EIS Status :: EIS Current Status Site Survey Activity :: Site Survey Activity :: Biological Habitat Survey Summary - Tassie Shoal Region,    by CEE Consultants Pty Ltd EIS Current Status Tassie Shoal Methanol Project: The Tassie Shoal Methanol Project's Commonwealth approvals process commenced in November 2000. The primary approval required for this project was a Commonwealth Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval. To this end MEO appointed Sinclair Knight & Merz (SKM) to initiate the EIA process and on December 8, 2000 a Referral Document was lodged with Environment Australia. On December 19, 2000 the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment, Senator Hill, declared a controlled action for the project's EIA (EPBC-2000/108). On January 23, 2001 the Minister designated that the controlled action will require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). A draft scope document for the EIS was prepared by SKM and lodged on February 8, 2000. The EIS guidelines were prepared by Environment Australia and publicly exhibited until March 22, 2001. The Ministerial approval for these guidelines was granted on April 18, 2001. MEO engaged Consulting & Environmental Engineers Pty Ltd (CEE) to prepare the EIS and who acted as the EIS Project Manager and lead consultant. All necessary data was compiled, the required site-specific data acquired and many specialist studies conducted. The EIS public consultation process was active over a six month period and included discussion with affected State and Commonwealth departments, focus meetings in Darwin and Canberra, advertising and ongoing public access to an information and maintenance of a resource information office in Darwin The EIS was printed and distributed for public comment between June 17 and July 15 2002. Following a number of comments and queries, a Supplement to the EIS was prepared and distributed August 2002. The assessment of the EIS by Environment Australia was completed on October 17, 2002. On December 23, 2002, the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, The Hon. Dr David Kemp MP approved the EIS and the action. This approval for the Tassie Shoal Methanol Project has effect until November 29, 2052. Timor Sea LNG Project: The Timor Sea LNG Project's environmental approval process commenced early in 2003. CEE and MEO prepared a Referral Document, which was lodged with Environment Australia on June 15, 2003. The referral number is EPBC 2003/1067. On June 12, 2003, the Assistant Secretary declared that the action was a controlled action and the action cannot be taken without approval under Part 9 of the Act. Assessment required the preparation of a detailed Preliminary Information document. This document was lodged with Environment Australia on November 17, 2003. The Minister has determined that the proposal and document will be made available for public review and comment between January 13 and January 28, 2004. On May 5, 2004, the Acting First Secretary on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, The Hon. Dr David Kemp MP approved the action. This approval for the Tassie Shoal Methanol Project and the Timor Sea LNG project has effect until May 6, 2052. Other Statutory Approvals: The Company has also made application for an Infrastructure Licence (NT/ISL1(A)) pursuant to section 59B(3) of the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967 over the place on Tassie Shoal where we plan to locate the methanol production facilities. This Licence effectively gives title over the area of the seafloor where the facilities are positioned for the life of the project. This application is currently afoot and MEO is providing the necessary information to allow the grant of such a Licence. Clearly, the environmental approval is the most significant requirement to obtain grant of this Licence. Other requirements include the preparation of a Safety Case and an Environment Management Plan for the construction and operational phases of the project. Preparation of these documents is underway. It is probable that the final grant would coincide with the grant of a Production Licence to the gas producer. It is possible that the eventual ownership structure of the projects may also include international corporations. The involvement of such companies would most likely require review and approval by the Foreign Investment Review Board. Corporate  I  Latest News  I  Projects  I  About Methanol  I  About LNG Environmental Impact Statement  I  Q & A I  Contact Us I  Stock Price