The EPA undertakes risk assessments of all licensed premises in NSW in consultation with each licensee. The risk assessment examines site specific risks posed by each licensed premises to identify any environmental issues that a licensee needs to address and where the EPA needs to focus its regulatory attention. The EPA also examines the licensees' environmental management performance, which includes recognising any environmental management systems and practices a licensee has put in place.
Based on the results from the risk assessments licensees are allocated an overall environmental risk level (1, 2 or 3 - with 3 being the highest risk). Licensees with a higher risk level will receive an increased level of regulatory and compliance oversight, whereas licensees with a lower risk level will benefit from reduced red tape and reduced regulatory burden.
In addition, licensees who perform well are rewarded with a reduction of their administrative fees, while poor performing licensees will pay licence fees that provide an incentive to improve their performance.
Once environmental risk levels are determined for each licence they are published on the EPA's Public Register. This provides the community with more information about the environmental risks posed by licensed activities and the compliance performance of individual licensees. It also provides greater transparency and insight into the EPA's regulatory decision-making process.
More information on risk-based licensing is provided in the Introduction of the EPA's risk-based licensing system.
Review of the risk-based licensing system
The EPA’s risk-based licensing (RBL) system has operated since 1 July 2015 and provides an incentive for environment protection licence holders (licensees) to maintain and improve their environmental performance by imposing higher licensing fees for poor environmental management and setting lower fees for better performance.
RBL has also helped ensure EPA regulation matches the level of risk that a licensee’s operations pose to human health and the environment. We focus our regulatory efforts on those activities that pose the highest risk to the environment.
The EPA continues to monitor the ongoing implementation of RBL, licensee risk levels and licensee responses to a risk-based regulatory approach. The EPA commenced a review of the RBL system in 2018 to identify improvements.
What is informing the review
The review has included
- A detailed analysis of licensee data from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2018.
- An audit of a sample of environment protection licensees who claimed fee discounts related to environmental management system or practices.
- A survey of environment protection licencees and feedback from other stakeholders at the end of 2018.
- Updated supporting materials for licensees
Next steps
The EPA
- is continuing to analyse available information to identify where the system and support materials need to be refined and updated.
- is continuing to consider the outcomes of the RBL review.
Further feedback or questions can be directed to riskbased.licensing@epa.nsw.gov.au.
Survey responses
Key findings
- 70% of respondents did not want any changes made to the RBL system.
- 57% of respondents reported that RBL helped them to better understand the risks at their premises.
- 57% of respondents reported that RBL provided incentives for them to improve the way risks are identified and managed.
- 41% of respondents made changes at their premises to address identified risks.
- 23% of respondents requested further information on RBL.
Summary of responses
The EPA received 118 responses covering about 140 individual environment protection licences (approximately 7% of licensees). The following key points were made in the responses.
RBL is accepted by licensees
Licensee feedback on the RBL system was mixed but predominantly positive. Seventy percent of respondents indicated they did not want any changes made to the RBL system. The most common feedback (nine responses) was that the financial incentives for good performers should be increased.
RBL is helping licensees identify, understand and manage risks
- 57% of respondents reported that RBL helped them to better understand the risks at their premises.
- 57% of respondents reported that RBL provided an incentive for their organisation to improve the ways they identify and manage risks. Licensees reported that reduced licence fees encouraged them to maintain a lower risk level.
- 41% of respondents said they made changes at their premises to address identified risks, including improved pollution controls and carrying out environmental management plans and procedures.
Many licensees understand how the RBL system works
- 53% of respondents said they understood (well or very well) how their risk level affects their licensing fees and the way the EPA regulates their premises.
- 50% of respondents said they understood (well or very well) how their risk level was determined.
- 43% of respondents said they understood (well or very well) how their environmental management category was determined.
More information would help some licensees
Twenty-three percent of respondents requested further information on RBL. Preferred methods for the EPA to provide this information included regular update emails, information on the EPA’s website and twice-yearly drop-in sessions or webinars.
The EPA’s response to the issues raised
| Respondents requested | Response |
|---|---|
| More information on RBL |
The EPA is proposing to
|
| The financial incentives for good performers should be increased | The EPA is continuing to review risk based licensing information, including the findings of the analyses of the system's financial incentives. |
Licensing approach to risk levels
The Licensing guideline: Environmental Risk Levels (PDF 495KB) provides the general public and the regulated community with information on the EPA's approach to environment protection licensing under the risk-based licensing system.
The EPA's approach to regulating licensed premises is guided by our Regulatory Strategy and Regulatory Policy.
We take a responsive and risk-based outcomes focused approach to our regulatory functions, selecting a response that is fit for purpose and appropriate to the risk to the environment and human health.
The risk-based licensing system aims to ensure that all licensed activities receive an appropriate level of regulation based on the level of risk they pose to the environment and human health.
Programs outside risk-based licensing
Priorities for the EPA's regulatory programs are based on achieving the greatest outcomes for the environment. In determining priorities, the EPA considers factors such as
- the evidence base - data and information on industry or sector performance
- the risk profile of a particular activity or industry
- emerging or cumulative environmental risks/impacts
- the regulatory history and environmental performance
Proactive work is important and aims to address complex environmental issues to improve environmental outcomes. EPA state-wide programs best target regional, cumulative and load related issues and achieve the best environmental outcome.
While individual licensed activities may not be assessed as high risk under risk-based licensing, they will continue to be considered by the EPA as part of these other state-wide, regional or local programs.
Examples of regulatory programs
The has undertaken several programs to target particle pollution and aimed at improving air quality in NSW. The EPA is driving reductions in particle emissions from open cut coal mines through programs such as the Bust the Dust, which aims to tackle excessive dust levels at Hunter Valley coal mines.