Environmental authority conditions

When applying for an environmental authority (EA), you can use Environmentally Relevant Activity (ERA) standards, model operating conditions or common conditions to:

• predict the core conditions likely to be imposed on your EA
• tailor the content of your application (e.g. your business may want to propose environmental protection commitments to inform your administering authority's decisions when setting release limits).

Note: Model operating conditions and common conditions do not cover all conditions that may be imposed to regulate your activity. Additional conditions may be applied to your EA to address environmental risks specific to your operation or site.

ERA standards

ERA standards have been developed for lower risk ERAs suitable for the standard application process, and include eligibility criteria and standard conditions.

Learn more activities suitable for standard applications.

Model operating conditions

Model operating conditions have been developed to help businesses conducting the following prescribed ERAs and resource activities:

• ERA 16 – extraction and screening activities (ESR/2015/1666) (PDF, 187KB)
• ERA 53 – composting and soil conditioner manufacturing (ESR/2015/1665) (PDF, 242KB)
• ERA 60 – waste disposal (ESR/2015/1667) (PDF, 157KB)
• ERA 63 – sewage treatment (ESR/2015/1668) (PDF, 230KB)
• Model operating conditions (Air)—Port of Townsville—ERA 50 (1) Bulk material handling (minerals) (ESR/2019/4794) (PDF, 1MB)
• Model mining conditions (ESR/2016/1936) (PDF, 1.2MB)
• Streamlined model conditions for petroleum activities (ESR/2016/1989) (PDF, 1.4MB).

Common conditions

Common conditions may apply to your EA if you make a site specific application.

The common conditions are separated into the 'interests' of general, air, noise, water, waste and land. If your ERA is identified as having a potential impact on an interest, the relevant common conditions may apply.

Common conditions may also apply if:

• you cannot meet the eligibility criteria of an ERA standard and must make a site specific application
• you cannot fully comply with the standard conditions of an ERA standard and apply for a variation application
• the model operating conditions for your particular ERA do not adequately address an environmental risk specific to your operation or site.

Learn more about common conditions for prescribed ERAs (ESR/2015/1828) (PDF, 371KB).