Environment Protection Act 1997
- Number
- A1997-92
- Status
- In Force
Notes
- For infringement notice offences under this Act see Magistrates Court (Environment Protection Infringement Notices) Regulation 2005[1]
- Current law
- Regulations & instruments
- Point-in-time versions
- Law history
Current version
Notes
- Proposed amendments by Statute Law Amendment Bill 2025[5].
| Effective | Files/Formats | Version | Published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2025 | HTMLPDFWord | R69 | 15 May 2025 | Republication for amendments by A2024-11[6] |
Administering Minister and Directorate
- Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water - City and Environment Directorate
Legislative instruments
Legislative instruments under the Act and its subordinate laws
Point-in-time versions
| Effective | Files/Formats | Version | Published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2025 | HTMLPDFWord | R69 | 15 May 2025 | Republication for amendments by A2024-11[6] |
| 10 January 2025 - 14 May 2025 | HTMLPDFWord | R68 | 10 January 2025 | Republication for amendments by A2024-35[117] |
| 11 July 2024 - 9 January 2025 | HTMLPDFWord | R67 | 11 July 2024 | Republication for amendments by A2024-35[117] |
| 27 November 2023 - 10 July 2024 | HTMLPDFWord | R66 | 27 November 2023 | Republication for amendments by A2023-36[118] |
| 8 July 2023 - 26 November 2023 | HTMLPDFWord | R65 | 8 July 2023 | Republication for amendments by A2023-26[119] |
| 24 August 2022 - 7 July 2023 | HTMLPDFWord | R64 | 24 August 2022 | Republication for amendments by A2022-14[120] |
| 11 December 2021 - 23 August 2022 | HTMLPDFWord | R63 | 11 December 2021 | Republication for amendments by A2021-30[121] |
| 23 June 2021 - 10 December 2021 | HTMLPDFWord | R62 | 23 June 2021 | Republication for amendments by A2021-12[122] |
| 4 September 2020 - 22 June 2021 | HTMLPDFWord | R61 | 4 September 2020 | Republication for amendments by A2020-47[123] |
| 9 August 2019 - 3 September 2020 | HTMLPDFWord | R60 | 9 August 2019 | Republication for amendments by A2019-20[124] |
| 31 August 2017 - 8 August 2019 | HTMLPDFWord | R59 | 31 August 2017 | Republication for amendments by A2017-17[125] |
| 15 August 2017 - 30 August 2017 | HTMLPDFWord | R58 | 15 August 2017 | Republication for amendments by A2017-21[126] |
| 16 June 2017 - 14 August 2017 | HTMLPDFWord | R57 | 16 June 2017 | Republication for amendments by A2017-20[127] |
| 23 February 2017 - 15 June 2017 | HTMLPDFWord | R56 | 23 February 2017 | Republication for amendments by A2017-3[128] |
| 1 September 2016 - 22 February 2017 | HTMLPDFWord | R55 | 1 September 2016 | Republication for amendments by A2016-52[129] |
| 21 June 2016 - 31 August 2016 | HTMLPDFWord | R54 | 21 June 2016 | Republication for amendments by A2016-33[130] |
| 12 May 2016 - 20 June 2016 | HTMLPDFWord | R53 | 12 May 2016 | Republication for amendments by A2016-24[131] |
| 27 April 2016 - 11 May 2016 | HTMLPDFWord | R52 | 27 April 2016 | Republication for amendments by A2016-18[132] |
| 1 April 2016 - 26 April 2016 | HTMLPDFWord | R51 | 1 April 2016 | Republication for amendments by A2016-13[133] |
| 24 February 2016 - 31 March 2016 | HTMLPDFWord | R50 | 24 February 2016 | Republication for amendments by A2016-2[134] |
| 14 October 2015 - 23 February 2016 | HTMLPDFWord | R49 | 14 October 2015 | Republication for amendments by A2015-33[135] |
| 1 July 2015 - 13 October 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R48 | 1 July 2015 | Republication for amendments by A2015-19[136] |
| 10 June 2015 - 30 June 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R47 | 10 June 2015 | Republication for amendments by A2015-15[137] |
| 3 June 2015 - 9 June 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R46 | 3 June 2015 | Republication for amendments by A2015-16[138] |
| 21 May 2015 - 2 June 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R45 | 21 May 2015 | Republication for amendments by A2015-12[139] |
| 11 May 2015 - 20 May 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R44 | 11 May 2015 | Republication for amendments by A2014-52[140] |
| 12 November 2014 - 10 May 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R43 | 12 November 2014 | Republication for amendments by A2014-52[141] |
| 27 January 2014 - 11 November 2014 | HTMLPDFWord | R42 | 27 January 2014 | Republication for amendments by A2013-40[142] |
| 14 June 2013 - 26 January 2014 | HTMLPDFWord | R41 | 14 June 2013 | Republication for amendments by A2013-19[143] |
| 22 February 2013 - 13 June 2013 | HTMLPDFWord | R40 | 22 February 2013 | Republication for amendments by A2013-4[144] |
| 14 June 2012 - 21 February 2013 | HTMLPDFWord | R39 | 14 June 2012 | Republication for amendments by A2012-30[145] |
| 5 June 2012 - 13 June 2012 | HTMLPDFWord | R38 | 5 June 2012 | Republication for amendments by A2012-21[146] |
| 29 May 2012 - 4 June 2012 | HTMLPDFWord | R37 | 29 May 2012 | Republication for amendments by A2012-25[147] |
| 12 December 2011 - 28 May 2012 | HTMLPDFWord | R36 | 12 December 2011 | Republication for amendments by A2011-52[148] |
| 21 September 2011 - 11 December 2011 | HTMLPDFWord | R35 | 21 September 2011 | Republication for amendments by A2011-28[149] |
| 1 July 2011 - 20 September 2011 | HTMLPDFWord | R34 | 1 July 2011 | Republication for amendments by A2011-22[150] |
| 17 March 2011 - 30 June 2011 | HTMLPDFWord | R33 | 17 March 2011 | Republication for amendments by A2011-8[151] |
| 1 March 2011 - 16 March 2011 | HTMLPDFWord | R32 | 1 March 2011 | Republication for amendments by A2011-3[152] |
| 3 August 2010 - 28 February 2011 | HTMLPDFWord | R31 | 3 August 2010 | Republication for amendments by SL2010-31[153] |
| 3 June 2010 - 2 August 2010 | HTMLPDFWord | R30 | 3 June 2010 | Republication for amendments by A2010-18[154] |
| 17 December 2009 - 2 June 2010 | HTMLPDFWord | R29 | 17 December 2009 | Republication for amendments by A2009-49[155] |
| 12 December 2009 - 16 December 2009 | HTMLPDFWord | R28 | 12 December 2009 | Republication for amendments by SL2009-55[156] |
| 22 September 2009 - 11 December 2009 | HTMLPDFWord | R27* | 22 September 2009 | Republication for amendments by A2009-20[157] |
| 14 February 2009 - 21 September 2009 | HTMLPDFWord | R26 | 14 February 2009 | Republication for amendments by A2008-26[158] |
| 2 February 2009 - 13 February 2009 | HTMLPDFWord | R25 | 2 February 2009 | Republication for amendments by A2008-37[159] |
| 15 August 2008 - 1 February 2009 | HTMLPDFWord | R24 | 15 August 2008 | Republication for amendments by SL2008-34[160] |
| 13 April 2008 - 14 August 2008 | HTMLPDFWord | R23 | 13 April 2008 | Republication for commenced expiry |
| 31 March 2008 - 12 April 2008 | HTMLPDFWord | R22 | 31 March 2008 | Republication for amendments by A2007-25[161] |
| 27 December 2007 - 30 March 2008 | HTMLPDFWord | R21 | 27 December 2007 | Republication for amendments by A2007-39[162] |
| 18 December 2007 - 26 December 2007 | HTMLPDFWord | R20 | 18 December 2007 | Republication for amendments by SL2007-39[163] |
| 26 October 2007 - 17 December 2007 | HTMLPDFWord | R19 | 26 October 2007 | Republication for amendments by SL2007-35[164] |
| 11 July 2007 - 25 October 2007 | HTMLPDFWord | R18 | 11 July 2007 | Republication for amendments by A2007-16[165] |
| 1 July 2007 - 10 July 2007 | HTMLPDFWord | R17 | 1 July 2007 | Republication for amendments by A2007-17[166] |
| 12 April 2007 - 30 June 2007 | HTMLPDFWord | R16 | 12 April 2007 | Republication for amendments by A2007-3[167] |
| 11 January 2006 - 11 April 2007 | HTMLPDFWord | R15* | 11 January 2006 | Republication for amendments by A2005-62[168] |
| 12 November 2005 - 10 January 2006 | HTMLPDFWord | R14 | 12 November 2005 | Republication for amendments by A2005-20[169] |
| 26 August 2005 - 11 November 2005 | HTMLPDFWord | R13 | 26 August 2005 | Republication for amendments by A2005-19[170] |
| 9 March 2005 - 25 August 2005 | HTMLPDFWord | R12 | 9 March 2005 | Republication for amendments by A2004-57[171] |
| 1 September 2004 - 8 March 2005 | HTMLPDFWord | R11 | 1 September 2004 | Republication for amendments by A2004-13[172] |
| 19 July 2004 - 31 August 2004 | HTMLPDFWord | R10 | 19 July 2004 | Republication for amendments by A2004-23[173] |
| 1 July 2004 - 18 July 2004 | HTMLPDFWord | R9 | 1 July 2004 | Republication for amendments by A2004-28[174] |
| 13 April 2004 - 30 June 2004 | HTMLPDFWord | R8 | 13 April 2004 | Republication for amendments by A2004-9[175] |
| 9 April 2004 - 12 April 2004 | HTMLPDFWord | R7 | 9 April 2004 | Republication for amendments by A2004-15[176] |
| 9 October 2003 - 8 April 2004 | HTMLPDFWord | R6* | 9 October 2003 | Republication for amendments by A2003-41[177] |
| 1 July 2003 - 8 October 2003 | HTMLPDFWord | R5 | 1 July 2003 | Republication for amendments by A2002-56[178] |
| 28 May 2002 - 30 June 2003 | HTMLPDFWord | R4 | 30 May 2002 | Republication for amendments by A2002-11[179] |
| 24 September 2001 - 27 May 2002 | HTMLPDFWord | R3 | 24 September 2001 | Republication for amendments by A2001-91[180] |
| 12 September 2001 - 23 September 2001 | HTMLPDFWord | R2 | 12 September 2001 | Republication for amendments by A2000-55[181], SL2001-9[182] and A2001-44[183] |
| 21 September 2000 - 4 April 2001 | HTMLPDFWord | R1B | 24 September 2020 | Republication for amendments by SL2000-36[184] |
| 20 July 2000 - 20 September 2000 | HTMLPDFWord | R1A | 24 September 2020 | Republication for amendments by SL2000-31[185] |
| 6 April 2000 - 19 July 2000 | HTMLPDFWord | R1 (RI) | 24 September 2020 | Republication for amendments by A2000-12[186] Reissued electronic republication of printed version |
| 17 March 2000 - 5 April 2000 | HTMLPDFWord | R0C | 24 September 2020 | Republication for amendments by A1999-54[187] |
| 1 March 2000 - 16 March 2000 | HTMLPDFWord | R0B | 24 September 2020 | Republication for amendments by A1999-79[188] |
| 4 January 1999 - 29 February 2000 | HTMLPDFWord | R0A | 24 September 2020 | Republication for amendments by A1998-52[189] |
| 1 June 1998 | HTMLPDFWord | As notified | 1 December 1997 |
Bill and Explanatory statement
The bill and explanatory statement for this Act are accessed from Environment Protection Bill 1997[190].
Notification statement
The Environment Protection Act 1997 was passed by the Legislative Assembly and was notified in the Gazette on 1 December 1997 (Gaz 1997 No S380).
(Parliamentary Counsel)
Act as notified
Commencement
| Provision | Commencement date | Commencement method |
|---|---|---|
| s 1, s 2 | 1 December 1997 | s 2 (1) |
| remainder | 1 June 1998 | s 2 (3) |
Expiries
| Provision | Expiry date | Expiry method |
|---|---|---|
| s 11 (2)-(4) | 12 April 2008 (midnight) | s 11 (4) |
| s 14 (4)-(6) | 12 April 2008 (midnight) | s 14 (6) |
Amendments
For section-by-section amendment annotations, see the amendment history in the endnotes in the current version of this law.
| Year and number | Amending law | Amending provision | Commencement date |
|---|---|---|---|
| A2024-11[6] | Biosecurity Legislation Amendment Act 2024 | sch 2 pt 2.3, sch 3 pt 3.4 | 15 May 2025 |
| A2024-35[117] | Environment Protection Legislation Amendment Act 2024 | s 4, s 40 | 10 January 2025 |
| A2024-35[117] | Environment Protection Legislation Amendment Act 2024 | ss 5-39, s 41 | 11 July 2024 |
| A2023-36[118] | Planning (Consequential Amendments) Act 2023 | sch 1 pt 1.24 | 27 November 2023 |
| A2023-26[119] | Water Resources Amendment Act 2023 | sch 1 pt 1.1 | 8 July 2023 |
| A2022-14[120] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2022 | sch 3 pt 3.13 | 24 August 2022 |
| A2021-30[121] | Emergencies Amendment Act 2021 | sch 1 pt 1.2 | 11 December 2021 |
| A2021-12[122] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2021 | sch 3 pt 3.15 | 23 June 2021 |
| A2020-47[123] | Emergencies Amendment Act 2020 | sch 1 pt 1.1 | 4 September 2020 |
| A2019-20[124] | Planning and Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2019 | pt 3 | 9 August 2019 |
| A2017-17[191] | Red Tape Reduction Legislation Amendment Act 2017 | pt 6 | 31 August 2017 |
| A2017-21[192] | Road Transport Reform (Light Rail) Legislation Amendment Act 2017 | sch 1 pt 1.7 | 15 August 2017 |
| A2017-20[193] | Planning, Building and Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (No 2) | pt 6 | 16 June 2017 |
| A2017-3[194] | Planning, Building and Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2017 | pt 3 | 23 February 2017 |
| A2016-52[195] | Public Sector Management Amendment Act 2016 | sch 1 pt 1.24 | 1 September 2016 |
| A2016-33[196] | Emergencies Amendment Act 2016 | sch 1 pt 1.9 | 21 June 2016 |
| A2016-24[197] | Planning, Building and Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2016 (No 2) | pt 5 | 12 May 2016 |
| A2016-18[198] | Red Tape Reduction Legislation Amendment Act 2016 | sch 3 pt 3.22 | 27 April 2016 |
| A2016-13[199] | Protection of Rights (Services) Legislation Amendment Act 2016 (No 2) | sch 1 pt 1.21 | 1 April 2016 |
| A2016-2[200] | Planning, Building and Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2016 | pt 4 | 24 February 2016 |
| A2015-33[201] | Red Tape Reduction Legislation Amendment Act 2015 | sch 1 pt 1.23 | 14 October 2015 |
| A2015-19[202] | Planning and Development (University of Canberra and Other Leases) Legislation Amendment Act 2015 | pt 7 | 1 July 2015 |
| A2015-15[203] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2015 | sch 3 pt 3.7 | 10 June 2015 |
| A2015-16[204] | Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Amendment Act 2015 | sch 1 pt 1.10 | 3 June 2015 |
| A2015-12[205] | Planning, Building and Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2015 | pt 6 | 21 May 2015 |
| A2014-52[206] | Environment Protection Amendment Act 2014 | s 7, ss 9-12, s 33 | 11 May 2015 |
| A2014-52[206] | Environment Protection Amendment Act 2014 | ss 4-6, s 8, ss 13-32, ss 34-49 | 12 November 2014 |
| A2013-40[207] | Planning, Building and Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2013 (No 2) | pt 2 | 27 January 2014 |
| A2013-19[208] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2013 | sch 3 pt 3.16 | 14 June 2013 |
| A2013-4[209] | Directors Liability Legislation Amendment Act 2013 | sch 1 pt 1.2 | 22 February 2013 |
| A2012-30[210] | Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2012 (No 2) | sch 1 pt 1.3 | 14 June 2012 |
| A2012-21[211] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2012 | sch 3 pt 3.17 | 5 June 2012 |
| A2012-25[212] | Commissioner for the Environment Amendment Act 2012 | sch 1 pt 1.1 | 29 May 2012 |
| A2011-52[213] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2011 (No 3) | sch 3 pt 3.24 | 12 December 2011 |
| A2011-28[214] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2011 (No 2) | sch 3 pt 3.13 | 21 September 2011 |
| A2011-22[215] | Administrative (One ACT Public Service Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2011 | sch 1 pt 1.62 | 1 July 2011 |
| A2011-8[216] | Environment Protection Amendment Act 2011 | s 4 | 17 March 2011 |
| A2011-3[217] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2011 | sch 3 pt 3.18 | 1 March 2011 |
| SL2010-31[218] | Environment Protection Amendment Regulation 2010 (No 1) | s 4 | 3 August 2010 |
| A2010-18[219] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2010 | sch 3 pt 3.5 | 3 June 2010 |
| A2009-49[220] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2009 (No 2) | sch 3 pt 3.27 | 17 December 2009 |
| SL2009-55[221] | Environment Protection Amendment Regulation 2009 (No 3) | s 4 | 12 December 2009 |
| A2009-20[222] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2009 | sch 1 pt 1.1, sch 3 pt 3.28 | 22 September 2009 |
| A2008-26[223] | Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008 | sch 2 pt 2.10 | 14 February 2009 |
| A2008-37[224] | ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Legislation Amendment Act 2008 (No 2) | sch 1 pt 1.39 | 2 February 2009 |
| SL2008-34[225] | Environment Protection Amendment Regulation 2008 (No 1) | s 4, s 5 | 15 August 2008 |
| A2007-25[226] | Planning and Development (Consequential Amendments) Act 2007 | sch 1 pt 1.12 | 31 March 2008 |
| A2007-39[227] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2007 (No 3) | sch 1 pt 1.1, sch 3 pt 3.13 | 27 December 2007 |
| SL2007-39[228] | Environment Protection Amendment Regulation 2007 (No 3) | ss 4-6 | 18 December 2007 |
| SL2007-35[229] | Environment Protection Amendment Regulation 2007 (No 2) | s 4 | 26 October 2007 |
| A2007-16[230] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2007 (No 2) | sch 3 pt 3.12 | 11 July 2007 |
| A2007-17[231] | Environment Protection (Fuel Sales Data) Amendment Act 2007 | pt 2 | 1 July 2007 |
| A2007-3[232] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2007 | sch 3 pt 3.37 | 12 April 2007 |
| A2005-62[233] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2005 (No 2) | sch 3 pt 3.9 | 11 January 2006 |
| A2005-20[234] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2005 | sch 3 pt 3.19 | 12 November 2005 |
| A2005-19[235] | Stock Act 2005 | sch 1 pt 1.2 | 26 August 2005 |
| A2004-57[236] | Heritage Act 2004 | sch 1 pt 1.4 | 9 March 2005 |
| A2004-13[237] | Construction Occupations Legislation Amendment Act 2004 | sch 2 pt 2.10 | 1 September 2004 |
| A2004-23[238] | Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2004 | pt 3 | 19 July 2004 |
| A2004-28[239] | Emergencies Act 2004 | pt 3.9 | 1 July 2004 |
| A2004-9[240] | Annual Reports Legislation Amendment Act 2004 | sch 1 pt 1.13 | 13 April 2004 |
| A2004-15[241] | Criminal Code (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Amendment Act 2004 | sch 1 pt 1.13, sch 2 pt 2.33 | 9 April 2004 |
| A2003-41[242] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2003 | sch 3 pt 3.9 | 9 October 2003 |
| A2002-56[243] | Planning and Land (Consequential Amendments) Act 2002 | sch 3 pt 3.5 | 1 July 2003 |
| A2002-11[179] | Legislation Amendment Act 2002 | sch 2 pt 2.19 | 28 May 2002 |
| A2001-91[180] | Environment Protection Amendment Act 2001 | ss 3-24 | 24 September 2001 |
| A2001-44[183] | Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 | pt 130 | 12 September 2001 |
| SL2001-9[182] | Environment Protection Regulations Amendment 2001 | pt 2 | 5 April 2001 |
| A2000-55[181] | Environment Protection Legislation Amendment Act 2000 | pt 2 | 5 April 2001 |
| SL2000-36[184] | Environment Protection (Legislation) Regulations 2000 | pt 2 | 21 September 2000 |
| SL2000-31[185] | Environment Protection (Prescribed Activities) Regulations 2000 | sch 1 | 20 July 2000 |
| A2000-12[186] | Environment Protection Amendment Act 2000 | s 3 | 6 April 2000 |
| A1999-54[187] | Environment Protection (Amendment) Act 1999 | ss 4-26 | 17 March 2000 |
| A1999-79[188] | Road Transport Legislation Amendment Act 1999 | sch 3 | 1 March 2000 |
| A1998-52[189] | Building (Amendment) Act (No 2) 1998 | sch pt 1 | 4 January 1999 |