Victorian Current Acts

GREENHOUSE GAS GEOLOGICAL SEQUESTRATION ACT 2008

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY

           Division 1--Introduction and interpretation

   1.      Purpose  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Definitions  
   4.      Meaning of greenhouse gas sequestration formation exploration  
   5.      Meaning of greenhouse gas substance injection and monitoring  
   6.      Meaning of serious situation  

           Division 2--Objectives and principles

   7.      Objectives  
   8.      Principles of sustainable development  

           Division 3--Application of Act

   9.      Relationship to certain other Acts  
   10.     Aboriginal heritage  
   11.     Non-application of Act  
   12.     Minister may declare land not to be used for greenhouse gas sequestration  
   13.     Act binds the Crown  

   PART 2--OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF GREENHOUSE GAS SUBSTANCES AND UNDERGROUND GEOLOGICAL STORAGE FORMATIONS

   14.     Underground geological storage formation is the property of the Crown  
   15.     Crown retains Crown land rights  
   16.     Ownership of greenhouse gas substance  
   17.     Offence to explore for greenhouse gas sequestration formations unless authorised  
   18.     Offence to carry out greenhouse gas substance injection and monitoring unless authorised  

   PART 3--GREENHOUSE GAS SEQUESTRATION EXPLORATION PERMITS

           Division 1--Rights and obligations

   19.     Rights conferred by exploration permit  
   20.     Extraction of resources  
   21.     Key objects of work program  

           Division 2--Procedure for obtaining permits

   22.     Minister may invite tender applications for exploration permits  
   23.     Application for permits  
   24.     Chief factors to be taken into account in deciding between competing applications  
   25.     Grant of exploration permit  
   26.     Minister may make new grant if former grant refused  
   27.     Procedure if initial invitation does not result in the granting of a permit  
   28.     Restrictions on permit area  
   29.     Permit may be limited to a stratum of land  
   30.     Term of permit  

           Division 3--Renewals

   31.     Renewal of permit  
   32.     Application for renewal  
   33.     Other factors to be considered in renewing permits  
   34.     Permit not to be renewed if key objects not achieved  
   35.     Renewed permit area may be reduced  
   36.     Variation of work programs for renewed permits  

           Division 4--Injection testing plans

   37.     When must an injection testing plan be prepared?  
   38.     What must an injection testing plan include?  
   39.     Plan to be approved before injection testing can start  
   40.     Approval of injection testing plan  
   41.     Risk to the environment  
   42.     Contamination or sterilisation of a resource  
   43.     Consent of other resource authority holders  
   44.     Referral of plans to independent panel  
   45.     Appointment of panel  
   46.     Community consultation  
   47.     Conferences  
   48.     Compensation agreement  
   49.     What compensation is payable for—resource authority holders  
   50.     Injection testing to be carried out in accordance with approved plan  
   51.     Minister may require variation of injection testing plan  
   52.     Minister to consult  
   53.     EPA may require variation of monitoring and verification plan  
   54.     Minister may allow variation of injection testing plan  
   55.     Reporting  

           Division 5--Discovery of underground geological storage formation

   56.     Minister must be told if underground geological storage formation discovered  
   57.     Minister may give directions if underground geological storage formation discovered  

   PART 4--GREENHOUSE GAS SEQUESTRATION FORMATION RETENTION LEASES

   58.     Purpose of a retention lease  
   59.     Rights conferred by lease  
   60.     Right to apply for lease  
   61.     Details to be supplied with application  
   62.     Grant of lease  
   63.     Work program  
   64.     Area to which lease applies  
   65.     Permit may be limited to a stratum of land  
   66.     Term of lease  
   67.     Renewal of lease  
   68.     Procedure if lease not to be granted  
   69.     Minister may require review of commercial viability  
   70.     Minister may give directions if permanent storage viable  

   PART 5--GREENHOUSE GAS SUBSTANCE INJECTION AND MONITORING LICENCE

           Division 1--Rights conferred by licence

   71.     Rights conferred by licence  

           Division 2--Application for licence by holders of permits or leases

   72.     Application for licence  
   73.     Details to be supplied with application  

           Division 3--Application for licence under tender process

   74.     Minister may invite tender applications  
   75.     Applications  
   76.     Procedure for deciding between competing bids  
   77.     Notice to be given to applicants  
   78.     Refund of deposits  
   79.     Minister may make new grant if former grant refused  
   80.     Extension of time in which to make licence payment  
   81.     Minister must not issue licence unless cash bid paid  

           Division 4--General provisions

   82.     Grant of a licence  
   83.     Minister to be satisfied of certain matters  
   84.     Restrictions on area to which licence applies  
   85.     Licence may be limited to a stratum of land  
   86.     Licence may be limited to a specified volume  
   87.     Further licence may be granted where greenhouse gas injection work completed  
   88.     Term of licence  

           Division 5--Injection of greenhouse gas substance

   89.     Direction if greenhouse gas substance injection not to the Minister's satisfaction  
   90.     Form of direction  
   91.     Licence holder must comply with directions  
   92.     Completion of injection activities  

           Division 6--Injection and monitoring plan

   93.     Injection and monitoring plan  
   94.     Content of injection and monitoring plan  
   95.     Plan to be approved before injection and monitoring can start  
   96.     Approval of injection and monitoring plan  
   97.     Risk to the environment  
   98.     Contamination or sterilisation of a resource  
   99.     Consent of other resource authority holders  
   100.    Referral of plans to independent panel  
   101.    Appointment of panel  
   102.    Community consultation  
   103.    Conferences  
   104.    Compensation agreement  
   105.    What compensation is payable for—resource authority holders  
   106.    Injection and monitoring plan must be adhered to  
   107.    Minister may require variation of injection and monitoring plan  
   108.    Minister to consult  
   109.    EPA may require variation of monitoring and verification plan  
   110.    Minister may allow variation of injection and monitoring plan  

           Division 7--Conditions of greenhouse gas substance injection and monitoring licence

   111.    Reporting  
   112.    Payment of long-term monitoring and verification costs  

           Division 8--Permanent storage of greenhouse gas substance by a third party

   113.    Agreement to store greenhouse gas substance  
   114.    Minister may direct licence holder to store greenhouse gas substance  
   115.    Licence holder must comply with directions  
   116.    Minister may amend licence  
   117.    Revised injection and monitoring plan  
   118.    Compensation of licence holder  

   PART 6--UNIT DEVELOPMENT

   119.    Unit development  
   120.    Consultation concerning unit development if part of underground geological storage formation interstate  
   121.    Minister may amend licence for unit development  

   PART 7--GREENHOUSE GAS INFRASTRUCTURE LINES

   122.    Meaning of greenhouse gas infrastructure line  
   123.    Minister may exempt greenhouse gas infrastructure line from Pipelines Act  

   PART 8--SPECIAL ACCESS AUTHORISATIONS

   124.    Special access authorisation  
   125.    Application for special access authorisation  
   126.    Grant of special access authorisation  
   127.    Criteria that apply to permit, lease and licence areas  
   128.    Exception to section 127  
   129.    Minister may vary area to which authorisation applies  
   130.    Authorisation does not give exclusive rights  
   131.    Term of authorisation  
   132.    Extension of term of authorisation  
   146.    Permit, lease or licence holder not liable for actions of authorisation holder  

   PART 8A--SPECIAL DRILLING AUTHORISATIONS

   146A.   Special drilling authorisation  
   146B.   Application for special drilling authorisation  
   146C.   General criteria the Minister must consider  
   146D.   Criteria that apply to permit, lease and licence areas  
   146E.   Exception to section 146D  
   146F.   Minister may vary area to which authorisation applies  
   146G.   Authorisation does not give exclusive rights  
   146H.   Term of authorisation  
   146I.   Existing permit, lease or licence holder not liable for actions of authorisation holder  
   146J.   Authorisation holder must give data to the Minister  
   146K.   Authorisation holder must give data to permit, lease or licence holder  

   PART 9--PROVISIONS APPLYING TO AUTHORITIES GENERALLY

           Division 1--Applications

   147.    Application for authorities  
   148.    Work programs  
   149.    Applications are not transferable  
   150.    Native title  
   151.    Existing permits and leases continue until renewal applications etc. decided  

           Division 2--Community consultation

   152.    Duty to consult with the community  
   153.    Community consultation plan  
   154.    Requirements for community consultation plan  
   155.    Minister to approve community consultation plan  
   156.    Plan to be provided to community  

           Division 3--Conditions

   157.    Conditions that may apply to authorities  
   158.    Statutory condition of authority  
   158B.   Further statutory condition of authority—agreements under Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010  
   159.    Minister may vary conditions unilaterally  
   160.    Minister may vary conditions by consent  
   161.    Variation of conditions on renewal, consolidation or transfer  
   162.    Suspension of conditions  
   163.    Term of authority may be extended if condition suspended  

           Division 4--Transfers of authorities

   164.    Transfers  
   164A.   Transfers in relation to special drilling authorisations  
   165.    Matters Minister must consider in assessing transfer application  
   166.    Creation of interest in authority  
   167.    Partial transfers of permits and licences  

           Division 5--Surrender or cancellation of authorities

   168.    Surrender of authority  
   169.    Partial surrender of authority  
   170.    Additional criteria for surrender of injection and monitoring licence  
   171.    Surrender of injection and monitoring licence  
   172.    Referral of application to independent panel  
   173.    Appointment of panel  
   174.    Payment of long-term monitoring and verification costs  
   175.    Cancellation of authority  
   175A.   Special drilling authorisation surrendered, suspended or cancelled if primary authorisation surrendered, suspended or cancelled  
   175B.   Special drilling authorisation expires or is terminated if primary authorisation expires or is terminated  
   176.    Additional grounds for the cancellation of an injection and monitoring licence  
   177.    Procedure to be followed before authority cancelled  
   178.    Minister may give directions if authority expires or is surrendered or cancelled  
   179.    Consolidation of adjoining authorities  
   180.    Excision of area from authority  
   181.    Reporting of serious situations  
   182.    Power of Minister to give a direction  
   183.    Offence to fail to comply with direction  
   184.    Minister must publish certain details if authority granted  
   185.    Variation of an authority  
   186.    Expedited procedure for replacement of invalidated title  
   187.    Occupiers liability  
   187A.   Authorities not personal property  

   PART 10--PLANNING MATTERS

   188.    Definition of planning scheme  
   189.    Exploration under exploration permit overrides planning schemes  
   190.    Injection and monitoring operations also override planning schemes  
   191.    Alternative approvals  

   PART 11--CONSENT REQUIREMENTS BEFORE OPERATIONS ALLOWED ON LAND

           Division 1--Wilderness Crown land

   192.    Operations on wilderness land barred  

           Division 2--Operations requiring prior consent

   193.    Consent of Minister needed  
   194.    Greenhouse gas sequestration operations on restricted Crown land  
   195.    Greenhouse gas sequestration operations on water authority land  
   196.    Provisions applying to consents  
   197.    Right to seek review of refusal to give consent  

           Division 3--Operations requiring notice

   198.    Operations on unrestricted Crown land  
   199.    Notice to be given before operation carried out on any land  

   PART 12--COMPENSATION

   200.    Consent of, or compensation agreement with, owner etc. needed before operation on private land starts  
   201.    What compensation is payable for—private/native title land  
   202.    Limit on total amount of compensation  
   203.    Compensation not payable for underground geological storage formations  
   204.    What compensation is payable for—Crown land  
   205.    Time limit on compensation claims  
   206.    Determination of disputes—private/native title land  
   207.    Determination of disputes—Crown land  
   208.    Native Title Act rights prevail  

   PART 13--OTHER OBLIGATIONS ON THE HOLDERS OF AUTHORITIES

           Division 1--Operation plan to be prepared

   209.    Operation plan to be prepared  
   210.    Operate plan to be approved  
   211.    Plan must be observed in carrying out operation  
   212.    Minister may allow variation of operation plan  

           Division 2--Conduct of operations

   213.    Operation to be conducted in proper manner  
   214.    Other specific obligations concerning conduct of operations  
   215.    Maintenance etc. of property  
   216.    Authority holder must not interfere with other rights  
   217.    Rehabilitation  
   218.    Insurance must be held  

           Division 3--Rehabilitation bond

   219.    Definition of rehabilitation bond  
   220.    Requirement to take out rehabilitation bond  
   221.    Minister may require increased rehabilitation bond  
   222.    Minister may carry out rehabilitation  
   223.    Return of bond if rehabilitation satisfactory  

           Division 4--Royalties and rents

   224.    Liability for, and rate of, royalty  
   225.    Minister may vary royalty  
   226.    When royalty must be paid  
   227.    Rent payable in relation to Crown land  
   228.    Equipment must be removed once authority ceases  
   229.    Minister may remove equipment  

   PART 14--INFORMATION

           Division 1--Information to be given to the Minister

   230.    Minister may require certain information if underground geological storage formation discovered  
   231.    Authority holder must provide information to Minister  
   232.    Minister may require position of wells etc. to be surveyed  
   233.    Minister may require person to provide information on greenhouse gas sequestration operation  
   234.    Minister may require information from petroleum operators  
   235.    False information not to be given  

           Division 2--Release of information

   236.    Meaning of release of information  
   237.    Meaning of interpretive information  
   238.    Meaning of information collection date  
   239.    Information that is not to be released  
   240.    Information about applications that may be released  
   241.    Release of information about area that is no longer an authority area  
   242.    Release of factual information concerning licence areas  
   243.    Release of factual information concerning other authority areas  
   244.    Restriction on release of information collected so that it could be sold  
   245.    Earlier release of information if consent given  
   246.    Release of interpretive information relating to current authorities  
   247.    Procedure to be followed before interpretive information is released  
   248.    Right to seek review of disputed release decision  
   249.    Minister may give information etc. to other Ministers  
   250.    Restriction on obtaining information to meet work program obligation  

   PART 15--ENFORCEMENT

           Division 1--Inspections

   251.    Authorisation of inspectors  
   252.    Production of identity card  
   253.    Monitoring compliance with this Act  
   254.    Emergencies  
   255.    Offence-related searches and seizures  
   256.    Occupier to be given copy of consent  
   257.    Search warrant  
   258.    Announcement before entry  
   259.    Copy of warrant to be given to occupier  
   260.    Receipt must be given for any thing seized  
   261.    Copies of certain seized things to be given  
   262.    Use of equipment to examine or process things  
   263.    Use or seizure of electronic equipment at premises  
   264.    Compensation for damage  
   265.    Return of seized things  
   266.    Magistrates' Court may extend period  
   267.    Power of inspector to require information or documents  
   268.    Protection against self-incrimination  
   269.    Offence to obstruct inspector  

           Division 2--Improvement and prohibition notices

   270.    Improvement notice  
   270A.   Compliance with monitoring and verification plan—improvement notice  
   271.    Prohibition notice  
   271A.   Compliance with monitoring and verification plan—prohibition notice  
   272.    Form of notices  
   273.    Right to review  
   274.    Defences to charge of failing to comply with a notice  
   275.    Remedy of failure to comply with improvement notice  

           Division 3--Offences

   276.    Corporation deemed to have the knowledge of its officers  
   277.    Offences by corporations also offences by officers  
   278.    Offences by partners  
   279.    Offences by joint venturers  
   280.    Offences by employees and agents  

   PART 16--ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

           Division 1--Greenhouse gas sequestration register

   281.    Greenhouse gas sequestration register  
   282.    Need for registration  
   283.    Entries in register on devolution of title  
   284.    Registration  
   285.    Effect of registration  
   286.    Inspection of register and documents  
   287.    Minister's certificates  
   288.    Minister may make corrections to register  
   289.    Right to review of register entries  
   290.    Offences relating to the register  

           Division 2--Other administrative matters

   291.    Minister may require further information  
   292.    Form of documents  
   293.    Pecuniary interest statement  
   294.    Surveys and drilling operations  
   295.    Department surveys  
   296.    Delegation  

           Division 3--Fees and penalties

   297.    Applications not to be processed unless fee paid  
   298.    Fees and penalties debts due to the State  

   PART 17--GENERAL

   299.    Officials must not disclose information  
   300.    Minister may vary method of identifying authority areas  
   301.    Codes of practice  
   302.    Use of codes of practice in proceedings  
   303.    Regulations  

   PART 18--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS AND CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

           Division 1--Water Act 1989 licences

   304.    Transitional provision—Water Act 1989  

           Division 2--EPA to administer monitoring and verification

   305.    Injection testing to be carried out in accordance with approved plan  
   306.    Exploration permit—reporting  
   307.    Injection and monitoring plan must be adhered to  
   308.    Injection and monitoring licence—reporting  
   309.    Authorisation of inspectors  
   310.    Monitoring compliance with this Act  
   311.    Compensation for damage  
   312.    Improvement notices  
   313.    Prohibition notices  
   314.    Form of notices  
   315.    Right to review  
   316.    Remedy of failure to comply with improvement notice  
   317.    Delegation  
   318.    Regulations  
           ENDNOTES