Key Points:
New bill seeks to tighten requirements for pollution incident
reporting and doubles the penalty for failure to report.
In October 2011, the Protection of the Environment Legislation
Amendment Bill 2011 was passed by the NSW Legislative Assembly. On
10 November 2011, it was passed by the Legislative Council with a
few minor amendments relating to the new Board of the Environment
Protection Authority (EPA.), and has now been sent
back to the Legislative Assembly for concurrence. Once enacted, key
aspects of NSW environmental regulation and pollution control will
be amended, including:
- increased reporting requirements and penalties, investigation
and audit powers, pollution incident response planning and public
access to information through amendments to the Protection of the
Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) (POEO Act);
and
