West Australian EPA rejects Woodside's Browse LNG project
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The news: The Western Australian Environmental Protection Agency has preliminarily rejected Woodside's application for its Browse LNG project off the coast of Karratha.
The agency informed Woodside of its decision in February, but it was only revealed today following a freedom of information request tabled by the WA Today news website.
The context: The letter detailed the EPA's concerns regarding the proposed LNG project, including its potential impact on the nearby Scott Reef in the event of an oil spill and the presence of pygmy whales and nesting areas for endangered sea turtles.
Both state and federal environment ministers must approve the project in order for it to go ahead. The federal government supports further oil and gas extraction in Australia as part of its Future Gas Strategy, and Resources Minister Madeleine King has previously made comments in support of the Browse development.
After Woodside first lodged its environmental impact statement with the EPA in early 2020, the agency received more than 20,000 submissions during a public consultation.
The source: WA Today
