From Australia (RW): The Australian government is undertaking a review of the management processes of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety & Environmental Management Authority as a step towards ensuring a ‘one-stop-shop’ approval process for offshore activities in federal waters.

The move was announced in a joint statement between Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane, Environment Minister Greg Hunt and NOMPSEMA CEO Jane Cutler.

Macfarlane said the impact of offshore activity is regulated by the Environmental Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Offshore Petroleum & Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006.

‘This dual assessment...and enforcement creates duplication and is an unnecessary burden on business without any additional environmental protection benefits,’ he said.

‘The government has now prioritised this strategic assessment so that NOPSEMA’s environmental legislation can be recognized as meeting the requirements of the EPBC Act without additional referral or approval required from a separate federal regulator.’

Macfarlane said the outcome of the review will deliver faster environmental approvals, reduce duplication in environmental assessments and regulation and promote Australian industry. It will also protect employment while maintaining integrity of the environmental approvals process.

He added that the review will need to demonstrate that the current high environmental standards can be achieved in protecting the marine environment.

‘I will not accept any lessening of standards for protection of Australia’s marine environment,’ he said.