7/31/2019 EPA Gas Hub Assessment Media Briefing Sheet_270612

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How did it all start?The Browse LNG Gas Hub Strategic Assessmentcommenced with the signing of a bi-lateralAgreement

between the Commonwealth and WA governments in

February 2008. The 20 page Agreement sets out the

terms of reference by which the assessment is to be

conducted and the criteria by which the respective

State and Federal Environment Ministers will make their

final decisions. One of the requirements of the

Agreement is an assessment of gas processing options

outside the Kimberley, including piping to the Pilbara

or using floating LNG.

Later in 2008 the EPA carried out a rudimentary desktop

study (Section 16 advice) focusing on four sites in the

Kimberley. It said Gourdon Bay south of Broome was

preferred on environmental grounds. The newly elected

Premier, Colin Barnett, then stepped in and

unilaterally chose James Price Point instead.

In the three and a half years since then, the EPA has

been conducting an assessment of a precinct at James

Price Point based on the documentation provided to it

by the Premiers Department of State Development,

and Woodside. The assessment offeasible optionsoutside the Kimberley has never seriously occurred,

even though several of the Browse LNG Joint Venture

Partners prefer these alternatives.

Who makes the decision?The EPA is responsible for carrying out the assessment

in the first instance, and making its recommendations

to the WA Environment Minister for his decision, but

the Commonwealth Department of Environment is also

involved throughout and will make its own

recommendations to the Federal Environment MinisterTony Burke. Minister Burke has the final say if he says

the project doesnt meet Commonwealth requirements

under the EPBC Act, it cant proceed.

And then, even if both Ministers approve the project

(with conditions), the 7 Joint Venture Partners

(Woodside, Shell, BP, BHP, Chevron, Mitsubishi and

Mitsui) will make the final decision as to whether or not

to invest in an actual project at James Price Point. This

decision is now not expected until the first half of next

year, probably after the March 2013 State election.

Who is the proponent of the gas hub?Under the Environment Protection Act, the legal

proponent for the gas hub is the Premier of WA, Colin

Barnett, as Minister for State Development.

Did the proponent prepare a ScopingReport to guide its work?

Yes. As usual, the EPA required the proponent to

prepare ascoping reportfor endorsement by the EPA.

The scoping report sets out all the key factors and issues

the proponent has to address, including environmental,

social and Indigenous cultural heritage. The scoping

report includes a commitment to comprehensive

scientific peer review:

14. Peer Review Process

Given the significant environment and the scaleand complexity of the proposal, there is required a

high level of confidence of the technical work

underpinning the Strategic Assessment.As such

there is an intention to undertake ongoing reviews

of the strategic assessment process and of all

deliverables and outputs.Arrangements for Peer

review, including the establishment of a Peer

Review Panel consisting of members from

government and non-government sectors are to

be advised.

However, the EPA has failed to enforce this vital peer

review process. As a result, the scientific credibility of

the proponents environmental, social and Indigenous

heritage studies has been widely criticised.

Has the assessment of environmental,

social and cultural heritage impacts been

conducted in accordance with the

requirements of the Agreement and

Scoping Report?No. In response to the 9,000 page Strategic

Assessment Report (SAR) released by the proponent

and EPA for public comment in December 2010,

conservation groups, independent scientists, members

of the Broome community and Traditional Owners have

highlighted and documented major and fundamental

flaws in much of the information presented by the

proponent. This includes information in relation to:

Heritage-listed dinosaur tracksites Endangered species including bilbies, sawfish,

dugong and turtles

Whales and dolphins Rare monsoon vine forests Water use impacts

EPA James Price Point gas hub assessment

Briefing sheetJune 2012

http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/pubs/kimberley.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/pubs/kimberley.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/pubs/kimberley.pdfhttp://www.dsd.wa.gov.au/documents/Final_Scoping_Document%281%29.pdfhttp://www.dsd.wa.gov.au/documents/Final_Scoping_Document%281%29.pdfhttp://www.dsd.wa.gov.au/documents/Final_Scoping_Document%281%29.pdfhttp://www.dsd.wa.gov.au/documents/Final_Scoping_Document%281%29.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/pubs/kimberley.pdf

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