EPA has received an application from Enviropacific Services Pty Ltd to build and operate a new acetylene cylinder recycling facility at 25-35 Horsham Road, Stawell.

The facility will decommission and dismantle ‘end-of-life’ steel acetylene cylinders and have the capacity to process approximately 20,000 to 25,000 cylinders per year, depending on cylinder size.

The facility seeks to initially process a backlog of acetylene cylinders stockpiled at the Lemon Springs illegal chemical waste dump (https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/lemonsprings). Enviropacific would then service an ongoing market for decommissioning of end-of-life acetylene cylinders.

Public consultation on the development licence application is open to 23/03/2023. Read more at www.engage.vic.gov.au/enviropacific-services-limited-app021186

EPA licences and permissions

To perform prescribed activities that may cause harm to human health and/or the environment, you must have a permission such as a licence, permit or registration.

Permissions work alongside the General Environmental Duty, ensuring performance standards and conditions are met across a range of activities. There are three tiers of permissions based on the level of risk to human health and the environment:

1. Licences for high-risk prescribed activities

2. Permits for medium-risk prescribed activities

3. Registrations for low-risk prescribed activities

This risk-based approach means EPA can target different levels of risk with the right balance of permissions and conditions. Our Permissions scheme policy (publication 1799) outlines:

• Your role, as the permission holder, in ensuring compliance and preventing harm

• What we consider when assessing an application for a permission

• How permissions work to manage the risks related to prescribed activities

Find out more atepa.vic.gov.au/for-business/new-laws-and-your-business/permissions