Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00326:front:0:p64
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00326
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 188407–191284

EPBC Act allows the Director to grant a lease or a licence relating to land or seabed in a Commonwealth reserve in accordance with a management plan.
The EPBC Regulations control, or allow the Director to control, a range of activities in Commonwealth reserves. The Director applies the Regulations subject to and in accordance with the EPBC Act and management plan. The Regulations do not apply to the Director or to wardens or rangers appointed under the EPBC Act. Activities that are prohibited or restricted by the EPBC Act may be carried on if they are authorised by a permit issued by the Director and/or they are carried on in accordance with a management plan or if another exception prescribed by r.12.06(1) of the Regulations applies.
Access to biological resources in Commonwealth areas is regulated under Part 8A of the EPBC Regulations. 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