EARNED AUTONOMY PILOT PROGRAM STAGE 2 – APPLICATION FORM
On this form you will answer questions and provide evidence and examples of environmental citizenship in your business operating model and strategic priorities. Environment Protection Authority Victoria will use it, along with your environmental performance assessment, to determine your eligibility for participation in EP
A’s earned autonomy pilot program.
Please refer to EPA’s Environmental citizenship strategy
and the EPA earned autonomy pilot program assessment criteria (at the
end of this form) for help in completing this form.
Please insert your answers in the expandable text boxes below, then save and forward your completed application form to eapp.applications@epa.vic.gov.au
Applicants must not submit false or misleading information. EPA may request evidence to support the information provided in this form.
1. Please outline the level of your awareness of the impact on your direct neighbours (community and industry) and environment when your business is compliant and non-compliant. Please also specify the measures and systems that are in place to manage and minimise any impact.
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EARNED AUTONOMY PILOT PROGRAM STAGE 2 – APPLICATION FORM
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What type of communication process do you use to engage with your direct neighbours following a serious incident or impact?
Describe the type of relationship that you have with your direct neighbours. Do you provide the opportunity to participate or engage in operational and development planning, including the opportunity to give input to development proposals? How do you ensure your business is accessible to your direct neighbours?
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EARNED AUTONOMY PILOT PROGRAM STAGE 2 – APPLICATION FORM
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Do you have a complaints handling procedure and encourage affected neighbours to contact you directly?
What process do you use to respond to concerns and within what timeframe? Where relevant, please provide two or three examples of how you have previously managed and responded to concerns and complaints.
Do you have a procedure for lodging your own pollution reports and licence breaches to EPA?
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EARNED AUTONOMY PILOT PROGRAM STAGE 2
6. Please outline your ongoing capacity and plans to improve environmental performance.
– APPLICATION FORM
7. Please demonstrate and provide examples of your efforts in environmental leadership.
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EARNED AUTONOMY PILOT PROGRAM STAGE 2 – APPLICATION FORM
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Do you have an immediate and a long-term commitment to community and its inclusion? If yes, please outline.
In an instance where restorative justice is required, how do you or would you inform community of the development of appropriate restorative justice measures? If this question is relevant to you, please provide examples.
Applicants must not submit false or misleading information. EPA may request evidence to support the information provided in this form.
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EARNED AUTONOMY PILOT PROGRAM STAGE 2 – APPLICATION FORM
EPA will assess the information provided in your completed application form against the performance measures outlined below. We will assess applications taking into account differences in site activity, location, proximity to receptors and so on between different applicants. This is to ensure a fair assessment is applied to each application.
EPA will only base its assessments on questions that are relevant to your business. EPA will validate the information provided in the forms with our regional offices and local community representative(s).
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Business has a complaints handling procedure and encourages affected neighbours to contact them directly and they act to fix the issue promptly.
 Lodge their own pollution reports and licence breaches through EPA’s Customer Service Centre.
Further explanation of performance measures:

Handles complaints effectively (clear process, contact details, log book of calls, timely response to complaints)

Informs community of incidents (proactively)
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Forms networks, groups, forums with community where there is high interest or concern
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Use engagement officers in appropriate situations
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Is inclusive of a full range of community in its engagement efforts
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Provide intelligence to EPA about issues on the horizon in their sector on which EPA might need a policy or position.
Further explanation of performance measures:
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Is proactive on sector wide issues and works with EPA to resolve
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Participates with local environmental improvement opportunities (working with community to solve local problems)
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Develops and maintains ongoing forums to involve community in decision making
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Undertakes proactive and early engagement with EPA on forward plans and approvals (e.g. works approvals)
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Uses strategic planning and takes opportunities to improve environmental outcomes valued by community
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Is active in industry association
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Has a commitment to best practice
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Uses environment officers in appropriate situations
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Has a willingness to consider beyond-compliance activity
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If incidents occur, to participate proactively and honestly in restorative processes with community (for example, restorative conferencing).
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Form networks to address issues where there is high community concern about ongoing cumulative impacts and/or to go beyond baseline regulatory requirements..
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Participate in local environment improvement opportunities, such as neighbourhood environment improvement plans.
Further explanation of performance measures:
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Fixes issues promptly
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Meets with community following an incident or impact (for example, restorative conferencing)

Involves community in the development of appropriate restorative justice measures

Has both immediate and long-term inclusion of and commitment to community
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