The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is seeking feedback on its updated approved methods documents for sampling and analysis of water and air pollutants in New South Wales and a draft approved method for the measurement of environmental noise.
The documents prescribe the methodology that must be adhered to when sampling, measuring and analysing air or water pollutants or environmental noise for a statutory purpose in NSW. This will be of interest to facilities and technical assessors that currently carry out work to sample and analyse air or water pollutants or that measure on analyse environmental noise for premises that are regulated by the NSW EPA (licensed premises).
The EPA is seeking feedback to make sure the approved methods are easy to use, reflect up to date methods, provide better guidance and remove unnecessary requirements. The updated documents reduce requirements in a number of areas and introduce some requirements that have not been in previous versions, such as in relation to record keeping, but are consistent with other standards and similar requirements. The EPA is seeking feedback on these areas to ensure that the Approved Methods documents align with the requirements of the various standards, accreditation bodies or accepted professional practice as far as possible.
Once finalised and released, the approved methods for air and water will replace the current approved methods for sampling and analysis published in 2007 and 2004, respectively. Once finalised and released, the approved method for environmental noise will be referred to in licences and other statutory instruments issued by the EPA when measurement of environmental noise is required.
You can read the approved methods for air, water and noise and have your say at https://yoursay.epa.nsw.gov.au/approved-methods. You can also provide feedback by email by sending your submission to epa.methods@epa.nsw.gov.au.
The EPA is seeking feedback until 5 pm on Monday 31 May 2021.
If you have any questions about the approved methods, please email your query to epa.methods@epa.nsw.gov.au.
