ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1986 - SECT 35

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1986 - SECT 35

35 .         Content of approved policies

        (1)         An approved policy —

            (a)         establishes the basis on which —

                  (i)         the portion of the environment to which it relates is to be protected; or

                  (ii)         pollution of, and environmental harm to, the portion of the environment to which it relates is to be prevented, controlled or abated,

                and may delineate programmes for that protection or that prevention, control or abatement, as the case requires; and

            (b)         may relate to any activity directed towards the protection, or the prevention, control or abatement, referred to in paragraph (a), whether in respect of any portion of the environment or an emission or otherwise.

        (1a)         An approved policy may create offences and provide penalties for them as follows —

            (a)         for a Tier 1 offence —

                  (i)         if the offender is an individual, a penalty not exceeding $250 000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, a daily penalty not exceeding $50 000; and

                  (ii)         if the offender is a body corporate, a penalty not exceeding $500 000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, a daily penalty not exceeding $100 000;

                and

            (b)         for a Tier 2 offence —

                  (i)         if the offender is an individual, a penalty not exceeding $62 500 and, in the case of a continuing offence, a daily penalty not exceeding $12 500; and

                  (ii)         if the offender is a body corporate, a penalty not exceeding $125 000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, a daily penalty not exceeding $25 000;

                and

            (c)         for a Tier 3 offence, a penalty not exceeding $5 000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, a daily penalty not exceeding $1 000.

        (1b)         For the purposes of subsection (1a), an offence is a Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3 offence if the approved policy declares that such an offence is an offence of that category.

        (2)         An approved policy may, unless it is inappropriate in the circumstances to do so —

            (a)         identify the portion of the environment, to which the approved policy applies; and

            (b)         specify —

                  (i)         the period, if any, during each day, or any particular day, of 24 hours; and

                  (ii)         subject to section 33(2) and section 42 of the Interpretation Act 1984 , the total period,

                during which the approved policy has the force of law; and

            (c)         identify and declare the environmental values to be protected under the approved policy; and

            (d)         set out the indicators, parameters or criteria to be used in measuring environmental quality; and

            (e)         specify the environmental quality objectives to be achieved and maintained by means of the approved policy; and

            (f)         establish a programme by which the environmental quality objectives referred to in paragraph (e) are to be achieved and maintained, and may specify in that programme, among other things —

                  (i)         the qualities and maximum quantities of any waste permitted to be discharged into the relevant portion of the environment; or

                  (ii)         the maximum levels of noise, odour or electromagnetic radiation permitted to be emitted into the relevant portion of the environment; or

                  (iii)         the minimum standards to be complied with in the installation and operation of works or equipment for the control of waste or noise, odour or electromagnetic radiation; or

                  (iv)         measures designed to minimise the possibility of pollution or environmental harm; or

                  (v)         measures designed to protect the environment; or

                  (vi)         measures designed to achieve the environmental values to be protected; or

                  (vii)         procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme,

                or any 2 or more of the matters referred to in subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii).

        (3)         An approved policy may provide that it applies to —

            (a)         an area of the State identified in the policy; or

            (b)         an area of the State identified in the policy or by regulation; or

            (c)         the whole of the State; or

            (d)         the whole of the State other than an area identified in the policy; or

            (e)         the whole of the State other than an area identified by regulation; or

            (f)         the whole of the State other than an area identified in the policy or by regulation.

        [Section 35 amended: No. 14 of 1998 s. 5; No. 54 of 2003 s. 33 and 94.]