Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations (Amendment)

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au F1997B02629 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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Statutory Rules 1997    No. 1121

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Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations2 (Amendment)

I, The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, make the following Regulations under the Airports Act 1996.

Dated 14 May 1997.

 

 WILLIAM DEANE

 Governor-General

By His Excellency’s Command,

 

 

JOHN SHARP

Minister for Transport and Regional Development

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1.   Amendment

1.1   The Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations are amended as set out in these Regulations.

[Note: These Regulations commence on gazettal: see Acts Interpretation Act 1901, s. 48.]

2.   Regulation 1.06 (References to Australian Standards (“AS”))

2.1   Omit “as in force at the commencement of these Regulations.”, substitute “as in force or existing from time to time.”.

3.   Regulations 1.08 (Testing standards)

3.1   Omit the regulation, substitute:

Testing

 1.08. A test required by these Regulations must be carried out:

 (a) by a laboratory accredited by NATA to carry out that type of test; and

 (b) using a method approved by NATA for that type of test, or (if there is no such method) a method approved, for that type of test, by:

 (i) USEPA; or

 (ii) the American Public Health Association; or

 (iii) the American Society for Testing Methods.”.

4.   Regulation 4.01 (General duty to avoid polluting)

4.1   Subregulation 4.01 (3):

Omit “an offence,”, substitute “a contravention of these Regulations,”.

5.   Regulation 4.05 (Duty to give notice of cultural, etc., discovery)

5.1   Subregulation 4.05 (1):

Add at the end:

“Penalty: 50 penalty units.”.

6.   Regulation 5.18 (Failure to comply with condition of authorisation)

6.1   Add at the end:

 (3) For subsection 132 (2) of the Act, the maximum number of penalty units for a contravention of subregulation (2) is 50 penalty units.”.

[Note: The note to subregulation 5.18 is taken to be omitted and the following note substituted:

“[Note: See also Part 15 of the Act, which provides for the grant of injunctions for certain contraventions of the Act.]”].

7.   Regulation 5.19 (Authorisation may be transferred)

7.1   Add at the end:

 (4) Before the end of 2 days after the end of the period within which the airport environment officer may indicate an objection, the airport environment officer must give a copy of the notice under paragraph (1) (a) and the acknowledgment under paragraph (1) (b) to the airport-lessee company for the airport.”.

8.   Regulation 6.02 (Airport-lessee company to monitor pollution levels)

8.1   Paragraph 6.02 (3) (b):

Omit the paragraph, substitute:

 “(b) any information or report received under subregulation 6.01 (4), paragraph 6.05 (1) (b) or subregulation 6.08 (4); and”.

[Note: Note 2 to subregulation 6.02 (3) is taken to be omitted and the following note substituted:

 “2. Paragraph 4.05 (2) (c) requires a report of a cultural discovery to be entered in the environment site register.”]

9.   Regulation 6.06 (Inaccurate or incomplete information to be corrected)

9.1   Subregulation 6.06 (1):

Omit the subregulation, substitute:

 6.06. (1) This regulation applies to a person:

 (a) that gives information, in a report or otherwise, under a provision of this Division and becomes aware that the information is inaccurate or incomplete; or

 (b) that is the operator of an airport undertaking, is aware that information has been given on its behalf under regulation 6.01 or 6.05, and becomes aware that the information is inaccurate or incomplete.”.

10.   Regulation 6.11 (Conduct of examination)

10.1   Paragraph 6.11 (3) (b):

Omit “item 4.4”, substitute “items 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6”.

11.   Regulation 6.14 (Occupier may prepare remedial plan)

11.1   Subregulation 6.14 (3):

Omit “must:”, substitute “must, before the end of 30 days after receipt of the plan:”.

12.   Regulation 6.18 (Power to order remedial work)

12.1   Subregulation 6.18 (4):

Omit “paragraphs (1) (b), (c) and (d)”, substitute “paragraphs 2 (b), (c) and (d)”.

12.2   Subregulation 6.18 (7):

Add at the end:

 “; or (d) the pollution occurred, or is occurring, because of something done before these Regulations commenced.”.

12.3   Subregulation 6.18 (8):

Omit “Penalty:   50 penalty units.”, substitute

“Penalty for contravention of this subregulation:   50 penalty units.”.

12.4   Subregulation 6.18 (9):

Omit the subregulation.

13.   Regulation 7.05 (Compliance with order)

13.1   Add at the end:

 (2) For subsection 132 (2) of the Act, the maximum number of penalty units for a contravention of subregulation (1) is 250 penalty units.”.

[Note: The note to subregulation 7.05 is taken to be omitted and the following note substituted:

“[Note: See also Part 15 of the Act, which provides for the grant of injunctions for certain contraventions of the Act.]”].

14.   Regulation 7.06 (Compliance with condition of authorisation)

14.1   Add at the end:

 (5) For subsection 132 (2) of the Act, the maximum number of penalty units for a contravention of subregulation (2) is 250 penalty units.”.

[Note: The note to subregulation 7.06 is taken to be omitted and the following note substituted:

“[Note: See also Part 15 of the Act, which provides for the grant of injunctions for certain contraventions of the Act.]”].

15.   Part 7, Division 2 (Intentional and reckless offences)

15.1   Omit the Division.

16.   Regulation 8.02 (Purpose of this Division)

16.1   After “an offence against”, insert “Part 6 of the Act or”.

17.   Regulation 8.03 (Infringement notices)

17.1   Paragraph 8.03 (2) (i):

Omit the paragraph, substitute:

 “(i) a statement that, if the infringement notice penalty is paid in time:

 (i) the person’s liability in respect of the offence is discharged; and

 (ii) further proceedings cannot be taken against the person for the offence; and

 (iii) the person is not taken to have been convicted of the offence.”.

18.   Regulation 9.01 (Decisions reviewable by Secretary)

18.1   Paragraph 9.01 (1) (d):

Omit “make a written report;”, substitute “give a copy of information;”.

19.   Regulation 10.04 (Giving notices, directions, etc.)

19.1   Subparagraph 10.04 (1) (a) (ii):

Omit “pre-paid post”, substitute “pre-paid certified post”.

19.2   Paragraph 10.04 (1) (b):

Omit “pre-paid post”, substitute “pre-paid certified post”.

19.3   Subregulation 10.04 (2):

Omit the subregulation, substitute:

 (2) A written notice or application to be given, under these Regulations:

 (a) to the Secretary—may be given by:

 (i) delivering it to the head office of the Department at any time when that office is open for business; or

 (ii) sending it by pre-paid certified post to the head office of the Department; or

 (b) to an airport environment officer—may be given by:

 (i) delivering it to the office of that officer at the airport at any time when his or her office is open for business; or

 (ii) sending it by pre-paid certified post to the last known address of that officer’s office.

 (3) In this regulation, a reference to certified post is a reference to a mail delivery service that provides written acknowledgment of the receipt and delivery of an article.”.

20.   Schedule 2, clause 1.01 (Interpretation)

20.1   Definition of “waters”:

Omit “regulation 4.02.”, substitute “regulation 2.02.”.

21.   Schedule 2, clause 1.02 (Indicators of adverse chemical effect)

21.1   Subclause 1.02 (1):

Omit “subregulation 4.02 (1),”, substitute “subregulation 2.02 (1),”.

___________________________________________________________

NOTES

1. Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 May 1997.

2. Statutory Rules 1997 No. 13.

Overview

The Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 2, enacted in 1997 under the Airports Act 1996, address the need to manage and mitigate environmental impacts associated with airport operations. These regulations were established by the Parliament of Australia, aiming to enforce stringent environmental protection standards within the aviation sector. The primary policy objective is to ensure that airports operate in a manner that minimises their environmental footprint, including the management of pollutants, the protection of cultural sites, and the promotion of sustainable practices. By updating testing standards, clarifying duties and penalties, and refining reporting and compliance mechanisms, these regulations aim to enhance environmental stewardship and accountability in airport operations. These amendments respond to identified gaps in the regulatory framework, particularly in the areas of environmental monitoring, pollution control, and procedural compliance. By making the regulations more robust and adaptable to new standards and methods, the amendments seek to align airport operations more closely with contemporary environmental protection objectives, ensuring that the aviation industry contributes to broader sustainability goals.

Scope and Application

The Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 1997 (Amendment) apply to entities and individuals operating within the scope of the Airports Act 1996, specifically focusing on environmental protection in and around airports. These regulations govern airport lessees, operators, and other individuals or entities involved in activities that may affect the airport environment. The regulations establish standards and obligations for environmental management, including the avoidance of pollution and the handling of cultural discoveries. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of these regulations is national, as they apply to all airports within the Commonwealth of Australia. The regulations are designed to be flexible, allowing for amendments and extensions through subordinate instruments to address evolving environmental challenges. Notably, the amendments made by these Regulations update testing standards, clarify the application of penalty units for various contraventions, and refine the procedures for giving notices and making reports to the relevant authorities. Exclusions and exemptions are not explicitly detailed in the provided text, but they can be inferred from the specific provisions that apply to certain types of activities or discoveries.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 1997 (Amendment) involve several significant changes to the existing regulations. Firstly, Regulation 1.06 now allows for references to Australian Standards to be used as they are in force or exist from time to time, rather than being limited to the standards in force at the commencement of the regulations (section 2.1). Secondly, Regulation 1.08 outlines new testing standards that require tests to be carried out by a laboratory accredited by NATA and using a method approved by NATA, USEPA, the American Public Health Association, or the American Society for Testing Methods (section 3.1). Thirdly, Regulation 4.01 modifies the general duty to avoid polluting, stating that failure to comply is a contravention of the Regulations, rather than an offence (section 4.1). Fourthly, Regulation 4.05 imposes a duty to give notice of cultural discoveries, with a penalty of 50 penalty units for non-compliance (section 5.1). Lastly, Regulation 6.02 requires the airport-lessee company to monitor pollution levels and report any information or report received under certain subregulations (section 8.1). These amendments impose several obligations and requirements on the parties governed by the Act. Firstly, entities must ensure that tests are conducted by accredited laboratories using approved methods (Regulation 1.08). Secondly, the airport-lessee company must monitor pollution levels and report any relevant information or reports received (Regulation 6.02). Thirdly, if a person becomes aware that information they provided is inaccurate or incomplete, they must correct it (Regulation 6.06). Fourthly, if an occupier prepares a remedial plan, they must submit it within 30 days of receipt (Regulation 6.14). Fifthly, if an order is made for remedial work, compliance is mandatory within the specified timeframe (Regulation 7.05). Lastly, infringement notices now state that paying the penalty discharges liability, prevents further proceedings, and does not constitute a conviction (Regulation 8.03). The Regulations also outline several offences, penalties, and consequences for breach. Firstly, failing to give notice of cultural discoveries carries a penalty of 50 penalty units (Regulation 4.05). Secondly, non-compliance with a remedial plan or order carries a penalty of up to 250 penalty units (Regulations 6.18 and 7.06). Thirdly, any contravention of the Regulations could result in an injunction under Part 15 of the Act. Additionally, giving notices or submitting applications must be done by pre-paid certified post to ensure proper delivery and acknowledgment (Regulation 10.04). These provisions ensure strict compliance with environmental protection standards at airports and provide clear consequences for non-compliance.

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