THE long-awaited environmental impact statement (EIS) for Santos’ Narrabri coal seam gas project has been released for public exhibition.
The EIS serves as the major document in the approval process for the project – which would build up to 850 gas wells and processing as well as water treatment facilities in the Pilliga forest and on neighbouring properties.
Santos has signed a commitment to NSW government not to enforce right of access to private land.
NSW Department of Planning and Environment will conduct the approvals process, which ultimately depends on an assessment by the independent Planning Assessment Commission.
Public submissions are open for 60 days, ending on April 24.
Santos will be required to respond to submissions on the EIS, before the PAC and the Department make separate assessments of the project. Ultimately, the PAC makes a final determination.
The Department will engage an expert scientific panel to provide advice on the project proposal.
Stakeholder groups including the NSW Environment Defenders Office have argued the 60 day exhibition period is not enough time to properly respond to Santos’ complex, 7000-page EIS.
The Department’s director of resources assessments Mike Young encourage people to make a submission.
Everyone is welcome to make a submission and all will be read and considered in our assessment,” he said.
Public information sessions will be held in Narrabri on March 7 and 8.
- Visit: www.majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au for more information.