Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00324:front:0:p64
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00324
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 183952–186919

Access to biological resources is also covered by ss.354 and 354A of the EPBC Act if the resources are members of a native species and/or if access is for commercial purposes.
Environmental assessment and approval
Actions that are likely to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance are subject to the referral, assessment and approval provisions of Chapters 2 to 4 of the EPBC Act (irrespective of where the action is taken).
At commencement of this plan, the matters of national environmental significance identified in the EPBC Act are:
 1. world heritage properties;
 2. national heritage places;
 3. wetlands of international importance (Ramsar wetlands);
 4. listed threatened species and communities;
 5. listed migratory species;
 6. protection of the environment from nuclear actions (including uranium mining);
 7. marine environment (Commonwealth marine areas);
 8. the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park; and
 9. protection of water resources from coal seam gas development and large coal mining development.
The referral, assessment and approval provisions also apply to actions on Commonwealth land that are likely to have a significant impact on the environment and to actions taken outside Commonwealth land that are likely to have a significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land.
Responsibility for compliance with the assessment and approvals provisions of the EPBC Act lies with persons taking relevant 'controlled' actions. A person proposing to take an action that the person thinks may be or is a controlled action should refer the proposal to the Minister. The Minister will decide whether or not the action is a controlled action. The Director of National Parks may also refer proposed actions to the Minister.
Wildlife protection
Part 13 of the EPBC Act contains provisions that prohibit and regulate actions in relation to listed threatened species and ecological communities, listed migratory species, listed marine species and cetaceans (whale, dolphin and porpoise).
Actions taken in accordance with a Commonwealth reserve in accordance with a management plan in relation to any native species listed under Part 13 of the EPBC Act are exempt from prohibitions in Part 13 of the Act.
Heritage protection
The EPBC Act world heritage protection provisions (s.12–15A, ss.320–324) provide:
 1. that the primary purpose of management of natural heritage and cultural heritage of a declared world heritage property must be, in accordance with Australia's obligations under the World Heritage Convention, to identify, protect, conserve, present, transmit to future generations and, if appropriate, rehabilitate the world heritage values of the property;
 2. that at least one management plan should be prepared for each declared world heritage property;
 3. that the Commonwealth and each Commonwealth agency must take all reasonable steps to ensure it exercises its powers and performs its functions in