Environmental policy and guidelines

Australia’s oil and gas industry aims to produce energy in an environmentally responsible way in order to help meet growing energy needs in Australia and Asia. In doing so, the industry can deliver major environmental and economic benefits. It aims to have minimal impact on the environment and to meet the highest health, safety and environmental standards.

Environmental management guidelines

To ensure a high standard of environmental management, APPEA and its members have produced a detailed Environmental Code of Practice covering all aspects of industry operations.

The oil and gas industry in Australia uses seismic surveys to explore for natural resources in the marine environment. Seismic and the Marine Environment provides detailed information about seismic exploration, environmental monitoring, research and regulation.

The industry supports the use of conservation systems that define the significant conservation values of a particular ecosystem or biological community. But blanket bans and prohibitions are inappropriate and simplistic management mechanisms that fail to recognise the Australian oil and gas industry’s ability to operate with little or no impact in sensitive environments. The industry has clear policy on Operating in Protected Areas.

Oil Spill Prevention and Response provides detailed information about the measures the industry takes to avoid oil spills, react quickly and efficiently in the unlikely event that a spill does occur, and manage the consequences of a spill.  This publication is currently being updated.