An environmental audit is an evaluation of any of the following:
(a) the ability of management systems to manage waste or prevent, reduce, control, rectify or clean up pollution or environmental harm resulting from pollution;
(b) the extent to which actions required to be taken, or results required to be achieved, for waste management or the prevention, reduction, control, rectification or clean up of pollution or environmental harm resulting from pollution have been taken or achieved;
(c) the extent, nature and source of wastes generated by an activity, premises or process;
(d) the likelihood of waste management problems or pollution resulting in environmental harm occurring and the adequacy of safeguards in place to prevent their occurrence or limit their impact on the environment;
(f) the types, amount, distribution or mobility of contaminants or waste present in the environment.
An environmental audit may be required by the NT EPA or be ordered by the Court on application of the prosecutor. An environmental audit program must be approved by the NT EPA and conducted by a qualified person. Contravention or failure to comply with the requirement of an environmental audit may be considered an offence under the Act.
Audits are required for any contaminated site that poses or threatens to pose serious or material environmental harm.
Audits may also be required when there is a change of land use to a more sensitive use; and/or sensitive use subdivision and there is evidence of current and/or historical potentially contaminating activities. A flowchart outlining this process is available on our Fact Sheets page.