EPA decision welcomed but hard task ahead

The Government decision to establish an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fully fledged is welcomed but more detail is needed to determine whether it will be effective or have the funds to be effective.

ECO was responding to announcement today from the Minister for the Environment, Nick Smith, to establish an EPA.

Environmental and Conservation Organisations co-chair Barry Weeber, said that while ECO welcomed the establishment of a comprehensive EPA, it faces many challenges ahead.

“The key problem with the Government’s EPA proposal is the conflict between its role of fast tracking projects and establishing and implementing national standards, policies and rules and other regulations under which activities will be managed.”

Mr Weeber said to establish an agency with such serious conflicts of interest will hamstring its effectiveness. National standards and policies are urgently needed for water, clean up of toxic sites, wider air pollution standards, land management, and biodiversity protection.

“Funding is essential to ensure that the EPA is effective.” Mr Weeber said it was also crucial that the remaining Ministry for the Environment should not be starved of funds to be an effective policy and management agency.

“ECO looks forward to decisions on managing activity in the EEZ. At the moment, we only have international law and industry-written guidelines. What we need is integrated management of human activities on the oceans.”

Mr Weeber said there is no equivalent of the Resource Management Act to control oil and gas, mining and other activities outside of the territorial sea (12 nautical miles offshore).

“Governments have long recognised gaps in environmental law and as part of the Ocean’s policy process. National at one stage committed to a full oceans policy, and the previous Labour Government proposed in 2007 to fill “key gaps in EEZ environmental regulation and promote a consistent approach to environmental management across different statutes.”

“Relying on the Maritime Transport Act and voluntary codes or practice is not sufficient, and the oil industry itself has recognised the need for change.”

“There is considerable interest in seabed mining, as well as oil and gas, but many other activities have impacts on the environment or conflict, so a much more integrated approach to management is needed. Most particularly, there must be science independent of the economic interests, and there must be opportunities for the public to participate, and that sufficient information be to hand prior to decisions being made to allow exploitation.”

“The latest oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico shows that greater management of the oil industry is needed particularly in deeper water.”

Mr Weeber said ECO hoped the Government would give a high legislative priority to introduce EPA legislations, new oceans law and ratify important international maritime agreements.”

“ECO welcomed an independent review of the risks of the mineral sector and hoped that it was a truly independent review.”

Mr Weeber said ECO hopes this review will be open to public scrutiny and submissions.

ENDS

© Scoop Media