Eligibility criteria and standard conditions
The department may approve eligibility criteria and standard conditions for an environmentally relevant activity (ERA).
Prior to 31 March 2013, the Minister had approved codes of environmental compliance (codes). These codes are now known as eligibility criteria and standard conditions. The eligibility criteria and standard conditions of these codes are taken to be eligibility criteria and standard conditions for the ERA until any new eligibility criteria and standard conditions take effect.
Any new operation commencing from 31 March 2013 that meets the eligibility criteria for an activity and all of the standard conditions, can make a standard application for an environmental authority to carry out this activity. The conditions that apply to the environmental authority will be the standard conditions.
Where the operation cannot meet all the standard conditions, a variation application for an environmental authority can be made. The environmental authority will include the standard conditions as modified by any approved variations.
If the eligibility criteria cannot be met, then a site specific application for an environmental authority can be made.
Anyone holding a registration certificate to operate under a code before 31 March 2013 is automatically taken to have an environmental authority for the ERA. The registration certificate becomes an environmental authority and the standard environmental conditions of the code will become the standard conditions of the environmental authority. The anniversary day of the environmental authority is the anniversary day of the registration certificate.
Eligibility criteria and standard conditions have been developed for the following activities (click on the link for more information)
Mining activities