Can I access information about potential environmental hazards in my local area?

In Plain English

Based on the documents provided, here's how you can find information about potential environmental hazards:

• Contaminated Sites: If you're concerned about contaminated land, the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999 provides a framework for assessing and managing these sites.
• Industrial Chemicals: The Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Instrument 2022 lists industrial chemicals that could harm the environment and suggests ways to manage those risks.
• Invasive Species: If feral animals are a concern, the Department of the Environment creates threat abatement plans to manage them. You can find draft plans open for public comment on the Department's website. For example, there are plans for feral pigs (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), feral cats (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), and rabbits (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).
• Workplace Hazards: If you're concerned about hazardous chemicals in your workplace, the Work Health and Safety (Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace) Code of Practice 2015 provides guidance on identifying and managing those risks.
• Demolition Hazards: Before demolition work, a person conducting a business or undertaking carrying out demolition work must obtain a copy of the asbestos register for the workplace from the person with management or control of that workplace, as stated in the Work Health and Safety (Demolition Work) Code of Practice 2015.

Detailed Explanation

The documents provided offer several avenues for accessing information about potential environmental hazards:

1. Contaminated Land Assessment: The National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999 outlines a process for investigating and managing contaminated sites. This includes preliminary site investigations to identify potential contamination, assess site history, and understand the environmental setting. While this document doesn't directly provide site-specific information to the public, it establishes the framework under which such information is gathered and assessed.
2. Industrial Chemicals Management: The Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Instrument 2022 is relevant for identifying risks associated with industrial chemicals. This instrument includes schedules that list chemicals with the potential to cause environmental harm, along with their uses and recommended risk management measures. Schedules 3, 4 and 5 specifically list relevant industrial chemicals that have the potential, may, or are likely to cause harm to the environment.
3. Invasive Species Threat Abatement Plans: The Department of the Environment develops threat abatement plans for managing invasive species that are listed as key threatening processes under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Notices are published calling for public comment on draft plans. These plans address the impacts of species such as feral pigs, feral cats, and rabbits.
4. Workplace Hazardous Chemicals: The Work Health and Safety (Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace) Code of Practice 2015 provides guidance on managing risks associated with hazardous chemicals in the workplace. It emphasizes the importance of reviewing labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to assess risks and implement appropriate control measures.
5. Demolition Work and Hazardous Materials: The Work Health and Safety (Demolition Work) Code of Practice 2015 highlights the responsibilities of those conducting demolition work to identify hazardous materials like asbestos. It requires obtaining the asbestos register for the workplace and informing workers and other persons at the workplace of the presence of hazardous chemicals, and the control measures for exposure and safe disposal.