As an independent statutory authority under the Environment Protection Act 2017, our role is to prevent and reduce harm from pollution and waste.
As part of this role, we oversee the environmental audit system. This includes:
- overseeing preliminary risk screen assessments (PRSAs)
- overseeing environmental audits
- appointing and monitoring environmental auditors to perform PRSAs and environmental audits.
We do not:
- recommend or engage environmental auditors to conduct PRSAs or environmental audits
- control the progress of PRSAs or environmental audits once they begin, as they are independent processes.
Preliminary risk screen assessments
A preliminary risk screen assessment (PRSA) is used to:
- check the likelihood that there is contaminated land at a site
- determine if a site needs an environmental audit for its proposed use
- recommend the scope of an environmental audit, if required.
A PRSA may be:
- voluntarily undertaken by a landowner or occupier
- mandatory as part of a planning requirement or permit condition.
We publish PRSAs on our public register.
Environmental audits
Environmental audits look at site conditions and activities to assess potential risks of harm from:
- contaminated land
- pollution
- waste
- an activity.
They are used to understand the condition of a site and its suitability for use.
Environmental audits are used by:
- planning authorities
- government
- community
- industry.
We publish environmental audits on our public register.
EPA-appointed environmental auditors
Environmental auditors are assessed for reappointment every 3 years.
EPA-appointed environmental auditors are independent. They are appointed in 3 categories:
- contaminated land
- industrial facilities
- natural resources.
There are also subcategories that apply to specialist skills for industrial facilities, operating landfill and wind energy facilities.
Environmental auditors may also perform other functions under the Act and the Environment Protection Regulations 2021 – for example, verification of environmental management plans.
EPA-appointed environmental auditors must not have:
- a conflict of interest in relation to a site or stakeholder
- a financial interest in a site.
They must not have assessed a site and commented on its suitability for use before auditing it, unless they are conducting a further environmental audit of an operational site such as a landfill.
Being independent means an auditor:
- must form their own opinions and conclusions about work undertaken at the site
- cannot be involved in the design or implementation of site clean-up or management
- cannot be an advocate for the client – for example, they cannot argue a case for a lesser level of site assessment or remediation.
Register of EPA-appointed environmental auditors
We maintain a register of EPA-appointed environmental auditors.
We do not recommend or engage environmental auditors. See Choose an environmental auditor.
Performance of EPA-appointed environmental auditors
It’s an environmental auditor’s responsibility to make sure their work and conduct:
- is independent
- is high quality
- avoids conflicts of interest.
We have a quality assurance program to check the performance of environmental auditors. The program:
- reviews selected completed PRSAs, environmental audit statements and reports
- considers the auditor's performance in their other auditor functions
- checks that they only do audits within their field of expertise or the expertise of their support team.
You can contact us with any concerns about an environmental auditor’s performance, conduct or quality of work.
Guidance and forms for environmental auditors
We provide guidance for environmental auditors:
- Guidelines for conducting environmental audits
- Guideline for conducting preliminary risk screen assessments
- Environmental auditor guidelines – Provision of statements and reports for environmental audits and preliminary risk screen assessments
- Environmental auditor guidelines for appointment and conduct
- Guidance for the clean-up and management of contaminated groundwater
- Environmental auditor guidelines – verification and review for wind energy facilities
- Information sheet for environmental audits and preliminary risk screen assessments (PRSAs).
This guidance may also be useful for anyone involved in the environmental audit system to understand the role and requirements of environmental auditors.
These forms are used by environmental auditors:
Updated