The Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) is an independent authority established under the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority Act 2012.
The NT EPA consists of between four and seven members appointed by the Administrator of the Northern Territory and the Chair of the NT Planning Commission. Appointed members to the NT EPA are required to collectively provide knowledge and experience in a broad range of environmental, scientific, business and social disciplines.
There are currently six members of the NT EPA. More information on the members of the NT EPA can be found on the members page.
The objectives of the NT EPA are to:
- promote ecologically sustainable development
- protect the environment, having regard to the need to enable ecologically sustainable development
- promote effective waste management and waste minimisation strategies, and
- enhance community and business confidence in the environmental protection regime of the Territory.
The NT EPA’s core obligation is to deliver the regulatory responsibilities imposed on it under the Northern Territory’s environmental regulatory framework. The NT EPA’s specific powers, functions and obligations are identified in the following Acts and associated regulations and legislative instruments:
- Environment Protection Act 2019
- Environment Protection (Beverage Containers and Plastic Bags) Act 2011
- Waste Management and Pollution Control Act 1998.
The NT EPA has a range of powers and functions to:
- Conduct environmental impact assessments – the NT EPA’s environmental impact assessment responsibilities are designed to promote ecologically sustainable development (ESD) in the Territory and protect the Territory’s environment, having regard to the need to enable ESD.
- Manage waste and pollution – where the NT EPA are responsible for issuing licences and approvals and ensures compliance with legislation. The NT EPA’s waste and pollution management responsibilities are designed to promote effective waste management and waste minimisation strategies to protect the Territory’s environment, having regard to the need to enable ESD.
- Provide strategic advice and assurance – where the NT EPA may provide the Minister with strategic advice on a range of matters (as initiated by the NT EPA or Minister). The NT EPA’s strategic advice and assurance responsibilities are designed to support achievement of all of the objectives of the NT EPA (under section 7 of the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority Act 2012).
In undertaking its core responsibilities, the NT EPA seeks to enhance community and business confidence in the environmental protection regime of the Territory.
The NT EPA's Statement of Intent PDF (812.7 KB) outlines its purpose and objectives, its priorities, activities and strategies.
Relationship with the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security
The Environment Division of the Northern Territory Government Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security (DEPWS) provides the NT EPA with staff and facilities to enable it to properly exercise its powers and perform its functions.