EPA uses different tools and powers to support, guide and direct duty holders to meet their obligations. As well as our role in ensuring compliance through remedial instruments and sanctions, we may:  

• write guidance, compliance codes and Regulations on how to comply with duties  
• produce standards that set a benchmark for compliance or our interpretation of the law
• use innovative instruments to drive high standards of environmental protection and collaboration
• respond to complex environment protection issues through administrative tools.

Our General standards policy (publication 1983) provides an overview of these instruments and tools and the high-level approach to developing and using the best one to address a problem.

Many of these tools are issued in line with our Compliance and enforcement policy (publication 1798) and regulatory approach. Others are for complex and emerging environmental challenges and will be explored over time.

• Remedial notices and directions: how EPA officers respond to a non-compliance or risk at a site.  
• Financial assurances: setting requirements for sites with clean-up cost risks.
• Sanctions: how we treat non-compliances and wrongdoing.
• Environmental reference standards: define the environmental values of Victoria for government decision-making, permissioning decisions, and reporting.
• General compliance standards: how EPA or the Minister use guidance, compliance codes, Regulations and other approaches setting compliance expectations.  
• Better environment plans: how we can recognise innovative ways of showing compliance, especially across sites or duty holders. 
• Environmentally hazardous substance orders: how the application of controls to dangerous substances operates.  
• Orders for managers of land and infrastructure: defining obligations for those who manage land. 
• Exemptions: how EPA can respond to challenges in the use of permissions or Regulations.  
• Determinations: legislative instruments that relate to permissions and waste and support the functioning of the Environment Protection framework.