Environmental legislation
This section provides information about legislation administered by EPA - Acts, State environment protection policies (SEPPs), waste management policies (WMPs), regulations and notifiable chemical orders (NCOs).
Acts
An Act is primary legislation made by Parliament which provides the regulatory framework for society by imposing restrictions and controls on the activities of individuals and corporate bodies.
These are the Acts administered by EPA:
Environment Protection Act 1970
Pollution of Waters by Oils and Noxious Substances Act 1986
National Environment Protection Council (Victoria) Act 1995
Environment Protection Act 1970
The Environment Protection Act 1970 is Victoria's primary environment protection legislation, with a basic philosophy of preventing pollution and environmental damage by setting environmental quality objectives and establishing programs to meet them.
More about the Environment Protection Act 1970
In August 2006 Parliament passed the Environment Protection (Amendment) Act 2006, which brings in a range of changes to the Environment Protection Act 1970.
More about the latest amendments to the Environment Protection Act 1970
State environment protection policies (SEPPs)
State environment protection policies (SEPPs) are subordinate legislation made under the provisions of the Environment Protection Act 1970 to provide more detailed requirements and guidance for the application of the Act to Victoria. The SEPPs administered by EPA cover the following areas: air, land and groundwater, noise and water.
Waste management policies (WMPs)
Industrial waste management policies (IWMPs) were one of the measures introduced into the Environment Protection Act 1970 by the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste) Act 1985 to improve the management of industrial wastes. In 2002 the Environment Protection Act was amended to allow the Authority scope to develop waste management policies (WMPs).
Regulations
Regulations are primarily used to deal with matters in detail. Regulations are also made to control discharges to the environment that are not readily licensed.
Notifiable chemical orders (NCOs)
Notifiable chemical orders (NCOs) are subordinate legislation created under section 30D of the Environment Protection Act 1970. An NCO will declare a chemical to be a notifiable chemical, and either totally prevent or create conditions relating to the storage, handling, use or supply of that chemical.
More about the notifiable chemical orders administered by EPA
Legislation by topic
These pages provide information about the revelant Acts, regulations, SEPPs and/or WMPs related to: