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10/4/06: Review of the Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM Discussion Paper released for public comment
The Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM Discussion Paper released for public consultation. Submissions on the Discussion Paper are due by Friday 2 June 2006. Click here for a copy of the Discussion Paper and associated documents.
Public Consultation meetings will be held during May. Click here for more details.
10/11/05: National Action Plan for Addressing Dioxins in Australia
A National Action Plan for addressing dioxins in Australia has been released by the EPHC. Click here for a copy of the Action Plan.
28/10/05: National Water Recycling Guidelines
The National Water Recycling Guidelines - Managing Health and Environmental Risks have been released for public consultation. Submissions due by has been extended to Friday 10 February 2006. Click here for a copy of the documents.
27/10/05: Prioritising Tier 2 Air Toxics
A draft methodology for prioritising Tier 2 air toxics has been released for public consultation. Submissions are due by Monday 19 December 2005. Click here for a copy of the documents.
27/10/05: Preliminary Work on Ozone
The Report on the Preliminary Work for the Review of the Ozone Standard, the Summary of Submissions Report, the Issues Paper and background documents are now available for download. Click here for a copy of the documents.
27/10/05: Ambient Air Quality NEPM Review Issues Scoping Paper
The Ambient Air Quality NEPM Review - Issues Scoping Paper is now available for download. Submissions are due by Monday 19 December 2005. Click here for a copy of the documents.
26/10/05: Council tackles environmental costs of modern living
Action to tackle the environmental consequences of modern living was the top priority when Environment Ministers met in Launceston today for the 12th Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) meeting. More details available in the communique below.
26/9/05: Industrial Residue - Discussion Paper released
The Discussion Paper - Development of a National Approach - Principles and Guidance for Assessing the Beneficial Reuse of Industrial Residues to Land Management Applications are now available for download. Click here for a copy of the document.
8/7/05: Used Packaging Materials NEPM as varied and National Packaging Covenant released
The Used Packaging Materials NEPM as varied July 2005 and the new, strengthened National Packaging Covenant are now available for download. Click here for a copy of the documents.
1/7/05: Draft National Action Plan for Addressing Dioxins in Australia
A draft National Action Plan for addressing dioxins in Australia released by the EPHC sets out how governments can keep levels of dioxins low and reduce or eliminate them where feasible. The plan responds to studies under the Australian Government National Dioxins Programme that found that background levels of dioxins in the environment and the Australian population are generally low.
The Action Plan will help meet Australia’s obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Comments are invited on it from industry and the community by Friday, 26 August 2005. Click here for a copy of the Action Plan.
1/7/05: Ministers act on pollution, waste and water
Environment Ministers took action on waste, water and air pollution today at the 11th meeting of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) in Perth.
Measures agreed to include the phase out of plastic bags by the end of 2008 and the first national study of how air pollution affects children’s health. Action on water includes the labelling of outdoor water appliances, the development of national health and environment guidelines, and a strategy to boost water recycling by reducing unnecessary salts and chemicals in detergents.
6/6/05: Review of the Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM Issues Paper released for public comment
The Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM Issues Paper released for public consultation. The Issues Paper identifies a number of topics upon which discussion and opinion is sought. Submissions on the Issues Paper are due by Friday 15 July 2005. Click here for a copy of the Issues Paper and associated documents.
6/6/05: Review of the Ambient Air Quality NEPM - Ozone - Issues Paper released for public comment
The Issues Paper identifies a number of topics upon which discussion and opinion is sought. Submissions on the Issues Paper are due by Friday 15 July 2005. Click here for a copy of the Issues Paper and associated documents.
15/4/05: Draft National Packaging Covenant proposal released for public comment
The National Packaging Covenant Council and the EPHC have released for public consultation a draft strengthened National Packaging Covenant and associated Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS). The draft proposal reflects the Covenant Council’s recommendations for concrete actions and changes to strengthen the Covenant. The draft proposal also identifies targets which are currently being developed amongst stakeholders involved with the Covenant. Submissions on the Draft Covenant proposal and RIS are due by Thursday 19 May 2005. Click here for a copy of the Draft Proposal and associated documents.
14/4/05: Ministers Keep Environment Protection Momentum Strong
At the 10th Environment Protection and Heritage Council meeting today in Darwin, Environment Ministers from Australia and New Zealand welcomed achievements towards ensuring our natural and cultural heritage is protected and conserved while offering substantial tourism opportunities. Council acknowledged the need to maintain this momentum and adopted common positions for action on initiatives to manage water wisely, ensure our air is clean and to minimise waste.
16/3/05: ARA Code of Practice for the management of Plastic Bags – 2004 End of Year report released
This report describes the progress of Group One (supermarket) retailers in implementing the Code for the period of June to December 2004, and includes aggregated audited results as well as descriptions of activities. The report also contains information regarding the activities of the ARA regarding Group Two (non-supermarket) retailers with respect to the Code. Click here for a copy of the report.
16/3/05: Nolan ITU Interim Report of Plastic Retail Carry Bag Use - 2002-2004 Consumption released
This report, commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage, has estimated the numbers of plastic carry bags used from import and manufacturing data and from anecdotal information from manufacturers on where bags are sold. Click here for a copy of the report.
15/3/05: Draft Variation to the Used Packaging Materials NEPM released for public comment
The NEPC has released for public consultation a draft variation variation to the Used Packaging Materials NEPM. The draft variation will ensure consistency with the proposed amendments to the National Packaging Covenant and extend the life of the NEPM as the regulatory safety net underpinning the Covenant. Submissions are due by Thursday 19 May 2005. Click here for a copy of the Draft Variation and associated documents.
28/1/05: OCPs and PBDEs in the Australian Population: Levels in Human Milk
The Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage has commissioned a study, on behalf of EPH Standing Committee, into the levels of Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in human milk. The EPH Standing Committee has released a report on the findings of this report. Click here for more information on the study and a copy of the report.
3/12/04: Packaging
covenant heads agenda for environment Ministers
The EPHC received a proposal from the National Packaging Covenant Council for
a strengthened National Packaging Covenant. The covenant is a voluntary agreement
between government and industry, including 610 individual companies, that aims
to protect the environment from the impacts of packaging waste. Ministers also
considered issues connected with several National Environment Protection Measures
and released a discussion paper on co-regulatory approaches to product stewardship.
3/12/04:
Product Stewardship Discussion paper released
The Australian community has a clear desire for industry to exercise greater responsibility
for the products it produces to support a healthier environment. Some sectors
are addressing this by developing voluntary product stewardship initiatives. The
EPHC has released a discussion paper outlining a proposed approach to providing
regulatory safety nets as part of a co-regulatory framework for product stewardship.
Click here for a copy of the discussion
paper.
28/7/04: ARA Code of Practice
for the Management of Plastic Bags - Mid-2004 Interim Progress Report
This interim report describes the progress of Group One (supermarket) retailers
in implementing the Code for the period of January to June 2004, and includes
aggregated audited results as well as descriptions of activities.
This report is provided to the Environment Protection and Heritage Council
and its contents may be used publicly. Click
here for a copy of the report.
The detailed audit results of individual retailers are confidential and will
remain with the ARA.
8/7/04: Time Activity Study - reports and data
released
The Time Activity Study was a computer-assisted telephone interview survey of
in excess of 3000 people to provide statistically significant sociodemographic,
time activity data (eg time outdoors, time doing heavy exercise during various
time intervals over 24 hours) and data on key exposures related to ambient air
and indoor air for male and female children, young adults and the ageing.
Click here for further information
and a copy of the reports.
8/7/04: Making Heritage Happen: Incentives and
Policy Tools for Conserving Our Historic Heritage
The EPHC has released a major report on incentives and other innovative policy
tools for conserving Australia’s historic heritage. The report, Making
Heritage Happen, explores the effectiveness of Australian and international
incentives so that all levels of governments can promote heritage conservation
by positive means rather than by regulation.
Click here for further
information and a copy of the report.
2/7/04: NEPC makes
MinorVariation to Used Packaging Materials NEPM
In July 2004, the National Environment Protection Council made the minor variation
to the Used Packaging Materials NEPM. The minor variation extends the life of
the NEPM as the regulatory safety net underpinning the National Packaging Covenant
for twelve months to 14 July 2005.
Click here for further information and
a copy of the Minor Variation to the Used Packaging Materials NEPM and the Used
Packaging Materials NEPM as varied.
19/4/04: Draft variation to Controlled
Waste NEPM released for public comment
The NEPC has released for public consultation a draft variation to the National
Environment Protection Measure for the movement of controlled waste between States
and Territories (controlled wastes are those presenting a hazard in storage, handling
and transport). This draft variation recognises the importance of recycling, and
will improve existing mechanisms to ensure that controlled wastes are identified,
transported and handled in accordance with environmentally sound practices.
19/4/04: Draft variation to
Used Packaging Materials NEPM released for public comment
The NEPC has released for public consultation, a draft variation to the National
Environment Protection Measure for Used Packaging Materials. The proposed variation
will extend the life of the NEPM as the regulatory safety net underpinning the
National Packaging Covenant for twelve months to 14 July 2005. The interim extension
of the NEPM and Covenant, which was agreed by Ministers at a recent meeting of
the NEPC, will allow broad consultation amongst all stakeholders to find the best
way to continue the excellent cooperation between Australian, State and Territory
governments and industry in the sustainable management of packaging waste.
Click here for further information.
19/4/04: Ministers make Air Toxics NEPM
The Measure includes a guideline and protocols to monitor and report on five
air toxics: benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, toluene and
xylenes. These air toxics have been shown to be responsible for a range of health
problems, including asthma, respiratory illnesses and cancer.
Current Australian data on these pollutants is very limited. This new Measure
will provide a much improved information source for both policy-makers and the
public on important air quality issues. It will help prioritise and evaluate the
effectiveness of air quality programs. It will also provide a sound database for
future studies of the risks posed by these air toxics to the health of all Australians.
Click here for further information
and a copy of the Air Toxics NEPM.
16/4/04: Ministers focus
on cleaning up our air, our waste and our environment
The air we breathe, how we manage our chemicals and increasing waste, and
heritage tourism were some of the pressing issues addressed at today’s meeting
of Australia’s and New Zealand’s Environment and Heritage Ministers.
The EPHC has released a communique which can be downloaded below. The communique
includes information on: the Air Toxics NEPM, research into the health effects
of air pollution, the National Packaging Covenant, the
Used Packaging Materials NEPM, the
Movement of Controlled Waste between States and Territories NEPM, electrical
waste, waste tyres, the ChemCollect program
and heritage initiatives.
Click here for a copy of the final report
for the ChemCollect program.
26/3/04: National Environment
Protection Council 2002-2003 Annual Report released
The NEPC Annual Report contains information on the major activities of the
NEPC and the NEPC Committee during 2002-03. It also contains information on the
NEPC Service Corporation, NEPM development, a list of publications released by
the NEPC and reports by the NEPC and jurisdictions on the implementation and effectiveness
of NEPMs.
Click here for further information.
19/3/04:
Review of the Practicability of a 10 minute Standard for Sulfur Dioxide
A Review of the Practicability of a 10 minute Standard for Sulfur Dioxide
has commenced. An Issues Paper has been released for public comment. Please note
that submissions are due by Friday 7 May 2004.
Click here for further information.
1/10/03: Water heads national action agenda for environment protection
Australian, State and Territory Environment Ministers today agreed on a package
of new measures to promote a more coordinated response to the nation’s water
shortage, plastic bag litter and air pollution problems.
The measures, adopted at the 6th Environment Protection and Heritage Council
meeting in Perth, aim to make more efficient use of scarce resources and advance
the use of new technologies for a more sustainable future.
Other agenda items discussed in the communique are; Plastic Bags, Air Quality
and Waste Tyres. For more information, view the EPHC Communique below.
EPHC has released a report on the Impacts of Degradable Plastic Bags in Australia
for public comment. Click here for
more information.
1/10/03: Review of Controlled Waste
NEPM Issues Paper Released
An Issues Paper on key issues to be addressed in the Review of the Movement
of Controlled Waste NEPM has been released for public comment. Comments are sought
by 14 November 2003. Click here
for more information.
12/08/03: Supporting
Information - Towards Ecologically Sustainable Management of Chemicals in Australia
Supporting information to the document on the "Scoping Paper - Towards
Ecologically Sustainable Management of Chemicals in Australia" has been assembled
and is available for download from the Chemicals
webpage. Click here for more
information.
1/08/03: Plastic Bags
The EPHC agreed to accept a revised Code of Practice developed by the Australian
Retailers Association on the management of plastic bags.
Ministers agreed to accept the Code as long as it includes:
- Baseline data on current levels of use and recycling will be provided by all
signatories to the Code.
- A transparent auditing standard and process will be put in place.
- Regular reports (eg six monthly) on implementation of the Code will be made
to the Ministers and be publicly available.
- Retailers would provide a transparent, fair market choice between light-weight
single use carry bags and multiple-use bags.
- The Retailers Association would enlist the signatures of as many small independent
retailers as possible.
14/07/03: Proceedings of the Fifth National Workshop on the Assessment of
Site Contamination
The Fifth National Workshop on the Assessment of Site Contamination was held
in Adelaide in May 2002 and the proceedings of that workshop are available for
free download. The workshop was sponsored by enHealth Council, Environment Australia
the National Environment Protection Council and the Environment Protection and
Heritage Council and was organised by NEPC Service Corporation. Click
here for more information.
18/06/03: A National Approach to
the Management of Chemicals
In May 2002, the EPHC established a high level National Chemicals Taskforce
to scope issues associated with, and the need for, a national approach to ecologically
sustainable chemical management and regulation in Australia. Click
here for more information.
23/05/03: Air Toxics NEPM
EPHC released for public comment the draft National Environment Protection
Measure (NEPM) on Air Toxics - substances released into the atmosphere through
sources such as wood fires, motor vehicles and some industrial emissions. Five
of these substances – benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde,
toluene and xylenes – have been linked to cancer, birth defects, genetic
damage, immunodeficiency and respiratory and nervous system disorders.
The NEPM will aim to give Australia a consistent approach for dealing with high
priority sites that may be emitting air toxics. It will ensure that monitoring
provides better information on the effectiveness of air quality management programs.
Click here for more information.
23/05/03: Water, Air, Waste,
top Ministers’ Agenda
Urban and household water savings, the development of a national approach
to air toxics, and a strong call to retailers to take action on plastic bag waste
are among the outcomes of a meeting of Australia’s Environment and Heritage
Ministers today.
EPHC agreed on a package of measures to address priority issues and improve
the sustainability of our cities and towns.
27/02/03: National
Environment Protection Council 2001-2002 Annual Report Released
The Annual Report contains information on the Council's Assessment on the Implementation
and Effectiveness of NEPMs made. In addition, the Annual Report contains jurisdictional
reports on Implementation and Effectiveness of NEPMs made within their jurisdiction.
20/02/03: EPHC Releases Marine
Debris Brochure
The Keeping tabs on marine debris brochure offers some valuable advice on what
you can do to help make our beaches a cleaner place. Across Australia, community
groups are encouraged to undertake marine debris surveys and fill out forms to
provide information that contributes to national and international monitoring
of marine debris.
The Marine debris brochure and survey form is available for download below.
23/12/02: Governments Focus on Plastic Shopping Bags
Third Meeting of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council
Commonwealth, State and Territory Environment Ministers focus on plastic shopping
bags and agreed to a package of measures to reduce the environmental impacts of
plastic bags.
The EPHC had asked the National Packaging Covenant Council to provide specific
proposals for national action, including ways of reducing the impact of plastic
bags as litter.
For more information about Plastic Bags click
here.
23/12/02: National
Plastic Bags Working Group Report
EPHC releases the Plastic Shopping Bags in Australia - National Plastic Bags Working
Group Report to the National Packaging Covenant Council.
For more information about Plastic Bags click
here.
4/12/02: EPH Standing Committee have published the
Review of the ANZECC Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Management Plan and
the response to the Review.
11/10/02: Council releases draft
PM2.5 variation for public consultation
11/10/02: Council releases Discussion
Paper on Waste Tyres
11/10/02: National Environment Ministers act on air quality and waste
management
Second Meeting of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council
Sydney, New South Wales
In Sydney today, Australia’s Environment and Heritage Ministers approved
a package of initiatives to improve Australia’s air quality and waste management.
These initiatives are important steps in confronting the priority environment
protection issues identified by Environment Protection and Heritage Council at
its inaugural meeting in May 2002.
September 2002
New EPHC Web Site launched
May 2002
EPHC sets priorities
April 2002
NEPC release Annual Report for 2000-2001
March 2002
NEPC release the Ambient Air Toxics Discussion
paper
February 2002
NEPC releases Variation to the Ambient
Air Quality NEPM
January 2002
NEPC releases the NPI Review Report
Last Modified:
1/8/06
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