The EPA was established as an independent statutory authority under the
Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPCA) as an integral part of Tasmania's Resource Management and Planning System. The EPA's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has professional and specialist staff within four divisions: Office of the CEO; Environmental Assessments; Environmental Regulation and Salmon Environmental Regulation.
EPA Organisational Structure (PDF 117Kb)
The
EPA Board consists of an independent
Chair, three other independent members – one of which is a Deputy Chair,
alongside the Director (CEO). In addition, a Deputy Member may be appointed
by the Governor if a Board member is unable for any reason to perform
his or her duties.
Statutory Functions
The EPA's
principal statutory functions are to administer and enforce the
provisions of the EMPCA, and in particular, to use its best endeavours
to:
- further the sustainable development and environmental management and pollution control objectives of the EMPCA
- ensure that activities do not cause unacceptable pollution
- advise the Minister on any matter that may significantly affect the achievement of the objectives of the EMPCA, and
- ensure that economic instruments and issues are considered in policy and program implementation.
Responsibilities
The
Board's primary functions are to assess environmental impacts and
determine appropriate operating conditions for the larger scale
developments described in EMPCA. Other areas of responsibility include
environmental agreements, audits, improvement programs, financial
assurances, the Environment Protection Fund, the Savage River
Rehabilitation Project, fee remissions and policy implementation.
The
Director, EPA has a range of functions and powers prescribed in EMPCA,
including a number of powers exercised under delegation from the Board;
and is also responsible for administering the
Litter Act 2007 and the
Marine-related Incidents (MARPOL Implementation) Act 2020.
The Director is in charge of the day-to-day regulatory decisions in
relation to larger scale (Level 2) industrial activities, contaminated
sites and issues of environmental harm or nuisance.
The Board and
Director make determinations independently of the Minister and elected
Government.
Assessment officers provide advice to the Board and Director to enable them to make well informed environmental assessment decisions that are supported by science.
The EPA's regulators ensure industrial, municipal and community activities adhere to best practice environmental management standards.
Membership of Board
The Board consists of:
- the
Chairperson, being a person who has expertise or experience in public
administration and environmental or natural resource management
- the Director
- a person with practical knowledge of, and experience in, environmental management in industry, commerce or economic development
- a person with practical knowledge of, and experience in, environmental management and expertise in one or more of the following:
- environmental conservation
- natural and resource management
- air, noise or water pollution
- management and prevention of waste
- environmental health
- social and economic analysis
- a person with practical knowledge of, and experience in, environmental management in local government.
EPA Board members
Information about the current Board members