National Environmental Protection Council

See also the Commonwealth Environmental Protection Agency EPA and National Pollutants Inventory (NPI)_

The National Environmental Protection Council (NEPC) is a statutory law making body to;

	make National Environment Protection Measures (NEPMs); and
	assess and report in their implementation and effectiveness

Members of the NEPC Council are State (and Territory) Ministers.

An NEPC Committee (NEPCC) is the principal advisory body to Council with a member elected by each Council member. The NEPC Service Corporation provides administrative services to the Council.

National Environmental Protection Measures

National Environmental Protection Measures are instruments that outline agreed national objectives for protecting particular parts of the environment.

Typically an NEPM has;

a goal (outcome);

standards (environmental quality);

protocols (procedures) for monitoring and reporting; and

guidelines (how standards or goals may be achieved or problems addressed).

They may address ambient air and water quality, noise, site assessment, hazardous waste and recycling. Motor vehicle noise and emission are included.

An NEPM automatically becomes law in each jurisdiction (State or Territory) once passed by Council (unless dissalowed by federal Parliament).

An impact statement is required to be prepared before an NEPM is determined. This statement must address (inter alia);

environmental, economic and social impact;

efficiency and effectiveness;

if the NEPM is achieved most effectively by a standard, goal and/or guidelines;

relationship to existing intergovernmental mechanisms;

relationship to international agreements; and

regional environmental differences in Australia.

The NEPC provides guidelines for the preparation of Impact Statements.

Proposed NEPMs include;

National Pollutant Inventory;

Assessment of Contaminated Sites;

Movement of Hazardous Waste Across State and Territory Boundaries;

Ambient Air Quality.

The NEPC Service Corporation may be contacted at....

Level 5, 81 Flinders St
Adelaide
South Australia 5000
Tel 08 8419 1200
Fax 08 8224 0912
E-mail exec@nepc.gov.au

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	a goal (outcome);
	standards (environmental quality);
	protocols (procedures) for monitoring and reporting; and
	guidelines (how standards or goals may be achieved or problems addressed).

	environmental, economic and social impact;
	efficiency and effectiveness;
	if the NEPM is achieved most effectively by a standard, goal and/or guidelines;
	relationship to existing intergovernmental mechanisms;
	relationship to international agreements; and
	regional environmental differences in Australia.

	National Pollutant Inventory;
	Assessment of Contaminated Sites;
	Movement of Hazardous Waste Across State and Territory Boundaries;
	Ambient Air Quality.