Environmental Protection Authority (Western Australia)

Overview

The Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia (WA EPA) is an independent statutory authority, providing advice to the Minister for Environment of the 2.6million km² state.

One vital area of the EPA's advice-giving is on 'the environmental acceptability of development proposals and statutory planning schemes'.

Whenever a new development such as a port, railway or pipeline, is likely to have 'a significant environmental effect', it should be referred to the EPA for review. As part of their review process, the EPA then ensures that the public have opportunity to scrutinise and feedback on any proposal – via a formal process called 'Comment on Referrals'.