PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Three independent representatives from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) have recommended the development of the Browse liquefied natural gas (LNG) precinct, subject to 28 conditions.

The delegates were tasked with assessing the proposal after the Supreme Court of Western Australia found the EPA’s July 2012 report was invalid and that there had been no valid assessment under the Environmental Protection Act.

EPA chairperson Gerard Early, Dr Tom Hatton and Glen McLeod assessed the Minister for State Development’s strategic proposal for a proposed multiuser facility to accommodate the processing and export of natural gas from the offshore Browse basin, near Japes Price Point, which had a proven reserve of 34.6-trillion cubic feet.

The precinct would accommodate a minimum of two gas processing proponents at one location to enable sharing of common-user facilities such as the port, roads, infrastructure corridors and workers’ accommodation. The precinct will be designed to cater for a maximum LNG production capacity of up to 50-million tonnes a year.

Early said on Monday that the strategic proposal identified port facilities, shipping channels, LNG processing facilities, pipeline crossings, infrastructure, a light industrial area, roads and worker accommodation area.

“The delegates undertook the environmental-impact assessment of the Browse LNG strategic proposal with fresh eyes, examining every part of this project thoroughly and methodically,” he added.

“Following a review of all the technical and scientific information available, including the proponent’s strategic assessment report and all public submissions, as well as a site visit to James Price Point late last year where we met with representatives from the community, we have recommended a number of implementation conditions be imposed should future proposals identified in the strategic proposal be approved by the Minister for Environment.”

Early said a number of environmental factors, including the potential impacts on the marine environment, marine and terrestrial fauna, flora and vegetation, air quality and atmospheric emissions and heritage, were assessed.

The 28 recommendations included a range of surveys, management and monitoring plans, programmes to avoid, where practicable, or minimise potential environmental impacts and measures to protect environmental values.

The report to the Minister for Environment would now be open for a two-week public appeal period closing November 9.