Frequently asked questions
This page provides answers to the following questions:
What is the NPI?
Why was the NPI developed?
Is the NPI national legislation?
What does the NPI involve?
Is a variation to the NPI NEPM being prepared?
What is the NPI?
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) is an internet-based public database of emissions to the environment. The NPI program is being co-ordinated Australia wide by the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage. Detailed information about the program can be found at the NPI website, as can the NPI Database. Apart from emissions from industry, commercial and domestic sources, the NPI website provides information about health effects of various substances and a range of Emission Estimation Technique (EET) manuals.
Why was the NPI developed?
There were three main objectives behind the development of the NPI, which is a result of several years of co-operation between state, territory and Commonwealth governments:
- satisfy the community's right to know about pollutants in their environment
- promote resource efficiency activities within industry
- provide relevant and up-to-date information to government to assist in future environmental planning and management.
Is the NPI national legislation?
The NPI was developed as a National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) by the National Environment Protection Council (NEPC) on 27 February 1998. The NEPC is a statutory body made up of the Commonwealth, state and territory environment ministers. The council has goals of ensuring that all people in Australia enjoy equivalent protection from air, water, soil and noise pollution.
A variation to the NPI NEPM, having regard to the relevant sections in the NEPC Acts, is being prepared.
What does the NPI involve?
Larger Australian industrial facilities are required to estimate and report annually their emissions of a designated list of substances. Estimates of emissions from smaller industry, households and everyday activities are estimated by governments for the major population centres around the country and then included on the database.
These non-industry sources include house painting, motor vehicles, wood-fire smoke and even lawn mowers for emissions to air. Similarly, emissions to water of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from agriculture, urban runoff and native vegetation are included. These so-called aggregated emissions from non-industry sources have been included to dispel the myth that only industry causes pollution, by showing the combined impact of all activities on the environment.
Is a variation to the NPI NEPM being prepared?
At the July 2005 meeting, the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC), through the National Environment Protection Council (NEPC), also agreed to prepare a variation to the NPI NEPM, having regard to the relevant sections in the NEPC Acts. For more information, access the NPI website.
