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Environmental topics

The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental Review Document (ERD) provides Commonwealth and State regulators with the information required to assess the proposal against the requirements of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act).

The referrals and supporting documents, such as the Environmental Scoping Document (ESD) and the Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines (EISG), detail preliminary environmental impacts and risks associated with the proposed development.

The proposed Browse Project was referred to the DAWE (formerly DoEE) under the EPBC Act in October 2018. On the 22 February 2019, the DAWE determined that the proposed Browse Project is a controlled action and would be assessed at an EIS level of assessment. NOPSEMA have been engaged by DAWE to support the assessment. The decision notice identified these Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) as being relevant to the proposed Browse Project:

• National heritage values of a National Heritage Place;
• Listed threatened species and communities;
• Listed migratory species; and
• The Commonwealth marine area, the protected matter being the environment generally.

The WA State waters component of the proposed Browse Project was referred to the EPA under the EP Act in October 2018. On 22 January 2019, the EPA determined that the proposed Browse Project requires assessment under Section 29 of the EP Act and set a Public Environmental Review (PER) level of assessment. 

Participating interests

Lease/permit interests (State): TR/5 and R2
Lease/permit interests (Commonwealth): WA-28-R, WA-29-R, WA-30-R, WA-31-R and WA-32-R

_{Woodside Energy Ltd is operator for and on behalf of the Browse Joint Venture}