The 2022 Approved Methods documents for air, water and noise now apply. However, the previous versions of the air and water documents will still apply in some limited circumstances.
Approved Methods for the sampling and analysis of air pollutants in NSW
The 2022 version of this document replaces the 2007 version of the document of the same name. It took effect as soon as it was published in the NSW Government Gazette (‘gazetted’).
Where a licence or notice condition refers to the Approved Methods for the Sampling and Analysis of Air Pollutants in NSW you must use the most recently gazetted version of the document. Now that the 2022 version has been gazetted this will be the 2022 version.
Ambient air monitoring
The Approved Methods document doesn’t include ambient air monitoring methods. Those are now on the EPA website instead.
Some licences or statutory instruments refer to those methods (i.e. AM-1 to AM-22).
- If a licence or statutory instrument specifies a monitoring method, you must keep using that method.
- If it doesn’t specify a method, you must monitor in accord with the relevant AM code in the Table of AM-coded methods for ambient air monitoring (PDF 137KB)
Licence variations
If a licence is varied to include sampling and analysis requirements then the new Approved Methods document will apply.
Planning processes
See also the section Implementation in planning processes below.
Approved methods for the sampling and analysis of water pollutants in NSW
The 2022 version of this document replaces the 2004 version of the document of the same name. It took effect as soon as it was published in the NSW Government Gazette (‘gazetted’).
Where a licence or notice condition refers to the Approved Methods for the Sampling and Analysis of Water Pollutants in NSW, you must use the most recently gazetted version of the document. Now that the 2022 version has been gazetted this will be the 2022 version.
Licence variations
If a licence is varied to include sampling and analysis requirements then the new Approved Methods document will apply.
Planning processes
See also the section Implementation in planning processes below.
Approved methods for the measurement and analysis of environmental noise in NSW
This document is now in effect.
A licence or notice condition may require the measurement and analysis of environmental noise.
- If it refers to the Approved Methods for the Measurement and Analysis of Environmental Noise in NSW (2022), then you must use this document.
- If it doesn’t refer to this document, then consult the document anyway for which methods to use as a matter of good practice.
Implementation in planning processes
Proposed state significant development (SSD) or state significant infrastructure (SSI)
If a proposed development is designated as state significant development (SSD) or state significant infrastructure (SSI), then the Secretary of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment will issue environmental assessment requirements called SEARs (Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements).
The SEARs may refer to a relevant 2022 Approved Methods document if:
- sampling and analysis is required as part of the development application
- the relevant 2022 Approved Methods document has been gazetted before the application is submitted
- the SEARs have not yet been issued for the proposed development.
SEARs issued before the 2022 Approved Methods were gazetted
SEARs may have been issued for a development before the relevant 2022 Approved Methods publication was gazetted, and not modified since they were issued. In this case, the assessment requirements that the SEARs refer to will apply for as long as the SEARs remain current,* even if those requirements refer to previous versions of the Approved Methods.
*SEARs remain current 2 years from the date they were issued or for the length of any granted extension. This is specified by Schedule 2, Part 2, clauses 3 (7) and 3 (7A) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000.