New strategy to broaden regulatory approach
The EPA has officially launched its Regulatory Strategy 2021-24. It represents our balanced approach to regulation using eight different elements to get strong results working with industry, the community and government.
The EPA's new Regulatory Strategy reflects a broader role beyond compliance
“Our first Regulatory Strategy reflects new and existing challenges in environmental regulation and our broader role beyond environmental compliance,” CEO Tracy Mackey said.
“We have taken eight elements: listen, educate, enable, act, influence, require, monitor and enforce, and may use one or more of these in our regulatory approach to achieve better outcomes for the environment and human health.
“The Strategy outlines what you can expect from us, why we regulate and how we do it.
“We collected valuable feedback on the draft Strategy during consultation earlier this year.
“We know we need to work closely with all of industry, government and community stakeholders to help us to get there, to achieve positive outcomes for our environment.”
The EPA is also developing a Regulatory Policy for release later in 2021 that will sit under the Regulatory Strategy. It will describe many of the tools we use under each element of our regulatory approach. The Policy will explain what we consider when the EPA makes regulatory decisions.
Here are three different ways that the EPA is achieving environmental compliance.
The clean-up under an enforceable undertaking will make way for habitat restoration.
We have many regulatory tools we can call on when a company or individual has breached environmental laws including an enforceable undertaking. An enforceable undertaking is an alternative to prosecution and includes a legally binding commitment by a company or individual to carry out agreed activities to deliver benefits to the local environment or community.
During 2019-2020, Central Waste Plant in Kurri Kurri accepted nearly three times the amount of waste permitted under its licence with the EPA. In lieu of an anticipated court issued fine, the plant negotiated an enforceable undertaking with the EPA as their penalty. This focused on supporting two local environmental projects – a clean-up of illegally dumped waste in bushland near Cessnock and a contribution towards a habitat improvement project for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. These projects have a combined value of approximately $111,000 and will be completed in 2022.
Find out more: Contact e:lucas.grenadier@environment.nsw.gov.au
The critically endangered Regent Honeyeater will benefit from the restored landscape
More than $200,000 fine for asbestos-contaminated waste delivery
A man who organised fill material that contained asbestos waste to be deposited at two neighbouring properties in Sydney’s north-west was convicted of polluting land in Windsor Local Court following a prosecution by the EPA in July.
Michael Anthony Laird pleaded guilty to two charges of causing land pollution in June 2017 at the properties in Cleary Drive, Pitt Town. The property owners engaged Mr Laird to bring in dirt to create building pads and to level out a section of land for a retaining wall.
Instead, the fill material contained bricks, concrete, plastic fragments and asbestos and as result of the incident, 1,351 tonnes of contaminated fill had to be cleaned up and removed.
Action: More information on how to protect your property from dirty fill
Community vigilance helps lead to litter reduction
Almost 900 infringement notices were issued for littering from vehicles in the past three months
The EPA’s Report a Tosser! program empowers everyone in the community to report littering and prevent it from reaching our waterways. Plastics are a particular problem and can prove fatal to our plants and wildlife.
The EPA’s litter manager Rupert Saville said that while reports of littering can lead to fines, “the influence of campaigns like the Tosser! Program can be just as effective. By using community education to encourage positive behaviour change we help set new community norms.”
A total of 888 infringement notices for littering from a motor vehicle were issued in the past three months.
“The Report a Tosser! Campaign now has over 60,000 community reporters and has contributed to a 40 per cent reduction in roadside litter since it was introduced,” Rupert added.
Action: Report litter now