Reporting an environmental incident or issue

One of the functions of the EPA is to respond to public concerns about environmental issues and incidents, in order to provide advice to the Minister, business and the community. The matters that the EPA is empowered to provide advice on include:

• Reviewing and assessing whether development decisions made by government agencies or their respective minister, reflect recommendations arising from an environmental impact assessment process. The EPA can also review and assess the effectiveness of the environmental conditions of an environmental authority for a proposed action.
• Reviewing and assessing the effectiveness of government agencies responses in dealing with environmental incidents that arise under their respective legislation. In exercising this function the EPA will have regard to the administrative and on-ground technical response to the environmental incident by the agency, processes, policies and procedures that are in place by the agency for responding to environmental incidents and outcomes of investigations and/or prosecutions by the agency.
• Achieving best practice environmental policy and management;
• Setting objectives, targets and standards for the public and private sectors;
• Reviewing procedures of the public and private sectors;
• Legislation and its administration;
• Issues affecting the Territory’s capacity to achieve ecologically sustainable development;
• Emerging environmental issues.

The EPA will assess reports received and make a decision about how to respond to the concern, based on the following criteria:

• Whether the matter reported complies with the functions of the EPA;
• Whether the  matter reported is being adequately dealt with by the appropriate regulatory agency or agencies;
• Whether the EPA has the resources to pursue the matter;
• Whether the matter reported meets the EPA’s inquiry criteria.

Any member of the public may notify the EPA of an environmental incident or issue.

How to make an environmental incident report

The EPA can receive an environmental incident report in any understandable form. This includes:

• In person at the EPA Secretariat office (address below)
• By telephone, fax or email (details below) EPA Secretariat

Office

Environment Protection Authority
Harbour View Plaza (Level 5)
8 McMinn St Darwin NT

Mail, Fax and Email

GPO Box 569
Darwin NT 0801

Ph (08) 8999 3751
Fax (08) 8999 3797

Email epa@nt.gov.au

For a report to be accepted by the EPA it must include the following information:

• Your name and a contact phone number or email address
• A brief description of the environmental incident including the dates of when it happened, who was involved ( list individuals and organisations), and where the incident took place
• Details of environmental concern

Your personal details will be kept confidential if requested.

Interpreter service available

The interpreter service is available for anyone who wishes to use it to make a report. The EPA can help you to access this service. Please ask if you would like this help.