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An environmental audit assesses the risks of harm to human health or the environment. It may assess the suitability of site uses.
The purpose of an environmental audit is to:
- assess the nature and extent of the risk of harm to human health or the environment. This may be from contaminated land, waste, pollution or an activity.
- recommend measures to manage the risk of harm to human health or the environment
- make recommendations to manage the contaminated land, waste, pollution or activity.
EPA-appointed environmental auditors perform environmental audits. The auditors perform an independent assessment of site conditions and risks.
Anyone can initiate an environmental audit, including the following entities :
- EPA
- local councils
- landowners or occupants
- planning authorities
- community members.
This EPA publication presents a step-by-step guide to the suitability of land use audit process.
When you need an environmental audit
Reasons for getting an environmental audit include:
- Planning system requirements – To satisfy the planning decision maker that your land is safe for an ongoing or proposed use. Or, to consider risks for developments proposed within the buffer of a landfill.
- EPA remedial notice or order – To show to EPA that you have cleaned up your site or addressed risks identified.
- EPA operating licence – To show that you have met your licence conditions.
- Voluntary – To demonstrate your land is safe for an ongoing or proposed use. Or, to assess any potential risk to human health or the environment from activities.
- Due diligence – To assess for contaminated land to assist your decision making. For example, when purchasing property.
What environmental audits can do
An environmental audit can:
- confirm the suitability of a site for a ongoing or proposed use
- show that contaminated land has been cleaned up to a satisfactory level
- show that the construction and operation of landfills complies with EPA requirements
- show compliance with a permission condition or remedial notice or order.
Scoping an environmental audit
All audits must be scoped by an environmental auditor. This means they can define the scope of what’s considered in the audit. This may depend on the audit’s purpose. Environmental auditors must submit the proposed scope to EPA. They must do this before starting the environmental audit. At a minimum, the scope must include:
- the identity of the site or activity the environmental audit covers
- the elements of the environment being assessed, such as land, water, air and noise
- consideration of the standards and reference documents in the environmental audit
- any exclusion from the environmental audit and the reason for the exclusion
- identify the current or proposed site use (for suitability of land use audits).
The scope must be submitted to EPA using the Proposed scope of environmental audit form.
Find out more about environmental audits
Learn more about environmental audits by choosing from the following topics.
Read next
EPA's role in the environmental audit system
Choosing an environmental auditor
Appointment of environmental auditors
Environmental audit and planning systems
Preliminary risk screen assessments
Find preliminary risk screen assessments and environmental audit reports
Reviewed 3 July 2023
