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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Receive and assess the request for environmental information
  2. Prepare the response
  3. Provide environmental information
  4. Record details of request and response

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.

Legislation, regulations, standards, codes, workplace procedures and requirements include the latest version of one or more of:

federal legislation, such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, Australian Heritage Council Act, Native Title Act and National Environmental Protection Measures

state/territory government legislation and local government by-laws, policies, regulations and plans dealing with land use; environmental protection; cultural/heritage sites; vegetation management; nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection; water and water management; soil conservation; pollution and contaminated sites; fisheries, forestry and mining operations

national strategies dealing with water quality management, ecologically sustainable development, greenhouse and energy reporting

legislation, standards and codes of practice for work health and safety (WHS) and handling of dangerous goods

Australian and international standards covering environmental management, such as AS/NZS ISO 14000 Basic Set:2007 Environmental Management Basic Set

registration/licensing and/or accreditation requirements

information for specific sites and/or activities (e.g. sampling, monitoring, construction and mining), such as applicable legislative requirements and approval requirements, workplace environmental and emergency management plans and procedures, site processes and work schedules, monitoring/inspection procedures and environmental management actions, sampling and in-situ measurement procedures

procedures covering receipt of requests for information and release of information data and results, confidentiality and security of workplace information, records and reporting

workplace documents, such as work schedules, standard operating procedures (SOPs); equipment manuals and warranties; job hazard analyses; work method statements; safety data sheets (SDS) and safe work procedures; waste minimisation, containment, processing and safe disposal procedures.

Environmental information includes one or more of:

details of legislation, regulations, guidelines, standards, codes of practice, licence conditions, approvals and permits

workplace environmental management plans, policies, strategies, procedures and required actions

site/project initial advice statements and risk/impact assessments

records of site consultations with interested parties

site/project environmental reports (e.g. weekly/monthly monitoring of air, water and noise)

flora and fauna survey results

environmental data sets, such as:

satellite imagery and remote sensing data

geophysical, geochemical, geological, hydrological and meteorological data

ecological data, such as distribution of vegetation, fauna and pests

social science data, such as demographic and census information

land use data, zoning and property classifications

historical records and photographs

workplace information about sites/projects/programs for stakeholders and interested parties

entries for workplace website

cost, estimation of quantities and time

contractual variations and claims

notification of environmental issues and problems

internal environmental audit/inspection findings

environmental training records.

Customers include one or more of:

internal customers, such as site environmental officer, environmental manager, construction manager, operations manager and project manager

external customers, such as regulatory authorities, government departments, suppliers, contractors, consulting engineers, scientists, planners and community groups.

Sources of information include one or more of:

workplace intranet/information management system

contractors providing environmental services

government departments and agencies (e.g. environment, climate change, agriculture and mining)

regulatory authorities

utility authorities/companies (e.g. water, gas and electricity)

land title office and Valuer General

local government records

Geoscience Australia

Australian Social Science Data Archive

internet, library/archive collections, annual reports and community newsletters

media reports (e.g. TV, video, audio and photographs).

WHS and environmental management requirements include:

· compliance with relevant federal/state/territory WHS legislation at all times

· assuming that samples are potentially hazardous and applying standard precautions

accessing and applying current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and state/territory Departments of Health, where relevant.

Performance Evidence

Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include demonstration of:

providing environmental information to at least three (3) different customers

applying workplace procedures for the receipt of information requests, release of information and record keeping

analysing and prioritising requests for information

seeking advice when requests for information are unclear or are beyond scope of competence/responsibility

locating and organising relevant information from a range of sources

supplying accurate, reliable information that meets the customer’s needs and uses language, style and format that is readily understood

preparing written documents that are free from spelling, grammatical and formatting errors

providing authorised information within the expected timeframe and confirming the client’s understanding

maintaining security and confidentiality of information in accordance with workplace procedures.

Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

common sources of environmental information

environmental protection/management terminology, concepts and principles

site/project/program characteristics and the nature of activities

environmental legislative/regulatory requirements relevant to site/project/program within scope of responsibility

workplace environmental management plans, procedures, control measures and management actions for site/project/program within scope of responsibility

environmental management values, environmental issues, risks and impacts for site/project/program

workplace procedures for the receipt of information requests, release of information and record keeping.