Environment assessment and approval process
A person must not take an action that has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on any of the matters of environmental significance without approval from the Australian Government Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts (the Minister).
An action is a project, a development, an undertaking, an activity or a series of activities, or an alteration of any of these things.
Decide if a proposed action needs to be referred
- Is the proposed action likely to have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance?
- Is the proposed action likely to have a significant impact on the environment in general (for actions by Commonwealth agencies or actions on Commonwealth land) or the environment on Commonwealth land (for actions outside Commonwealth land)?
No
Approval is not required from the Minister.
Yes
Person proposing to take the action makes a referral to the Minister. Refer your proposed action.
See also:
- Matters of national environmental significance
- Environment assessment process - fact sheet
- Environment assessment process - referral flowchart
- EPBC Act - fact sheet
Resources
Referrals and public notices:
Search and create reports:
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