Phase One of the Release of Environmental Monitoring Information Project was launched in April with the release of the Environmental Monitoring Information Disclosure Policy.
The launch followed amendments to the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (the Act) to include among other things a new section 23AA that provides the Director, EPA with the discretion to publish, provide or make available environmental monitoring information.
The changes to the Act aim to improve transparency and allow public scrutiny of important information about the environmental effects of industries operating in Tasmania's environment, further supporting public confidence in Tasmania's environmental regulatory system.
A small project team within the EPA has been established to work on the development and implementation of a policy framework and publication mechanism for the release of environmental monitoring information.
The Project Team has already commenced work on Phase Two which involves the development and implementation of internal processes and a central organisational repository for storing and accessing the environmental monitoring information.
The third and final stage of the project, to be launched in early 2024, will involve the development of a web-based publication mechanism for the environmental monitoring information, that allows members of the public to search for and access documents associated with environmental monitoring information.
In the meantime, members of the public can apply to receive environmental monitoring information collected as and from 1 January 2022 via an online application form.
Further information is available on the Release of Environmental Monitoring Information page.