New draft EPA guidelines: when should projects be referred to the Northern Territory EPA?

The Northern Territory Environmental Protection Authority (NT EPA) has released draft guidelines that will assist proponents and government agencies when determining whether projects require referral for assessment by the NT EPA.

Referral of projects to the NT EPA: why the guidelines are needed

Generally, where a project is likely to have a significant effect on the environment, it must be referred to the NT EPA before it can be approved.

This referral, or "Notice of Intent" (NOI), is then considered by the NT EPA for the purpose of deciding whether a public environmental report or environmental impact statement should be required for the project.

Previously, there has been little published guidance on when a project will be considered to have a significant effect on the environment.