Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia - Current Members

Current Members

The current members of the EPA as of January 2013 are:

• Chairman - Dr. Paul Vogel
• Deputy Chairman - Professor Robert Harvey
• Member - Mr. Denis Glennon
• Member - Dr. Rod Lukatelich
• Member - Ms. Elizabeth Carr

The Authority operates and has statutory powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and as amended by the Environmental Protection Amendment Bill 2002. These are, as defined in Section 16 of the 2002 Amendment Bill:

1. to conduct environmental impact assessments;
2. to consider and initiate the means of protecting the environment and the means of preventing, controlling and abating pollution and environmental harm;
3. to encourage and carry out studies, investigations and research into the problems of environmental protection and the prevention, control and abatement of pollution and environmental harm;
4. to obtain the advice of persons having special knowledge, experience or responsibility in regard to environmental protection and the prevention, control and abatement of pollution and environmental harm;
5. to advise the Minister on environmental matters generally and on any matter that he/she may refer to it for advice, including the environmental protection aspects of any proposal or scheme, and on the evaluation of information relating thereto;
6. to prepare, and seek approval for, environmental protection policies;
7. to promote environmental awareness within the community and to encourage understanding by the community of the environment;
8. to receive representations on environmental matters from members of the public;
9. to provide advice on environmental matters to members of the public;
10. to publish reports on environmental matters generally;
11. to publish for the benefit of planners, builders, engineers or other persons guidelines to assist them in undertaking their activities in such a manner as to minimize the effect on the environment of those activities or the results thereof;
12. to keep under review the progress made in the attainment of the objects and purpose of this Act;
13. to coordinate all such activities, whether governmental or otherwise, as are necessary to protect, restore or improve the environment in the State;
14. to establish and develop criteria for the assessment of the extent of environmental change, pollution and environmental harm;
15. to specify standards and criteria, and the methods of sampling and testing to be used for any purpose;
16. to promote, encourage, coordinate or carry out planning and projects in environmental management; and
17. generally, to perform such other functions as are prescribed.