality

continue to occur. A high level of support to industry

reporters will ensure these objectives are met.

Implementation

Implementation of the NPI NEPM was carried out

in accordance with the MOU signed between the

Commonwealth and Tasmania. One staff member was

responsible for implementing the NPI in Tasmania.

Specialist advice is also provided from staff members

from within the Environment Division.

A key focus of the Tasmanian NPI officer has been

to improve the timeliness of returns and improve

accuracy of data being submitted reporters.


Tasmania continues to actively participate in the

Implementation Working Group (IWG) with the

Tasmanian NPI officer attending all IWG meetings.

Regular contact was also maintained with officers

from NPI Units in other States and Territories and

the Commonwealth.

Emerging issues

In June 2007 the National Environment Protection

Council agreed to vary the NPI NEPM. As a result

of this variation there has been a need to ensure all

reporters are aware of the changes and they update

their reporting accordingly. As the majority of

reporters in Tasmania report on a calendar year basis

it is recognised that implications of the variation to

the NPI NEPM are unlikely to be seen until the next

reporting period. It is likely that additional effort

will required to ensure reporters are aware of the

changes and report accordingly.

The Australian Government has implemented the new

online reporting system in early 2008. It is intended

that the new system will improve accuracy of data

submitted. The new system should also signif icantly

improve ease of reporting. It is anticipated that

additional resources will be required to train

reporters and provide assistance to ensure that as

many possible reporters adopt online reporting in

favour of paper reporting.


Tasmania submitted 164 facility reports to the

Commonwealth. Electronic lodgement of reports

continues to be the favoured method of submission

with 85% received electronically. Sixty-eight NPI

substances were reported in Tasmania.

A number of reports were received late in 2007 and

a number of reporters required numerous reminders

regarding reporting deadlines. One facility, Glenorchy

City Council, Jackson Street Refuse Disposal Site

failed to report in 2007.

Tasmania


Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure for Tasmania by the

Hon. Michelle O’Byrne MP, Minister for the Environment, Parks, Heritage




Tasmania notes and supports the continued efforts of

the Australian Government to improve presentation

and accessibility of NPI data on the website.


Tasmania continues to provide input into the review

of industry emission estimation manuals as these

are updated

Education programs

Tasmania continues to provide one-on-one assistance

to industry reporters and new industries identif ied

as needing to report.

Promotion of the NPI, and particularly the data

available on the website, has been carried out with

potential user groups. There appears to be increasing

awareness of the availability of NPI data and education

aimed at improving the understanding of the data

has been undertaken.


Generally there is wide acceptance of the NPI at the

industry level. As the NPI has matured industry has

become more aware of its responsibility to report.

The data submitted is still an issue but data quality

is generally improving. The introduction of online

reporting with improved validation measures should

assist in improving this issue.

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• 591 644 new user sessions on

database

INDUSTRY



• 3 new reporters

• 1 new sectors reporting


submitted

• Industry reporters have

indicated that the electronic

reporting is still diff icult in

some cases due to nature of

National Reporting Tool.

• Industry is keen to implement

the new online reporting system.

• Liaised with new reporters

to ensure understanding of

reporting requirements.

• Continue to identify and contact

potential reporters.

• Increase in use of NPI data

particularly in locations where

new industry is proposed.

• Media use of NPI continues

to increase.

• Informed stakeholders of

variation to the NPI NEPM

GOVERNMENT



• no regulatory actions

• NPI emission data accessed

for a number of government

projects.

• Assisted with interpretation

of NPI data for a number of

government off icers.




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(Refer to page 266)




The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has

implemented the provisions of the National Pollutant

Inventory NEPM (NPI NEPM) through amendments

to the Environment Protection Act 1997.

Responsibility for the implementation of the NEPM

rests with the Environment Protection & Heritage of

the Department of Territory and Municipal Services.


Overview

In 2007–08, the ACT completed the ninth year of NPI

NEPM coordination. This involved:

• liaison with local as well as interstate reporters

• the collection, storage, auditing and transfer of

data covering emissions to air, land and water,

in conjunction with the Australian Government

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage

and the Arts

• participation in the Implementation Working Group.

• collaborative participation by the ACT and

Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and

the Arts, in the development of the NPI online

system and facilitation of training sessions to

assist reporters in becoming familiarised with

the new online system.


Strategic directions for the ACT program continued

to be guided through consultation with the


the Arts, all states and the Northern Territory. The

focus within the ACT was to ensure that all facilities

that trip threshold reporting of substances are

reporting to the NPI. Additionally, the ACT also

focused on delivering a high level of support to all

registered reporters to ensure highly accurate data

submission.

Implementation

In the 2007–08 f inancial year, one part-time staff

member was employed to implement the NEPM in

the ACT.

Aggregate emission estimates for the Canberra water

catchment (Molonglo and Murrumbidgee rivers) and

the Canberra airshed were completed in 1999.


The ACT was actively involved with the

Implementation Working Group on a range of items,

including discussion of the Draft NPI NEPM

variation, dealing with uncertainties in various

reporting circumstances, communication strategy,

amendments to emission estimation technique

manuals, and development of the new online

reporting system.

Emerging issues

In 2007–08, no signif icant issues emerged while

implementing the NPI NEPM in the ACT.


In the ACT, twenty facilities submitted reports for the

2006–07 f inancial year. With staff changes at some

facilities, the ACT continued to place a focus on

ensuring accuracy of reported data.


The database and website performed satisfactorily.

Transfer of all appropriate data (facility substances

emission estimates) to the Department of

Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts occurred

by 30 November 2007, to meet ACT’s obligation

under the Memorandum of Understanding.



Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure for the Australian

Capital Territory by Mr Jon Stanhope MLA, Minister for the Environment,

Water and Climate Change for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


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PUBLIC


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INDUSTRY



• No new reporters



submitted

• Industry response indicated

ease of database access

• Industry reporters participated

in the use of the NPI website

both on-site and remotely over

the telephone for reporting

purposes

• Continued to liaise and provide

support for reporters

GOVERNMENT

• No desktop audits



• Database access, navigation,

information exchange and

download continue to operate

satisfactorily

• No specif ic new activities

undertaken in 2006–07

• Members of the public

indicated ease of database

access and navigation

• Academic peers indicated the

database is to be an effective

resource for environmental

research projects

• The general Public and selected

consultants were effectively

appointed as trail participants

to view the NPI website and

retrieve related emission

information from ACT

Government departments

• NPI information brochures

were widely distributed within

the ACT


In 2006–07, emission estimate technique manuals

used by the ACT reporters were effective in providing

necessary relevant guidelines required to meet

current reporting obligations. The National Pollutant

Inventory Guides were individually distributed to

some ACT reporters.

Education programs

During 2007–08, the ACT, in collaboration with the

Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the

Arts, conducted a training session to assist local

reporters in becoming familiarised with the new

online system. Additionally, several informal

education events, providing one-on-one sessions with

facility operators, were conducted. The education

processes proved to be eff icient in enabling greater

understanding by reporters of their response

obligations and ensuring the provision of emission

data to the NPI on schedule.


The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage

and the Arts assisted the ACT to fulf il its obligations

under the NEPM through notifying national reporting

facilities, while the ACT notif ied local reporters of

their obligations to the NPI NEPM.


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(Refer to page 266)




The NPI program is implemented in the Northern

Territory (NT) through an Environmental Protection

Order (EPO) established under the Waste Management

and Pollution Control Act 2003.

Overall responsibility for implementation of the NPI

rests with the Department of Natural Resources,

Environment, the Arts and Sport.


Overview

A total of eighty-six facilities reported to the NPI

program in the NT for 2006–07. This represents a

decrease of six reports compared to the previous year

due to a number of reasons:

• two military facilities began reporting direct to the

Commonwealth Government

• five facilities were closed including three due to

rationalisation in the bulk petroleum industry

• two facilities were below threshold

• two did not report when they should have (and are

being investigated)

• a number of new reports from facilities that had

not previously reported.

The trend in decreased reporting for 2006–07 is

expected to reverse as a signif icant number of new

facilities were registered during 2008.


The Northern Territory will continue to monitor and

audit data reported under the NPI to ensure that the

information is accurate, reliable and compliant with

the EPO.

The NT aim is to continue to identify errors in the

database and evaluate the industries that are currently

not reporting their emissions and convince them to

do so via the on-line system.

Implementation

In the 2007–08 year the NPI officer focused on

co-ordinating feedback from government and industry

in the Northern Territory as part of the NPI NEPM

implementation. The principle function of the NPI

officer has been to identify potential future reporters

and follow-up on past reporters who have failed to

submit reports in previous years.


The NPI officer continues to participate in the

activities of the Implementation Working Group

(IWG). The NPI officer attended a national meeting

and participated in teleconferences.

Emerging issues

Measures are in place to ensure the accuracy of the

Northern Territory report to the Commonwealth

Government. Despite the user friendliness of the new

online reporting system and encouragement of its

use, there will be some teething problems for the new

reporters and the NT Government. It is anticipated

however that reporting issues will be far less than

in previous years.


The Northern Territory contributed a total of 86

industrial facility reports to the NPI for 2006–07. The

data was submitted to the Commonwealth Government

in electronic format.

The data was checked for inconsistencies or errors

in spatial information, registered name, registered

site address and large deviations. Most of the changes

in facility reports resulted from either a signif icant

Northern Territory


Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure for the Northern




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change in activity or refinement of the emission

estimation techniques. No confidentiality claims

were received from reporters in the Northern Territory

during this reporting period.


The NT NPI website can be found at

<www.nt.gov.au/nreta/environment/npi/index.html>.


The NPI is continually reviewing and updating

materials provided to industries to help them estimate

emissions from their facilities. It is also updating

guidelines used to estimate emissions from other

sources.

Education programs

No new education programs were developed this year.

A planned training day for reporters/coordinators did

not receive enough applicants to proceed. Some of

the NT applicants attended training interstate.


The NT successfully submitted its 2006–07 data to

the Commonwealth Government in time for the annual

updating of the public website in January 2008.

The Northern Territory Government implemented

the NPI under an EPO that commenced on the 20

November 2003. Despite the legislation making NPI

reporting mandatory in the Northern Territory, the

majority of Northern Territory facilities have

voluntarily submitted NPI reports in previous years.

A communication strategy has been developed to

continue to deliver information about the NPI program.




PUBLIC


on database

INDUSTRY



• 8 new reports in 2006–07

• 14 past reporters not reporting

in 2006–07

• 1 new sector reporting


submitted

• Positive response form

industry to new NPI online

reporting system, which is to

become operational in 2008.

• Assisted new facilities in

reporting their data.

• Liaised and negotiated with

potential new reporters.

• The NPI online reporting

system is operational in 2008

and is currently in use.

• Of the 14 fewer reporters in

2006–07, two were military

installations now reporting to

the Commonwealth, f ive have

ceased operations, two were

below threshold, and two failed

to report.




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GOVERNMENT

• No desktop audits

• No on-site audits


• Government agencies access

the NPI to review emissions

data and facilities within the

Northern Territory.

• Increased the NPI profile by

making regular contact with

government off icers and

industry.



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NEPM details


(Used Packaging Materials) Measure

Made by Council: 2 July 1999


(advertised Commonwealth of Australia Gazette

No. GN 28, 14 July 1999, p 2114)


The environment protection goal is established by

clause 6 of this Measure as follows:


The goal of the Measure is to reduce

environmental degradation arising from the

disposal of used packaging and conserve virgin

materials through the encouragement of re-use

and recycling of used packaging materials by

supporting and complementing the voluntary

strategies in the National Packaging Covenant.


The desired environmental outcomes from the

combination of the National Packaging Covenant and

the Measure are to optimise resource use and recovery

and encourage the conservation of virgin materials.

Evaluation criteria


Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials)










NEPM standards



Specific criteria

Criteria for assessment and performance

measurement of implementation of the NEPM are

set out in clause 21 of the NEPM which states that

each participating jurisdiction shall provide to

Council the following information:

• information gathered from brand owners whose

records under clause 16 have been audited by

the jurisdiction

• aggregated information received from local

governments under clause 17

• information gathered through the conduct of

surveys under clause 18

• information relating to complaints received,

investigations undertaken and prosecutions

mounted pursuant to the NEPM


Note: Clause 15(3) states that a common approach

to the interpretation of data gathered pursuant to

these protocols and to the terminology used with the

data shall be adopted by participating jurisdictions.

Furthermore, that the terminology used shall be in

accordance with definitions set out in the NEPM

as per clause 15(4).

Commonwealth


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Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure for the Commonwealth

by the Hon. Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage



(Refer to page 302)




The Australian Government’s implementing

legislation only applies to brand owner companies

with over 50% government ownership, and to its

jurisdictional territories. Australia Post is the only

company that is considered a brand owner under the

definition of the Used Packaging Materials NEPM.

Christmas and Cocos Keeling Islands are the only

territories where the NEPM could be applied.


The Australian Government and Australia Post are

signatories to the National Packaging Covenant. The

Australian Government encourages Covenant activities

across all Commonwealth organisations, including

agencies and Australia Post. In June 2008 the

government also engaged a consultant to develop a

methodology to determine the tonnage of packaging

recycled by each agency. The f inal consultancy report

is due in October 2008.

The Australian Government, as a member of the

Covenant Council Funding Steering Committee,

participates in developing the Covenant’s annual

budget for Covenant Council’s endorsement. The

Australian Government provided twenty f ive percent

of the funds required for administration and

communication activities.


The NEPM implementing instruments are now

in place in all participating jurisdictions with

enforcement actions underway.


EFFECTIVENESS

At the end of June 2008, there were 616 compliant

Covenant signatories. This comprises 410 re signed

and 206 new (f irst-time) signatories. Of these

signatories, 364 were brand owners, the focus of

NEPM implementation. During the year, six brand

owners were formally deemed non-compliant with

their Covenant obligations and referred to jurisdictions

for follow up under the NEPM.


THE NEPM

The NEPM requires the Australian Government to

provide information annually on the progress of the

Covenant to the National Environment Protection

Council (NEPC). The information is to be provided

by the Covenant Council regarding:

• membership of the Covenant expressed as both

the number of signatories and the proportion of

consumer packaging used in Australia represented

by those signatories

• the number of action plans lodged with the

Covenant Council

• recovery and utilisation rates reported by Covenant

signatories in accordance with their Action Plans

under the Covenant, by material type


The Report from the National Packaging Covenant

Council providing this information will be available

on the National Packaging Covenant webpage

<www.packagingcovenant.org.au>.

New South Wales


Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure for New South Wales

by the Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, Minister for Climate Change and the



(Refer to page 302)




The Used Packaging Materials NEPM is implemented

in NSW through Part 5B of the Protection of the

Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation (the

Regulation) which commenced on 1 September 2006.

Where the regulation applies to a brand owner, the

brand owner is required to take back the packaging

of its products (or an equivalent amount of similar

material) in line with published targets; re-use or

recycle this packaging; advise consumers on how their

products’ packaging may be recycled; provide a range

of data and report against key performance indicators;

develop an action plan and submit annual reports.

Under the Regulation, ‘brand owners’ include owners

or licensees of trade marks, franchisees, importers,

packaging suppliers and retailers who provide plastic

bags to their customers.

The Regulation does not apply to brand owners that

have an annual turnover of less than $5 million or

those brand owners who are part of an industry

arrangement that produce equivalent outcomes to

the Packaging Covenant. Non-compliance with the

requirements of the Regulation carries f ines of up

to $11 000 for an individual and $22 000 for a

corporation and daily f ines for continuing offences.

The Regulation is administered by the Department

of Environment and Climate Change NSW (DECC).

Standard NEPM monitoring and evaluation processes

are in place in NSW to identify potential ‘free riders’

to the Packaging Covenant, including annual brand

owner surveys and local government kerbside

collection audits.

The NEPM obliges local government to report certain

data. Reporting by local government under the

NEPM has been implemented in NSW under existing

administrative arrangements through which local

governments provide information to DECC on

kerbside recycling activities.


During the reporting period, NSW supported the

Covenant Council by sending letters to businesses

referred by the Covenant Council Secretariat. These

letters informed the addressees of the NSW Regulation

that applies to companies that are brand owners; which

have an annual turnover of more than $5 million and

which are not signatories to the Covenant or an

equivalent arrangement. The letters also provided

information on the Covenant and how to join the

Covenant. The implementation of the NSW Regulation

is initially based on a discussion about product

stewardship and options for demonstrating this, but

where businesses failed to respond or persistently

failed to join the Covenant, NSW issued statutory

notices. These statutory notices required addressees

to provide action plans under the NSW Regulation.

All the addressees chose to sign the Covenant instead

of being subject to the NSW Regulation.

Between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2008, DECC

wrote to 244 businesses. These were predominantly

non-signatories who were referred by the Covenant

Council Secretariat for failing to respond to requests

to join the Packaging Covenant and signatories to

the Packaging Covenant who had failed to meet

their obligations.


undertook a brandowner survey in March 2008, using

a methodology agreed between all jurisdictions that

have obligations under the NEPM. New South Wales

identif ied 200 companies that were potential free-

riders to the Covenant and forwarded these details

to the Covenant Council Secretariat for follow-up

in the f irst instance.


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The nature of the regulatory process means that it is

diff icult to assign results to a particular 12 month

reporting period. NSW has investigated the status of

398 companies in the 21 months since its Regulation

was gazetted. At 30 June 2008, 95 of the 398 businesses

targeted by NSW either joined the Covenant or met

their obligations under the Covenant. Of these 95

businesses, 24 joined the Packaging Covenant or met

their obligations after statutory notices were issued

under the NSW Regulation. Of the 398 businesses

targeted, 77 were deemed to be exempt from the

Regulation either because their annual turnover fell

under the small business threshold of $5 million or

because they were not brand owners.

As at 30 June 2008, responses to NSW letters were

outstanding from another 137 of the 398 businesses

that were targeted in the reporting year. Reminder

letters will be sent to these businesses and those who

persist in not responding will receive statutory notices

under the Protection of the Environment Operations

Act requiring them to provide the information

requested in the original letters.


EFFECTIVENESS

At the end of June 2008, NSW had a total of 260

signatories compared to 235 at the end of June 2007.

Many of the new signatories and previous signatories

who signed up during the reporting period did so in

response to NSW letters and statutory notices as well

as follow-up telephone calls made by DECC staff.


THE NEPM

In accordance with clause 21 of the NEPM the

following is provided:

(a) Nil (no brand owner was subject to record-

keeping obligations under the NSW Regulation)

(b) See Part 5 below

(c) During March 2008 DECC undertook surveys

of packaged consumer goods in a variety of retail

outlets to identify from a sample of packaged

goods, a list of non-signatories to the National

Packaging Covenant. This is a requirement under

clause 21(1)(c) and clause 18 of the NEPM

in order to identify ‘free riders’ who are not

signatories to the NEPM.

A total of 200 brands were identif ied as non-

signatories to the National Packaging Covenant.

This information was provided to the Covenant

Council Secretariat who has written to all these

non-signatories. Those that did not respond have

been referred to jurisdictions, including NSW, for

action under the NSW Regulation. Foreign and

imported products comprised the majority of the

remaining non-signatory brands. Contact details

and local distributors for these brands continue

to be diff icult to identify, making it impossible

to pursue these non-signatory brands under the

NSW Regulation.

(d) No complaint was received in relation to specif ic

businesses.

PART 5 — LOCAL GOVERNMENT DATA

FROM: New South Wales

Year (Reporting Period): 1 July 2007—30 June 2008

Total number of Councils reporting: 149

Percentage of total Councils: 98%

Total Residential population: 6 887 952

Other type of recycling services (e.g. Drop off)

by number of Councils:

Drop Off Service: 103 (Drop off only: 16)

No Service: 13

Total number of premises/households:

Residential 2 660 275 premises

Non-residential 13 246 premises

Number of households/premises serviced by

recycling collections:

Kerbside Drop off

(Optional)

Residential 2 456 167 premises 51 874 premises

Non-

Residential 7 937 premises 1 578 premises

Average premises fee charged by Council for

recycling services:

Residential $ 68.80

Non-Residential $ 62.06


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Annual per premise cost to Council to provide

a Recycling Service:

Residential $ 214.00

Non-Residential $ N/A

Proportion of household/premises with access

to a recycling service: 94.2%

Average participation rate: 83.5%

Container types and collection frequencies for all containers provided for kerbside collection by number

of Councils (e.g. crate/split bin/bag):

Container type Material type collected Frequency of service Total No.

in container of councils

Bag Commingled Weekly 2

Bag Commingled Fortnightly 1

Bag Commingled Monthly 1

Crate Commingled Weekly 16

Crate Commingled Fortnightly 2

Crate Commingled Monthly 1

MGB 55L Commingled Weekly 3


MGB 80L Commingled Fortnightly 1


MGB 120L x 2 Paper/ Cardboard and Containers Weekly (alternating weeks) 2







MGB 240L Split (waste/recycling) Weekly 2

MGB 240L Split (waste/recycling) Fortnightly 1

MGB 240L Split (paper/containers) Fortnightly 5



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Table 1: Amounts of materials collected at the kerbside, sent for secondary use/energy recovery

and contamination (waste) disposed of to landfill

1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008

Material Types collected Kerbside recycling Kerbside recycling Kerbside recycling

at kerbside collected sold or sent for residual waste

(in tonnes) secondary use (contaminants)

including energy disposed

recovery by of to landfill

material type (only need to

(in tonnes) report total tonnes)

TOTAL PACKAGING PAPER 144460 133742 10718

i.e. cardboard and liquid paper board

TOTAL NON PACKAGING PAPER 293142 267295 25847

i.e. paper mixed, paper white off ice,

newspaper and magazines

TOTAL GLASS 187429 167863 19567

TOTAL PLASTICS 40889 37357 3532

TOTAL ALUMINIUM (cans) 6524 6055 469

TOTAL STEEL (cans, tins etc.) 17147 15731 1416

TOTAL 689591 628043 61549

Table 2: Amounts of materials dropped off, sent for secondary use/energy recovery


1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008

Material Types collected Drop-off recycling Drop-off recycling Drop-off recycling

at drop-off collected sold or sent for residual waste






TOTAL PACKAGING PAPER 14835 14826 9





TOTAL GLASS 7222 7080 142




TOTAL 33161 32774 389


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(Refer to page 302)




The Used Packaging Materials NEPM is implemented

in Victoria through statutory policy, Waste Management

Policy (Used packaging Materials) 2006 (the Policy).

The Policy was gazetted and commenced on 28 March

2006 under the Environment Protection Act 1970.

The primary purpose of the Policy is to establish a

statutory basis for ensuring that signatories to the

National Packaging Covenant (the Covenant) are not

competitively disadvantaged in the marketplace by

fulf illing their commitments under the Covenant.


Victoria continues to implement the Policy by

targeting non-signatories identif ied through brand

owner audits (conducted annually as per Clause 18

of the NEPM) and by direct referral from other

sources such as Covenant signatories and non

government organisations.

Through the reporting period, 332 non-signatories

referred to Victoria were formally approached under

the NEPM. Towards the end of this period, a further

244 non-signatories were referred to Victoria from

the most recent brand owner audit. These companies

are pending processing and investigation.

In Victoria, non-signatories are f irst contacted by

mail to advise the company of their options and

obligations (to either sign the Covenant or be subject

to the regulations) under the Policy. If a company fails

to comply with the requirements of the f irst notice

within 28 days, the EPA issues a draft Pollution

Abatement Notice requesting specif ic information

for each packaging material used for a f inancial year.

Companies must demonstrate a recovery/reutilisation

rate for each material that is greater than the recovery

targets set under the Covenant. If a company again

fails to comply, the EPA then issues a Pollution

Abatement Notice to enforce compliance.


Of the 332 non-signatories formally approached

under the NEPM this reporting period:

• 78 signed the National Packaging Covenant

• 131 claimed an exemption under the $5 million

turnover threshold

• 52 were unknown (ceased trading/not identif ied)

• 45 were not captured by the NEPM (mistakenly

identif ied as brand owners as per Part 3 of the

NEPM).

Twenty-six were captured by the NEPM. These brand

owners have been formally notif ied of their options

and obligations under the Policy and were deemed

non compliant as at the end of the reporting period.


EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM instrument appears to deliver the greatest

value by providing an incentive to most non-signatory

brand owners to sign the Covenant (or demonstrate

an exemption). Seventy-eight businesses registered

in Victoria signed the Covenant as a result of NEPM

activity, bringing the total number of Victorian

signatories to 248. The effectiveness of the NEPM in

delivering increased packaging recovery rates amongst

non-signatories is yet to be tested in Victoria.

The NEPM contributes to better environmental

outcomes for packaging by encouraging the majority

of brand owners to sign the Covenant thereby ensuring

that signatories are not disadvantaged by fulf illing

their Covenant obligations.

Victoria


Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure for Victoria by the Hon.

Gavin Jennings MLC, Minister for Environment and Climate Change for



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THE NEPM

The following is provided in compliance with clause

21(1) of the NEPM:

(a) no audits of brand owner records have been

necessary

(b) at the end of the reporting period, the 2008 brand

owner survey was being f inalised

(c) no complaints have been received during the

reporting period.


FROM: Victoria




Total residential population: 5 186 599


by number of Councils: Other recycling service



Non-Residential 219 048 premises



Kerbside Drop off

(Optional)


Non-



recycling services:

Residential $ 53.51



a recycling service:

Residential $ 33.32

Non-Residential $ n/a


to a recycling service: 95%






120L Commingled Weekly 7

240L & crate 240L (containers) Fortnightly 1

Crate (paper/cardboard)

240L Commingled Fortnightly 69

240L Commingled Monthly 1

Crate & tied bundle Crate (containers) Weekly 1

Bundle (paper)


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1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008








TOTAL PACKAGING PAPER 99 199 87 363 11 836


TOTAL NON PACKAGING PAPER 291 001 263 980 27 021



TOTAL GLASS 143 073 130 816 12 257

TOTAL PLASTICS 50 466 37 877 12 588

TOTAL ALUMINIUM (cans) 5 022 4 694 238

TOTAL STEEL (cans, tins etc.) 16 199 14 783 1 416

TOTAL 604 960 539 513 65 356



1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008

Material Types collected Drop-off recycling Drop-off recycling Drop-off recycling







TOTAL PACKAGING PAPER 5 934 5 918 16


TOTAL NON PACKAGING PAPER 3 883 3 874 9



TOTAL GLASS 1 324 1 324 0



TOTAL STEEL (cans, tins etc.) 4 602 4 584 18

TOTAL 16 262 16 219 43


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(Refer to page 302)




The legislative provisions relating to the management

of used packaging materials, administered by the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), were

transferred from the Environmental Protection

Regulation 1998 to the Environmental Protection

(Waste Management) Regulation 2000 (EP (Waste

Management) Regulation) in August 2007 to

consolidate all waste management provisions into one

regulation. Minor amendments to strengthen definitions

and enforcement provisions were made at the same

time. Under the EP (Waste Management) Regulation,

local governments undertaking kerbside recycling

services are required to provide to the EPA data on

recycling in their jurisdiction.


On behalf of the Covenant Council, the Queensland

Government contacted 66 businesses referred by the

Covenant Council Secretariat to provide information

regarding Part 6B (Used Packaging Materials) of the

EP (Waste Management) Regulation and the Covenant.

The Queensland Government also sent compliance

notices (under 66W of the EP (Waste Management)

Regulation) to fourteen of these companies.

These 66 businesses were encouraged to make

improvements to their product stewardship and

environmental practices with regards to packaging

and provided specif ic advice on request. Of the 66

companies who sent letters, 19 companies were

deemed to be exempt from the regulation as they

were below the small business threshold and 22

companies joined the Covenant, with one additional

company committing to join. The Queensland

Government is continuing to follow up with the

remaining non-compliant companies. Some very large

national companies are included in those that joined

the Covenant during the 2007–08 reporting period.

The EPA undertook brand owner audits of products

in retail stores in Brisbane. The purpose of these

audits was to identify brand owners whose products

are represented in the waste stream but are not


audit involved 200 products surveyed in a large sports

store and a large f ishing/camping store. The list of

brand owners was sent to the NSW Department of

Environment and Climate Change who analysed the

results of surveys undertaken by all jurisdictions.

Seventy Queensland businesses were identif ied as

non-signatories to the Covenant. These businesses

will be contacted in the first half of the next reporting

period after the Covenant Secretariat makes an initial

approach to the businesses.


The Queensland Government’s progress towards

achievement of the NEPM Goal includes:

• facilitating product stewardship through enforcement

of legislation to implement the NEPM in Queensland

• undertaking market development initiatives for

materials that are recovered from the kerbside and

away-from-home sectors. Considerable attention is

being given to the recovery of glass as commodity

prices and recycling levels are currently low. Cairns

Water is proposing a demonstration glass crushing

plant to explore alternative uses for glass and Visy

Recycling wishes to build a glass fines reprocessing

plant for South East Queensland (for which it has

received funding under the National Packaging

Covenant)

• applying product stewardship across all

government operations; for example, the application

of a government sustainable procurement policy

and becoming a member of the Buy Recycled

Business Alliance

Queensland


Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure for Queensland by the




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• raising awareness of the NEPM through

presentations to industry associations and meetings

with specif ic companies

• implementing projects that support integrated

recycling collection and reprocessing services.

A number of key new projects were initiated

throughout the reporting year. These include:

• Public Place Recycling (PPR) Program—The aims

of the project will be to implement PPR across

Queensland that will be as reliable and consistent

as Council kerbside recycling systems, maximise

the capture of recyclable materials, limit

contamination and enhance collection infrastructure

for recyclable materials in the State.

Public places/venues to be targeted include:

– shopping precincts/centres

– sporting and other events

– parks and public spaces

– transit centres/hubs

– recreational pursuits and facilities

– educational institutions.

It is anticipated that, through this project, an

additional 20 000 tonnes per year of recyclable

material will be recovered.

• Transpacif ic industries—This project will provide

small-to-medium enterprises with an opportunity

to participate in recovery of recyclables through

an easy-to-use service which will provide f inancial

incentives to recycle and support sustainability

reporting.

A single co-mingled recycling bin service will be

offered to all commercial and industrial premises

in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. This

will primarily be a front-lift service with some

rear-lift for premises with space constraints. The

implementation of this project is expected to

deliver a total of 42 500 new tonnes of recyclable

material by the middle of 2010.

• Brisbane City Council (BCC)—As part of a revision

of its Waste Minimisation and Management Strategy,

the BCC is proposing a number of signif icant

initiatives which will include:

– expanding recycling services to multi-unit

dwellings—approximately 2775 unit complexes

will be targeted for a recycling service

commencing in March 2008

– implementing recycling services to approximately

120 000 commercial and industrial premises in

Brisbane—it is anticipated that it will be offered

to commerce and industry in the last half of 2008

– a new contract with Visy Recycling to upgrade

the Materials Recycling Facilities to provide

capacity for this new product from extended

recycling services

– a major improvement to the Recycling Education

and Awareness Program to support these new

initiatives along with bolstering the existing

kerbside recycling service.

These initiatives will increase recycling yield by

17 500 new tonnes by June 2010.

• Amcor/Moreton Bay Regional Council—In this

project, the new Regional Council, encompassing

the outlying northern Brisbane subregion of South

East Queensland, together with Amcor Recycling

Australia, is collaborating to undertake a pilot

recycling program targeting the small-to-medium

enterprises that dominate the activities on the

many industrial estates in this area. It is anticipated

that this project will generate a minimum of 5000

new tonnes of recyclable material each year from

June 2009.


EFFECTIVENESS

Queensland has continued to encourage brand owner

participation in the Covenant this year, complemented

by the more rigorous NEPM enforcement action.

Under the strengthened Covenant there are now sixty-

one signatories, an increase of ten signatories over

the previous year.

There are three companies that are deemed to be non-

compliant signatories. Compliance action against

these companies will be pursued in the f irst half of

the next reporting period. The seventy non-signatory

companies identif ied through the brand owner audit

will also be contacted.

The legislative provisions supporting the compliance

requirements of the Covenant have been amended

to allow a shorter time for responding to a

Compliance Notice.


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THE NEPM

The following information is provided in compliance

with Clause 21(1) of the NEPM:

• no audits of brand owner records have been

necessary due to brand owners either joining the

Covenant or demonstrating exemption from the

NEPM. Prior to joining the Covenant, 14 companies

were issued with Compliance Notices under the

Regulation

• local government data is available at Part 5 of

this report

• a brand owner survey of 200 products was

undertaken in Brisbane (see ‘implementation

activities’ at Part 2 above)

• no complaints were received in relation to specif ic

businesses

• no prosecutions were undertaken during the year.


FROM: Queensland



Percentage of total Councils: 84% (which account for

99% of the Queensland population; only 1% of the

Queensland population reside in the remaining 16%

of councils)



by number of Councils: 13



Non-residential 0 premises



Kerbside Drop off

(Optional)


Non-

Residential 0 premises 0 premises


recycling services:

Residential $ 35.00




Residential Unknown

Non-Residential Unknown



Average participation rate: 83%





240 litre bin Commingled recyclables Fortnightly 20

240 litre split (waste/recycling bin) Commingled recyclables Weekly 5

Bag Commingled recyclables Fortnightly 1

Bag Commingled recyclables Weekly 1

240 litre bin Commingled recyclables Weekly 1

Other Commingled recyclables Unknown 2

(Please note that two amalgamated Councils provided more than one container type)


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1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008


at Kerbside collected - total only sold or sent for residual waste

(Total Only - secondary use (contaminants)

in tonnes) including energy disposed of to

recovery by landfill - (Total

material type Only - in tonnes)

(in tonnes)

TOTAL PACKAGING PAPER* 21 424 19 657 1 767





TOTAL GLASS 85 551 78 495 7 056

TOTAL PLASTICS 11 628 10 669 959

TOTAL ALUMINIUM (cans) 2 816 2 584 232


CO-MINGLED 8 682 7 966 716

TOTAL 281 516 258 297 23 219

* Total Packaging Paper may also include mixed paper and cardboard that local government is not able

to differentiate


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Material Types collected at Drop-off recycling Drop-off recycling Drop-off recycling

drop-off locations collected sold or sent for residual waste

(Total Only - secondary use (contaminants)

in tonnes) including energy disposed of to

recovery by landfill (Total

material type Only - in tonnes)

(in tonnes)

TOTAL PACKAGING PAPER* 2 415 2 243 172





TOTAL GLASS 5 235 4 862 373




Total Co-mingled Recyclables 2 403 2 231 172

TOTAL 19 569 18 173 1 396

* Total Packaging Paper may also include mixed paper and cardboard that local government is not able

to differentiate

The sub-totalled information in Tables 1 and 2 should not be compared to previous years’ data due to

amalgamations of councils in March 2008 (157 councils reduced to 73). This year’s data is also more accurate

in reporting recycling tonnes attributable to kerbside and drop-off points because of improved surveying

techniques. Generalised industry f igures for contaminants in kerbside recycling and drop-off recycling

materials were used to estimate the Recycling Collected and Residual Waste subtotals.


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(Refer to page 302)




The NEPM is implemented in Western Australia

through the Environmental Protection (NEPM-UPM)

Regulations 2007 (the Regulations), under the

Environmental Protection Act 1986. The Regulations

were gazetted on 27 April 2007.


State responsibilities under the NEPM are administered

in Western Australia (WA) by the Department of

Environment and Conservation (DEC).

During 2007–08 DEC approached one brand owner

in regard to their compliance under the NEPM and

the associated Regulations, this brand owner opted to

become a signatory to the Covenant thereby becoming

exempt from the Regulations.

In early 2008 DEC conducted a random brand owner

survey (as required under clause 18 of the NEPM) in

collaboration with other jurisdictions. Results from

the nation wide survey identified 48 different Western

Australian organisations to whom the NEPM may

apply. These organisations have been approached by

the Covenant Secretariat and will be referred to the

jurisdiction in due course.


A couple of Western Australian based non-brand

owner signatories withdrew from the Covenant during

the reporting period. Despite the withdrawals the

number of Western Australian based signatories

to the Covenant increased to 16 over the 2007–08

reporting period.


EFFECTIVENESS

Western Australia has made progress on achieving

the NEPM goal with general brand owner awareness

of the NEPM increasing and the number of WA based

brand owner signatories to the Covenant increasing

from the previous reporting year. During the 2007–08

reporting period at least one brand owner signed up

as a direct result of jurisdictional activities under

the NEPM.


NEPM


with clause 21(1):

(a) no Western Australian companies have been

required to provide records for auditing or have

been prosecuted

(b) see part 5 of this report

(c) in collaboration with other jurisdictions a

national audit was undertaken in March 2008

to identify free riding brand owners represented

in the packaged products sold by retailers. Brand

owner details were provided to the National

Packaging Covenant Secretariat for follow up

(d) no investigations or prosecutions have been

mounted pursuant to this NEPM.


FROM: Western Australia






by number of Councils: 60

Western Australia


Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure for Western Australia




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Residential 759 193 premises




Kerbside Drop off

(Optional)


Non-



recycling services:

Residential $ 44.00




Residential $ 36.00









240L MGB Commingled dry recyclables Fortnightly 51

240L MGB Commingled dry recyclables On demand 1

240L MGB Commingled dry recyclables Weekly 2

60L Crate Commingled dry recyclables Weekly 1

240L MGB Commingled dry recyclables Monthly 1

240L MGB Recyclable containers only Fortnightly 3

Bag 120L Recyclable containers only Fortnightly 1

Other Recyclable containers only Weekly 1

Other Paper & cardboard Monthly 2

Other Paper & cardboard Weekly 1

240 MGB Paper & cardboard Fortnightly 1


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TOTAL PACKAGING PAPER not available 12 605 not available


TOTAL NON PACKAGING PAPER not available 60 856 not available



TOTAL GLASS not available 16 856 not available

TOTAL PLASTICS not available 3 882 not available

TOTAL ALUMINIUM (cans) not available 956 not available

TOTAL STEEL (cans, tins etc.) not available 1 320 not available

TOTAL 0 96 475 19 295



1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008

Material Types collected Residential Residential drop- Residential

at drop-off drop-off recycling off recycling sold drop-off recycling

collected or sent for secondary residual waste

(in tonnes) use including (contaminants)

energy recovery disposed of to

by material type landfill (only need to


TOTAL PACKAGING PAPER 782 not available not available


TOTAL NON PACKAGING PAPER 306 not available not available



TOTAL GLASS 860 not available not available

TOTAL PLASTICS 162 not available not available

TOTAL ALUMINIUM (cans) 141 not available not available

TOTAL STEEL (cans, tins etc.) 348 not available not available

TOTAL 2 599 not available not available


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(Refer to page 302)




The National Environment Protection (Used Packaging)

Measure (NEPM) continues to be implemented in

South Australia as a statutory Environment Protection

Policy. The Governor authorised the remaking of the

NEPM as an Environment Protection Policy pursuant

to section 29 of the Environment Protection Act 1993.

The Environment Protection (Used Packaging

Materials) Policy 2007 (EPP) was gazetted on

1 March 2007.


The EPA continues to contact brand owners of

packaged products. Brand owners who potentially are

significant contributors to the waste stream are advised

that they need to make a choice: sign the National

Packaging Covenant (NPC) or comply with the

requirements of the Environment Protection (Used

Packaging Materials) Policy 2007.

A retail brand owners’ audit, to identify those

companies that may be signif icant contributors to the

waste stream, was undertaken in March 2008. The

audits were undertaken at various retail outlets in

Adelaide. These audits assisted in identifying non-

signatories to the National Packaging Covenant. All

companies were referred to the Covenant secretariat

for initial follow-up.

During this reporting period 60 companies were

referred back to EPA by the NPC secretariat to

enforce the obligations of the EPP. All companies

were contacted by EPA and since this contact was

made 12 have signed the NPC, 11 are exempt, 12

are pending, 3 are unknown companies, ten are not

applicable, i.e. not a brand owner, and the EPP

applies to 12 companies.


South Australian brand owners have been advised

of their obligations to either join the Covenant or

comply with the requirements of the Environment

Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Policy 2007.

EPA continues to contact businesses that have been

identif ied as a potential brand owner.

Other activities contributing to the effectiveness of

the NEPM, and therefore the number of signatories

to the NPC, include presentations made by the EPA

at industry events and in other fora and the activities

of the SA Jurisdictional Project Group.

As at 30 June 2008 South Australia had forty-six

signatories to the National Packaging Covenant.


EFFECTIVENESS

South Australia continues to implement this measure

within the current SA legislative framework. South

Australia has continued to promote and support the

implementation of the Covenant, and has been

represented on national and jurisdictional bodies.

South Australia has also promoted the Covenant

through the South Australian Jurisdictional Projects

Group and by regularly taking part in industry and

public seminars to advise brand owners of their

obligations should they choose not to join the Covenant.


THE NEPM


with clause 21.(1):

(a) All brand owners referred to EPA have been

contacted see part 2 for full details. The EPA

continues to follow up on brand owners that may

contribute to the waste stream.

South Australia


Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure for South Australia by the

Hon. Jay Weatherill MP, Minister for Environment and Conservation for



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(b) See part 5 of this report.

(c) An audit to identify brand owners represented in

the kerbside recycling collection system and the

kerbside waste stream (as required under clause

18 of the NEPM) was undertaken in March 2007.

(d) NPC secretariat referred many companies to EPA

concerning their failure to join the Covenant. EPA

has followed up on all referrals, see part 2 for full

details. There have been no prosecutions.


FROM: South Australia






by number of Councils: Drop off: 15






Kerbside Drop off

(Optional)


Non-



recycling services:

Residential $ 56.41

Non-residential $ 55.72



Residential $ 56.41







Container type Material type collected in container Frequency Total No.

of service of councils

140L MGB Cardboard, liquid paper board, mixed paper, newspaper/ Fortnightly 1

magazines, mixed glass, mixed plastics, aluminium and steel

240L MGB Cardboard, liquid paper board, mixed paper, newspaper/ Fortnightly 32


240L split bin Cardboard, liquid paper board, mixed paper, newspaper/ Weekly 4


60L crate Cardboard, liquid paper board, mixed paper, newspaper/ Fortnightly 3


Bag Cardboard, liquid paper board, mixed paper, newspaper/ Fortnightly 1


Nil—residents Cardboard, liquid paper board, mixed paper, newspaper/ Fortnightly 1

bundle up magazines, mixed glass, mixed plastics, aluminium and steel


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TOTAL PACKAGING PAPER 62 598 34 423 4 019





TOTAL GLASS 14 674 8 642 1 558

TOTAL PLASTICS 4 868 2 626 418



COMINGLED 11 083 44 056 8 161

TOTAL 130 249 112 034 18 215



1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008

Material Types collected Drop-off Drop-off recycling Drop-off recycling

at drop-off recycling collected sold or sent for residual waste











TOTAL GLASS 8 8 0




221 196 25

TOTAL 3 061 3 030 31


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The NEPM is a State policy under the State Policies

and Projects Act 1993.

State Policies can be given effect by issuing

Environment Protection Notices issued under the


Act 1994 (EMPCA). The obligations on brandowners

can be implemented through conditions and

requirements set out in such notices.

An Environment Protection Notice to enforce the

NEPM has been revised and f inalised.

Obligations on local government authorities in terms

of data collection and reporting have been made

through informal agreements negotiated between the

state government and local government at two levels—

regional bodies and bilateral agreements. Regional

bodies exist for the Southern Waste Strategy Authority

member councils and the Northern Tasmania

Development member councils, both of whom are


Cradle Coast Authority has a draft strategy. These

three regional bodies represent local government

across all of the state.

The Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage

and the Arts is the nominated body for the purposes

of implementation, administration and enforcement

of the NEPM.


The Tasmanian Government has been working on

a cooperative basis with the National Packaging

Covenant Council to ensure signatories are meeting

the commitments given in their Action Plans.

The focus during the reporting period has been to

ensure that brandowners with a turn over of more

than $5 million have become signatories. Tasmania

also participated in the national brandowner audit.

During the reporting period there has been no need

to enforce the NEPM in Tasmania.


The NEPM is a complementary instrument for the

National Packaging Covenant and its effectiveness

must be viewed in this context. Local government

is slowly taking up the opportunities presented by

the Covenant. The NEPM’s purpose is to act as an

incentive to join the Covenant, provide a regulatory

safety net and it has achieved this in Tasmania.


EFFECTIVENESS

Negotiations with companies that fall within the

NEPM threshold to become signatories to the Covenant

were virtually completed during the reporting period

and the NEPM has provided a strong incentive for

them to join the Covenant. Tasmania has 15 company

signatories.


THE NEPM

This report meets the NEPM reporting requirements.

Twenty one of the 29 councils in Tasmania responded

to the ‘Annual Report by Local Government Authorities’

14 of these councils were able to provide data on the

tonnes of materials collected through their kerbside

recycling service. It is worthwhile noting all councils

reporting collect all the materials listed in Table 1. In

total 25 councils within Tasmania provide a kerbside

recycling service.

It is possible to provide the total amount of recyclables

for the reporting period collected from all sources

in Tasmania as accessed from industry sources. This

data is presented below.

Tasmania


Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure for Tasmania by the Hon.

Paula Wriedt MHA, Minister for Tourism, Arts and the Environment for



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Material Type Tonnes

Total Packaging Paper 22 495

Total Non Packaging Paper 16 510

Total Glass 8 856

Total Plastics 2 279

Total Aluminium 405

Total Steel 808

Total 51 353

Contamination 6 000 (approx.)

Data in the tables below reflect what information was

provided by councils responding to the survey. Please

note that not all councils provided comprehensive data.


FROM: Tasmania




Total residential population: 500 000


by number of Councils: Other recycling service






Kerbside Drop off

(Optional)

Residential 168 853 premises 0 premises

Non-

residential 6 170 premises 0 premises


recycling services:

Residential $ 33.00

Non-residential Unknown



Residential Unknown

Non-residential Unknown



Average participation rate: Unknown





Crate Cardboard, off ice paper, newsprint, milk cartons, glass, Weekly 10

all rigid plastic containers, steel cans, aluminium cans

140L MGB As above Fortnightly 5

240L MGB As above Fortnightly 1

Bag As above Fortnightly 1

120L As above Weekly 1


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TOTAL PACKAGING PAPER 13 464


TOTAL NON PACKAGING PAPER 5 141



TOTAL GLASS 7 166

TOTAL PLASTICS 1 386

TOTAL ALUMINIUM (cans) 291

TOTAL STEEL (cans, tins etc.) 7 110

TOTAL 34 558 N/A N/A



1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008

Material types collected Drop-off collected Drop-off sold Drop-off

at drop-off or sent for residual waste

secondary use (contaminants)



material type

TOTAL PACKAGING PAPER


TOTAL NON PACKAGING PAPER



TOTAL GLASS

TOTAL PLASTICS

TOTAL ALUMINIUM (cans)

TOTAL STEEL (cans, tins etc.)

TOTAL unknown N/A N/A


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In the ACT, the Department of Territory and Municipal

Services has responsibility for the implementation

and administration of the NEPM.

An Industry Waste Reduction plan (IWRP) has been

developed, under the ACT Waste Minimisation Act 2001

to implement the NEPM requirements in the ACT.


The ACT brand owners of packaging were initially

advised of their obligation to either join the National

Packaging Covenant (NPC) or comply with the

requirements of the NEPM. The ACT brand owners

who chose not to join the voluntary NPC are regulated

by the IWRP.


In 2007–08, being a small jurisdiction and having

limited number of brand owners who are not

signatories of the NPC, the ACT relied on referrals

from the Covenant Secretariat for implementation.

Five companies were referred to the ACT. Of these:

• one company was exempt (under $5 million

turnover threshold)

• two companies were registered in NSW

• one company was not registered

• one company was a training company and therefore

no further investigation was required.


EFFECTIVENESS

The IWRP ensures that the ACT has no free riders

who refuse to take up their responsibility to reduce

waste from packaging.


THE NEPM

The ACT incorporates both state and local government

and does not need to require local council reporting.


FROM: The Australian Capital Territory

Year (Reporting Period): 1 July 2007 — 30 June 2008



Total residential population: 344 200 (at Dec ’07,

June ’08 data not yet available from ABS)


by number of Councils: Drop off recycling centres

at regional centres and transfer stations



Non-residential N/A



Kerbside Drop off

(Optional)


Non-

residential N/A N/A


recycling services:

ACT does not charge recycling or waste services

separately.



Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure for the Australian

Capital Territory by Mr John Hargreaves MLA, Minister for the Territory

and Municipal Services for the reporting year ended 30 June 2008


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240L Recycling bin Domestic recyclable materials Fortnightly 1

Large hoppers (for Domestic recyclable materials Fortnightly (weekly service 1

multi-unit properties) offered at additional cost)

140L Bin Domestic non-recyclable materials Weekly 1

Large hoppers (for Domestic non-recyclable materials Weekly 1

multi-unit properties)



ACT does not charge recycling or waste services

separately.


to a recycling service: 99.9%




1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008










TOTAL NON PACKAGING PAPER No breakdown

i.e. paper mixed, paper white off ice, between packaging and

newspaper and magazines non packaging paper

TOTAL GLASS 9 726 8 964 762

TOTAL PLASTICS 1 188 976 212



TOTAL 35 209 33 856 1 353

No data are available for dropped off materials as they come from many sources such as commercial, domestic

and regional centres. Also, all inbound materials from various sources get sorted together by the Material

Recovery Facility and processed in one single pass into recycled products and wastes for landfill. The sources

of materials are not accounted for.


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(Refer to page 302)




The Northern Territory (NT) Government is not a

signatory to the National Packaging Covenant as the

current Covenant remains unlikely to deliver cost

effective outcomes relevant to the unique demographic

position of the Territory. The NT Government is

implementing the NEPM through the ‘2007 Re-thinking

Waste Disposal Behaviour & Resource Efficiency

Interim Action Plan’ (Re-thinking Waste Action Plan).

The Re-thinking Waste Action Plan is non-legislative

and designed to achieve the goals of the NEPM in

a manner considered appropriate to the NT.

There are no known major brand owners based in

the NT who are likely to have responsibilities under

the NEPM. In the event that NT based brand owners

with obligations under the NEPM were found to be

non-complying, there is provision under the Waste

Management and Pollution Control Act to apply an

Environmental Protection Objective to ensure the

NEPM can be applied legislatively in the NT.


The NEPM is being addressed through the

implementation of the Re-thinking Waste Action

Plan and involves f inding opportunities to integrate

resource recovery and litter management with regional

development and capacity building. It has engaged

relevant stakeholders in the pursuit of a collaborative,

eff icient and effective approach. More information

about the Re-thinking Waste Action Plan can be

found at <www.nt.gov.au/nreta/environment/waste/

index.html>.

Implementing the Re-thinking Waste Action Plan

uses funding support from the Northern Territory

Government’s EnvironmeNT Grants program and the

Product Stewardship Forum (PSF) to target action

and investment in the following key priority areas:

• education projects:

– building better community education resources

– re-thinking Waste in schools education projects

• regional/industry development projects:

– local government capacity building/regional

development projects

– industry partnerships to promote engagement

in product stewardship and waste minimisation/

resource eff iciency projects

• re-thinking Waste Governance Projects:

– meeting the Territory’s obligations under the

National Environmental Protection Measure

(Used Packaging Materials)

– follow up on outstanding actions through the

Litter Abatement and Resource Recovery Strategy.

In 2007–08 a total $389 710 was offered to schools

and organisations in the Northern Territory to

conduct projects and operations with a focus on

waste management. Final project reports are pending

for all projects. Further information on these projects

under the EnvironmeNT Grants program is available

on the Department of Natural Resources,

Environment, the Arts and Sport website at

<www.environmentgrants.nt.gov.au>.


The Northern Territory’s approach to meeting the

NEPM goal continues to be through implementing

the Re-thinking Waste Action Plan with additional

projects funded through the EnvironmeNT Grants

program. Evaluating the effectiveness of the initiatives

in meeting the NEPM goal will be possible once

f inal report submissions are received.

Northern Territory


Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure for the Northern




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EFFECTIVENESS

The NEPM is considered a less effective mechanism

in the Northern Territory as the major contributors to

the waste stream are brand owners not based in the

NT. Brand owners who are Covenant signatories are

able to meet their national targets more cost effectively

in other more populous jurisdictions where well

established recycling infrastructure and high volumes

of waste are available.

Due to the small dispersed population and distance to

markets, kerbside recycling is only f inancially viable

in the major population centre of Darwin and its

satellite city Palmerston. Recycling activities in other

areas face signif icant barriers and costs and may be

both environmentally and economically unviable. The

NEPM does provide a useful mechanism for obtaining

data on kerbside recycling where it does exist.

The Northern Territory continues to be committed to

the NEPM goal and Desired Environmental Outcomes

through the implementation of the Re-thinking Waste

Action Plan.


THE NEPM

There have been no brand owners identif ied in the

Northern Territory who would have obligations under

the NEPM. No reporting has been required under

clause 16 of the NEPM. No supporting data surveys

were conducted in 2007–08 under clause 18 of the

NEPM. No complaints have been received,

investigations undertaken nor prosecution mounted

pursuant to this measure. Of the 16 councils and

shires in the Northern Territory only two provide

kerbside recycling services and are required to

provide reports.


FROM: Northern Territory




Total residential population: 100 270 (councils that

offer recycling only)


by number of Councils: Public/commercial recycle

drop off centre which takes greenwaste, steel,

computers, timber, furniture and other recyclable

waste materials (2 councils). Domestic waste oil

collection (1 council). Annual kerbside collection

of large materials (1 council).






Kerbside Drop off

(Optional)

Residential 32 725 premises n/a premises

Non-

residential 0 premises n/a premises


recycling services:

Residential $ 225.75




Residential $ n/a

Non-residential $ n/a





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TOTAL PACKAGING PAPER 616





*this data includes packaging and non packaging data

TOTAL GLASS 814 816 300




TOTAL 2 699 3 318 995



1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008

Material Types collected Drop-off recycling Drop-off recycling Drop-off







TOTAL PACKAGING PAPER





*this data includes packaging and non packaging data

TOTAL GLASS

TOTAL PLASTICS

TOTAL ALUMINIUM (cans)

TOTAL STEEL (cans, tins etc.)

TOTAL 73 46 27

Appendix 7: Glossary

AAD Australian Antarctic Division

ADRs Australian Design Rules

AGO Australian Greenhouse Office

AHMAC Australian Health Ministers Advisory Committee

AQMP Air Quality Management Plan

ANZECC Australia New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council

ARC Australian Research Council

BTEX Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene

CAC Act Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1999

CLM Act Contaminated Land Management Act 1997

CLR Contaminated Land Register

CNG Compressed natural gas

CO Carbon monoxide

COAG Council of Australian Governments

CRC CARE Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment

CSIRO Commonwealth Scientif ic and Industrial Research Organisation

Cwlth Commonwealth

DCA Development Consent Authority

DEC Department of Environment and Conservation

DECC Department of Environment and Climate Change

DNRETA Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts

DTAE Department of Tourism, Arts and the Environment

DTUP Department of Transport and Urban Planning

EMPCA Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994

EMR Environmental Management Register

EPA Environment Protection Authority/ Environmental Protection Agency

EPHC Environment Protection and Heritage Council

EPO Environment Protection Objective

EPPs Environment Protection Policies

ERIN Environmental Resources Information Network

FMA Act Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997

GIS Global Information System

GSERU Greenhouse Sciences and Environmental Reporting Unit

HDPE High density polyethylene

ICP-AES Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy

IRTP Integrated Regional Transport Plan

IWG Implementation Working Group

IWMP NPI Industrial Waste Management Policy (National Pollutant Inventory)

IWRP Industry Waste Reduction Plan

LCVs Light Commercial Vehicles

LPG Liquefied petroleum gas

LTEC Land Transport Environment Committee

MEA maximum extent achievable

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

NATA National Association of Testing Authorities


AP

PE

ND

IX 7

:G

LO

SS

AR

Y


AP

PE

ND

IX 7

:G

LO

SS

AR

Y

331

NEPC National Environment Protection Council

NEPM National Environment Protection Measure

NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council

NHVAS National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme

NO2 Nitrogen dioxide

NOx Nitrogen oxides

NPI National Pollutant Inventory

NRT National Reporting Tool

NRMMC Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council

NTC National Transport Commission

O3 Ozone

OLR On Line Reporting

OVERT On-road vehicle emissions testing program

PAH Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Pb Lead

PCBs Polychlorinated biphenyls

PEM Protocol for Environmental Management

PM10 Particles with an equivalent aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 micrometres

PM2.5 Particles with an equivalent aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometres

PPLIP Port Pirie Lead Implementation Program

ppm Parts per million

POEO Protection of the Environment Operations

PPR Public Place Recycling

PRC Peer Review Committee

QA Quality Assurance

QGS Queensland Greenhouse Strategy

SA JRG South Australian Jurisdictional Recycling Group

SEPP State Environment Protection Policy

SEPP (AAQ) State Environment Protection Policy (Ambient Air Quality)

SEPP (AQM) State Environment Protection Policy (Air Quality Management)

SEPP (PMCL) State Environment Protection Policy (Prevention and Management of Contaminated Land)

SEQ South-East Queensland

SEQIPP South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program

SEQRAQS South-East Queensland Regional Air Quality Strategy

SEQRP South East Queensland Regional Plan

SO2 Sulfur dioxide

SMP Site Management Plan

TEOM Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance

TPH Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons

TNP TransLink Network Plan

TSP Total Suspended Particles

USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency

VOC Volatile Organic Compounds

UPSS Underground Petroleum Storage Systems

WTBEPNs Waste Transport Business Environment Protection Notices

National Environment Protection

Council Service Corporation

Level 5, 81 Flinders Street

Adelaide SA 5000

Telephone (08) 8419 1200

Facsimile (08) 8224 0912

Email [email protected]

2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8

a nnua l r epor t

w w w . e p h c . g o v . a u

1999 nepc ar 07-08 text fa2 v2[online]

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