Defence has a comprehensive program of environmental impact assessment to ensure that the impacts of its activities on environment and heritage values are considered and managed.  The specific requirement of the environmental impact assessment process (and therefore the consultants required to complete the associated tasks), varies depending upon the degree of predicted, actual and perceived environmental risk.

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, including any requirement for referral under the EPBC Act and the Lead Environmental Officer (LEO), is dictated in the Environmental Impact Assessment Strategy (EIAS). This document is initially prepared by the Directorate of Environmental Impact Management (DEIM) in EPE through the submission of the Environmental Risk Assessment and Approvals Checklist Part 1 and the CSIR Part 2 at the commencement of the project. The EIAS is a dynamic document that can change as the project progresses through design development.

When there are significant changes to the project design (eg. siting, size, infrastructure elements etc) or EIA deliverables have been completed and submitted along with the Environmental Risk Assessment and Approvals Checklist Part 2 for review and approval the LEO should be requested to also review and update the EIAS.

At SBC and DBC stages the project officer must ensure that the EIAS reflects an Environmental Impact Assessment Process that is appropriate to the Environmental and Heritage risks associated with the proposed project scope and siting options.

The strategy may include some or all of the following tasks, all or the majority of which will be conducted by consultants or sub-consultants to Defence.

1. Initial Environmental Review (IER) – a study based on existing documentation to identify the potential impacts of the proposal and their likely significance and to determine the level of environmental assessment to be conducted. A site investigation may also be involved.  An IER is the equivalent of an Environmental Scoping Study (ESS).
2. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) – a detailed study to identify more specifically the impacts to be investigated, predict the characteristics of the main impacts, and evaluate the significance of the main impacts.
3. Environmental Management Plan (EMP) – mitigation measures and management strategies.
4. Environmental Assessment Report (EAR) – an overarching “approval in principle” document that brings together all the information on the impacts from the EIA and EMP.
5. Referral under the EPBC Act to the Commonwealth Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) – full environmental assessment and approval from the DEWHA required for the proposals that are likely to have a significant impact on the environment under the EPBC Act.
6. Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) – Defence approval that imposes conditions and safeguards on an action to ensure environmental impacts are avoided, minimised or remedied.  
7. Post Activity Report –identifies the level of compliance of the project with conditions in the ECC and EAR.

As guidance, Table 1 provides indicative information on timeframes, resources allocation and budget requirements for undertaking environmental assessments and obtaining environmental approvals are provided in an indicative way. Noting that the full cost will be dependent on the size and complexity of the project and any additional studies required.

Table 1: Timeframe, resource and budget for assessment and approval

* 12 + months are needed for full environmental assessment, preparation of referral and obtaining DEWHA approval. 

Project Officers should refer to the Impact Assessment site for detailed policy and guidance on Defence’s the Defence Environmental Impact Assessment and Approval process requirements.