EPA Victoria is seeking feedback on new air quality guidance called Guideline for assessing and minimising air pollution in Victoria that is designed to help businesses understand, assess and minimise risk from air emissions.
The guideline provides:
- a framework for assessing risks to the environment and human health from air emissions
- new air quality assessment criteria which replace the design criteria in the State Environment Protection Policy for Air Quality Management (SEPP AQM)
- modelling, monitoring and risk assessment methods
- guidance on how to minimise air emissions and manage any remaining risks.
Victoria’s current State Environment Protection Policy (Air Quality Management) (SEPP AQM) and incorporated documents do not provide guidance on how to meet obligations under the GED. The Act and this guideline replace many of the clauses in SEPP AQM.
The Environment Protection Act 2017 (the Act) commenced on 1 July 2021. It introduces the general environmental duty (GED), which applies to all Victorians. If you conduct activities that pose a risk to human health and the environment, you must understand those risks. You must also take reasonably practicable steps to eliminate or minimise them. In an Australian first, the GED is criminally enforceable.
Please provide your feedback by Monday 19 July. This will provide stakeholders with the opportunity to influence the final product (such as its structure, format, and information).
The final guidelines is expected for release in late 2021.
