EMPs Under Assessment

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The Department of Lands, Planning and Environment (the department) is responsible for managing the assessment and approval of onshore petroleum Environment Management Plans (EMPs).

All drilling and hydraulic fracturing EMPs under assessment are made available for public comment for a period of 28 days, on behalf of the Minister in line with regulation 8A of the Petroleum (Environment) Regulations 2016.

The department is committed to ensuring that as many Territorians as possible are aware of, and have an opportunity to comment on, these EMPs.

EMPs under assessment

New EMPs open for public comment are published here in the relevant

The Department of Lands, Planning and Environment (the department) is responsible for managing the assessment and approval of onshore petroleum Environment Management Plans (EMPs).

All drilling and hydraulic fracturing EMPs under assessment are made available for public comment for a period of 28 days, on behalf of the Minister in line with regulation 8A of the Petroleum (Environment) Regulations 2016.

The department is committed to ensuring that as many Territorians as possible are aware of, and have an opportunity to comment on, these EMPs.

EMPs under assessment

New EMPs open for public comment are published here in the relevant survey below.

For a full list of EMPs under assessment please visit depws.nt.gov.au/emps-under-assessment.

EMP Decisions

A list of approved EMPs are published on behalf of the Minister in line with regulations 24 and 26 of the Petroleum (Environment) Regulations 2016.

To view approved EMPs please visit depws.nt.gov.au/approved-emps.

Stay up to date

To stay up to date and receive a notification when EMPs are open for consultation visit our website and subscribe to our notifications.

More information

If you would like more information about EMPs or are having any problems accessing EMPs, please email the department at Onshoregas.depws@nt.gov.au

  • STO8-1: EP161 Beetaloo Basin Appraisal Pilot Environment Management Plan

    On 19 November 2025, Santos QNT Pty Ltd (Santos) submitted an Environment Management Plan (EMP) for assessment, under the Petroleum (Environment) Regulations 2016.

    As part of the assessment process, the EMP was published for comment on 21 November 2025. 

    Comments close on 19 December 2025.

    The EMP proposes a scope of activities on the Exploration Licence EP161.

    Your submission will be considered in the decision-making of this EMP by the NT Government, NT EPA and the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment.

    Scope of activities

    The EMP includes the following scope of activities:

    • Clearing 87.34 ha of remnant vegetation and previously disturbed land, along with earthworks for two new well pads.
    • Drilling and Hydraulic fracture stimulation up to 12 appraisal wells
    • Operating, testing, maintenance and decommissioning
    • Wastewater management that includes evaporation tank, storage tanks, drilling sumps, cutting pits and any transfer infrastructure within the well pad.
    • Infrastructure and activities required to support the appraisal activities i.e., water supply bores, groundwater monitoring bores, borrow pits, installation and operation of camps, bulk material transport and storage, office, workshop and storage, traffic management.
    • Under approved EMP STO1-4, STO2-7 and STO7-4

    To find out more, read the EP161 Beetaloo Basin Appraisal Pilot Environment Management Plan (35.4 MB)

    For alternative access to the EMP, call the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment on 08 8924 4218.

    How to provide comment

    All information provided in public submissions will be published unless confidentiality is requested.

    You can submit your comment by completing the form below.

    If you cannot access the survey form, you can email your comments to Santos.ep161@nt.gov.au or mail your comments, before the closing date to:

    Department of Lands, Planning and Environment
    Petroleum Regulations Unit
    PO Box 3675
    Darwin NT 0801

    Complete Form
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Page last updated: 20 Nov 2025, 04:08 PM