When we issue a permission, it generally includes conditions. These outline the obligations of the permission holder. They set up a framework for risk management, record keeping and reporting.
Most permissions include 2 general conditions that require you to immediately notify us under certain circumstances:
- G2 notifications – incidents that cause, or may cause, actual or potential harm to human health or the environment, or a breach of your permission
- G3 notifications – administrative changes to your business.
Notify of an incident or a breach
Under the G2 condition, you must notify us if there's:
- an incident involving a discharge, emission or deposit which gives rise to, or may give rise to, actual or potential harm to human health or the environment
- an incident involving a malfunction, breakdown or failure of risk control measures at the activity site which could reasonably be expected to give rise to actual or potential harm to human health or the environment
- any breach of the permission.
In an emergency
If the incident has caused an emergency – such as a fire or major hazardous spill – call triple zero (000) immediately. Contact us as soon as possible afterwards.
Report a notifiable incident or breach
If your incident relates to pollution that causes or threatens to cause material harm to human health or the environment, you must report it as a notifiable incident. To learn how to make your report, visit Report a pollution incident.
You must report the incident to us as soon as you become aware of it, or reasonably should have been aware of it.
Reporting the incident meets the G2 condition and your duty to notify Authority of a notifiable incident.
If the incident causes pollution, you may have a duty to take action to respond to harm caused by pollution incident.
Notify of an administrative change to your business
Under the G3 condition, you must notify us within 48 hours if:
- there's any change to your business name or address – including your registered address and activity site
- you become, or are likely to become, insolvent under administration
- you become, or are likely to become, an externally administered company under the Corporations Act 1990
- there's a change to an officer, as defined in the Environment Protection Act 2017.
If any other relevant administrative details for your business change, you must update your information in the portal.
To notify, call us on 1300 372 842. We'll ask you to provide:
- your contact details
- your permission ID
- your business name and address
- details of the administrative change.
We let you know if we need more information.
Privacy collection notice
When you make a permissions notification, we collect your information. This is to identify who is making the notification and for what reason. This information may be used to investigate and evaluate non-compliance or contravention of the Environment Protection Act.
We may use your information to contact you so we can provide updates on your report or get more details about it. Your information may also be used to arrange inspections relating to your notification.
If you do not provide all the information we need, including personal information, we cannot accept your notification.
You can contact us on 1300 372 842 or contact@epa.vic.gov.au to ask access to your personal information.
For more information, visit our Privacy policy.
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