ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLANS

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) assesses the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of a project at either a formal or informal level. Regardless of the level of assessment, a proponent, developer or an organization may be required to demonstrate that the project (or operation) is management in an environmentally responsible manner. This is often achieved through the completion of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) addressing particular management techniques or performance indicators to manage environmental impacts andmeasure environmental performance. These plans are often reviewed by key stakeholder groups and may be made available to the public.

Ministerial conditions and commitments arising from a formal environmental approval are legally binding and formally audited. It is the responsibility of the proponent, developer or organisation to take the necessary steps (or to ensure contractors implements management strategies) to meet the commitments and all relevant environmental management.

Environmental management plans can outline: 

• Project commitments made in referral documents, bulletins and ministerial statements; 
• Environmental objectives that describe broadly what is intended to be achieved for each environmental issue; 
• Contractor’s responsibilities that outline the action that will be undertaken by the contractor to achieve the environmental objectives and give effect to environmental conditions and commitments; 
• Principal responsibilities for the implementation of environmental commitments as defined in the environmental documents; 
• Compliance criteria and key performance indicators that describe how the implementation of each contractor’s or operator’s responsibilities will be assessed for performance against the environmental objectives; and 
• Specifications that provide a technical description of the activities required under the contract to ensure responsibilities are met.

360 Environmental and Environmental Management Plans

Collectively the staff and 360 Environmental have written over 50 detailed management plans ob behalf of clients. EMP’s are tailored in line with proponents existing environmental management systems and policies. The EMPs detail
specifications and procedures covering site requirements, necessary licences and approvals. Examples of environmental management plans include:

• Air pollution • Blasting • Dust • Emissions • Erosion control • Fire control • Forest hygiene measures • Fauna protection • Flora • Greenhouse gas • Groundwater • Heritage (European and Aboriginal) • Marine • Noise • Nutrient • Rehabilitation • Site runoff and river management • Soil contamination • Storage and handling of hazardous materials • Subterranean fauna • Vegetation protection, including forest product utilisation and weed control • Waste disposal • Water quality

These plans along with audit outcomes can be used to demonstrate a client’s successful management and mitigation of environmental impacts.