The Government of Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is set to open public and stakeholder consultation on its greenhouse gas guidelines next month.
Following the release of its greenhouse gas guidelines in March, the EPA recognised that further consultation with industry, interest groups and the community on its greenhouse gas guidance was required.
The industry had notably voiced uncertainty on the technical aspects and the practical implementation of the guidelines, particularly with respect to offsets.
Today the EPA revealed that the 12-week consultation period will begin on Monday 10 June and close on Monday 2 September 2019.
EPA Chair, Dr Tom Hatton, said that the intention of the further consultation is to listen to community and stakeholders, to ensure the greenhouse gas guidelines provide a robust and effective framework within which the EPA will consider the greenhouse gas emissions of future proposals.
“The EPA welcomes all submissions on potential changes to our greenhouse gas guidelines and we will take all views into account,” he confirmed.
To inform the consultation process the EPA will issue a background paper and (for reference purposes only) will make the rescinded guidelines available during the consultation period.
The EPA notes that it is open to changing its greenhouse gas guidance in response to the community submissions.
Submissions will be reviewed and published online following the three-month consultation period.
The board intends to release its new guidelines in December 2019.
Submissions can be made at https://consultation.epa.wa.gov.au/ from Monday June 10, 2019.
