2021 offshore greenhouse gas storage acreage release: nominated areas for comment

Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009

A ‘greenhouse gas activity’ is defined in the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009 (Environment Regulations).

‘Seismic or exploratory drilling activity’ is also a term defined in the Environment Regulations, and includes some greenhouse gas activities.

The Environment Regulations require that an environment plan (EP) for a greenhouse gas activity must be accepted by NOPSEMA before the activity can commence. Environment plans for seismic or exploratory drilling activities are subject to a 30 day public comment period before NOPSEMA can commence assessment of those environment plans. A titleholder commits an offence if they undertake an activity and there is no environment plan in force for the activity.

Information regarding environment plans, including but not limited to assessment policy, content requirements and decision-making, is available on the environmental management section of NOPSEMA’s website [https://www.nopsema.gov.au/offshore-industry/environmental-management].

In February 2014, NOPSEMA’s environmental management authorisations process was endorsed by the Commonwealth Environment Minister as a Program that meets the requirements of Part 10 of the EPBC Act. This endorsement of the NOPSEMA Program streamlines the environmental approval processes for most offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas activities proposed in Commonwealth waters.

While titleholders for greenhouse gas exploration activities can access the streamlined environmental management authorisation arrangements under the endorsed NOPSEMA Program, titleholders of activities that include injection and/or storage of greenhouse gas cannot access the streamlined arrangements. This means that additional environmental approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act may be required in addition to an environment plan accepted by NOPSEMA for greenhouse gas injection and / or storage activities. The NOPSEMA website provides additional information regarding the NOPSEMA EPBC Act Program [https://www.nopsema.gov.au/offshore-industry/environmental-management/nopsema-epbc-act-program], including further details on activities included within, and excluded from, the endorsed streamlined arrangements.

Duty holders should also be aware that additional safety and integrity authorisations from NOPSEMA may be required for greenhouse gas activities and associated facilities.

Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009

A ‘greenhouse gas activity’ is defined in the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009 (Environment Regulations).

‘Seismic or exploratory drilling activity’ is also a term defined in the Environment Regulations, and includes some greenhouse gas activities.

The Environment Regulations require that an environment plan (EP) for a greenhouse gas activity must be accepted by NOPSEMA before the activity can commence. Environment plans for seismic or exploratory drilling activities are subject to a 30 day public comment period before NOPSEMA can commence assessment of those environment plans. A titleholder commits an offence if they undertake an activity and there is no environment plan in force for the activity.

Information regarding environment plans, including but not limited to assessment policy, content requirements and decision-making, is available on the environmental management section of NOPSEMA’s website [https://www.nopsema.gov.au/offshore-industry/environmental-management].

In February 2014, NOPSEMA’s environmental management authorisations process was endorsed by the Commonwealth Environment Minister as a Program that meets the requirements of Part 10 of the EPBC Act. This endorsement of the NOPSEMA Program streamlines the environmental approval processes for most offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas activities proposed in Commonwealth waters.

While titleholders for greenhouse gas exploration activities can access the streamlined environmental management authorisation arrangements under the endorsed NOPSEMA Program, titleholders of activities that include injection and/or storage of greenhouse gas cannot access the streamlined arrangements. This means that additional environmental approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act may be required in addition to an environment plan accepted by NOPSEMA for greenhouse gas injection and / or storage activities. The NOPSEMA website provides additional information regarding the NOPSEMA EPBC Act Program [https://www.nopsema.gov.au/offshore-industry/environmental-management/nopsema-epbc-act-program], including further details on activities included within, and excluded from, the endorsed streamlined arrangements.

Duty holders should also be aware that additional safety and integrity authorisations from NOPSEMA may be required for greenhouse gas activities and associated facilities.

Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009

A ‘greenhouse gas activity’ is defined in the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009 (Environment Regulations).

‘Seismic or exploratory drilling activity’ is also a term defined in the Environment Regulations, and includes some greenhouse gas activities.

The Environment Regulations require that an environment plan (EP) for a greenhouse gas activity must be accepted by NOPSEMA before the activity can commence. Environment plans for seismic or exploratory drilling activities are subject to a 30 day public comment period before NOPSEMA can commence assessment of those environment plans. A titleholder commits an offence if they undertake an activity and there is no environment plan in force for the activity.

Information regarding environment plans, including but not limited to assessment policy, content requirements and decision-making, is available on the environmental management section of NOPSEMA’s website [https://www.nopsema.gov.au/offshore-industry/environmental-management].

In February 2014, NOPSEMA’s environmental management authorisations process was endorsed by the Commonwealth Environment Minister as a Program that meets the requirements of Part 10 of the EPBC Act. This endorsement of the NOPSEMA Program streamlines the environmental approval processes for most offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas activities proposed in Commonwealth waters.

While titleholders for greenhouse gas exploration activities can access the streamlined environmental management authorisation arrangements under the endorsed NOPSEMA Program, titleholders of activities that include injection and/or storage of greenhouse gas cannot access the streamlined arrangements. This means that additional environmental approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act may be required in addition to an environment plan accepted by NOPSEMA for greenhouse gas injection and / or storage activities. The NOPSEMA website provides additional information regarding the NOPSEMA EPBC Act Program [https://www.nopsema.gov.au/offshore-industry/environmental-management/nopsema-epbc-act-program], including further details on activities included within, and excluded from, the endorsed streamlined arrangements.

Duty holders should also be aware that additional safety and integrity authorisations from NOPSEMA may be required for greenhouse gas activities and associated facilities.