Environment Protection Authority
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is a statutory position that administers the Environment Protection Act 1997 (the Act).
The Act covers all activities that could cause harm to human health or the environment through emissions to air, land and water.
Role of the EPA
The EPA's functions include:
- protecting, restoring and enhancing the quality of the ACT environment
- preventing environmental degradation and risk of harm to human health
- requiring polluters to make progressive environmental improvement
- integrating environmental, economic and social considerations in decision-making processes
- facilitating adoption of national environment protection measures
- monitoring and reporting on environmental quality
- ensuring contaminated land is managed in consideration of human health and the environment.
Read about:
- water management
- water licensing and access entitlement
- contaminated sites
- making a report about pollution
- reporting pollutants as an industrial facility.
In addition to the Act, the EPA is responsible for the administration of the Water Resources Act 2007. This Act aims to ensure the use and management of the Territory's water resources are sustainable while protecting the ecosystems that depend on the waterways. It is also designed to protect waterways and aquifers from damage.
For more information about the role of the EPA read the General Environmental Protection Policy (315 KB).
Environmental protection guidance
The EPA develops policies and guidelines to help business and industry groups understand their responsibilities, including guidelines for Construction and Land Development.
View all environment protection policies and guidelines.
Environmental authorisations
Under the Act, activities which pose an environmental risk need an environmental authorisation.
Environmental authorisations set out conditions for the activities.
The activities are listed at Schedule 1 of the Act.
Agvet chemicals
Commercial pest and weed control activities that involve agvet chemical products require additional qualifications for authorisation.
Read about pest and weed control operators.
Disposal to landfill
The EPA approves the disposal of contaminated material to landfill. You must complete the online form for assessment and approval.
Notice of application or approval for disposal to landfill
Apply for an environmental authorisation
To apply:
- Use the Application for an environmental authorisation form.
- Pay the application fee.
EPA decisions can be reviewed internally and by the ACT Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
If granted, annual fees are due in 30 days. Authorisations granted for an unlimited period require payment of the annual fee on the anniversary of the grant date.
Current fees are listed in the Environment Protection (Fees) Determination 2023.
Once granted, environmental authorisations are notified on our environment protection agreements register and the ACT Legislation Register.
Apply for an environmental authorisation
Environment protection agreements
Environmental protection agreements are required for certain activities, and those that may have the potential to harm the environment.
The activities are listed at Schedule 1 of the Act.
Environmental protection agreements are formal written agreements between the EPA and the activity manager, for an unlimited or a specified period.
Major development or construction activities
Most environmental protection agreements relate to major development or construction activities. Building activities and land development can contribute significant pollution to Canberra's lakes and waterways.
Under the Act it is an offence to allow soil and other building materials to enter the stormwater system.
Developers and construction managers need to enter into an environmental protection agreement for sites over 0.3 hectares.
Read about your obligations on the Build, buy, renovate website.
Apply for an environment protection agreement
To apply for an environment protection agreement:
- Use the Application for an environmental protection agreement (PDF 126KB) (DOC 77KB) form.
- Email your application to environment.protection@act.gov.au
There are no fees for environmental protection agreements.
Once approved, agreements are valid for 5 years and listed on the Environment Protection agreements register.
Environment protection infringements
The Magistrates Court may issue an environmental protection infringement notice to a corporation, business or individual if they’ve taken actions prohibited under the Act and the Environment Protection Regulation 2005.
Prohibited activities or actions may include breach of a licence condition, exceeding prescribed noise standards, or allowing pollutants to enter a waterway.
View the Magistrates Court (Environment Protection Infringement Notices) Regulation 2005.
Infringements are administered by the EPA.
Pay an infringement
You can pay an environment protection infringement:
- online using the Environment Protection Infringement Notice Payment form
- in person at an Access Canberra Service Centre
- by mailing a cheque or money order made out to ‘Receiver of Public Monies’ to Environment Protection Authority, GPO Box 158, Canberra City ACT 2601.
Make an infringement notice payment
Enforceable undertakings
For offences under the Act, the EPA can send an official warning letter, issue a penalty notice, negotiate an enforceable undertaking, or prosecute.
Enforceable undertakings are a voluntary and legally binding agreement between the EPA and the offending party.
The agreement includes commitments to achieve improved environmental outcomes.
The EPA decides whether to accept a proposed enforceable undertaking in accordance with the NSW Guidelines.
View the NSW Guidelines on Enforceable Undertakings on the NSW EPA website.
2021
The following enforceable undertaking was issued in May 2021:
Contact EPA
You can contact the EPA through Access Canberra.