Key Points:
NSW's tough new pollution laws come into force soon,
and businesses will have to move swiftly to ensure they
comply
In November last year we reported on the passage of the
Protection of the Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2011 (NSW).
We warned that organisations whose activities risk causing
pollution incidents should prepare to comply with the changes
brought in by the Act, including increased reporting
obligations and penalties, and requirements to prepare pollution
incident response plans and publish environmental monitoring
data.
The dates upon which most of these changes will take effect have
now been announced and they leave little time for further
preparation, with the first raft of amendments commencing on 6
February 2012, including the requirement for organisations to
"immediately" notify of pollution incidents. Other key
changes, set out below, will come into force on 29 February 2012
and 31 March 2012.
