Action item 10.1
Progress
Complete.
Approved by decision makers.
Recommendation implemented.
That formal site or regional-specific HHRA reports be prepared and approved by the regulator prior to the grant of any production approvals.
Such HHRA reports must address the potential human exposures and health risks associated with the exploration for, and the production of, any shale gas development, off-site transport, and the decommissioning of wells, as recommended in NCRA guidance. The HHRA reports must include risk estimate assessments for exposure pathways that are deemed to be incomplete.
Completed
Action item update
Implementation
National guidance for human health and environmental risk assessment will be adopted by the Northern Territory and made enforceable via amendment to the Petroleum Act 1984 and the Petroleum (Environment) Regulations 2016.
The Petroleum Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 was introduced in the Legislative Assembly on 12 October 2022, passed on 1 December 2022 and assented to on 16 December 2022. Refer to Special Gazette S64 published on 19 December 2022 on the Northern Territory Government website.
Amendments to the Petroleum Act 1984 and Petroleum (Environment) Regulations 2020 will establish requirements for human health risk assessments environment management plans. Amendments also require that risk assessment must be in accordance with recognised national guidance for human health and environmental risk assessment.