Environment protection licences
DECC issues environment protection licences to the owners or operators of various industrial premises under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act). Licence conditions relate to pollution prevention and monitoring, and cleaner production through recycling and reuse and the implementation of best practice.
If you think you may require an environment protection licence, consult the Guide to Licensing.
Online forms are available for:
- applying for, transferring, varying or surrendering a licence
- applying for a load reduction agreement
- applying to sign an annual return on behalf of a licence holder.
All licence holders must:
- comply with the conditions of their licence
- pay annual administrative fees, and in some cases additional fees
- submit annual returns.
The load-based licensing (LBL) scheme sets limits on the pollutant loads emitted by the state's larger, most potentially polluting industries, by linking licence fees with pollutant emissions. The LBL scheme also provides the infrastructure for emissions trading schemes. Trading schemes enable emissions from groups of licensees as well as from individual premises to be controlled, by allowing licensees to buy and sell credits for reducing emissions.
Information sources relating to environment protection licences are:
- the public register, which contains information on licence reviews, prosecutions and other issues
- the National Pollutant Inventory, which provides data on types and amounts of certain emissions across Australia, and their impact on health and the environment.
DECC manages a strategic compliance audit program, which assesses licence holders; compliance with existing requirements and provides industry with examples of best practice to encourage improved environmental performance.
To help DECC manage its audit program and promote environmental improvements:
- organisations and individuals are required to report pollution incidents under section 148 of the POEO Act
- authorised officers may assist DECC and local councils to exercise their functions under the POEO Act. These officers will normally be DECC or local council staff.