This document contains the environmental objectives relating to seismic exploration activities required to be achieved by any licensee operating in the South Australian part of the Cooper and Eromanga Basins (i.e. any operator). Objectives have been identified for the following specific land systems: dunefield, floodplain, wetlands, gibber plain, tableland and salt lake. These objectives conform to the national strategy for ecologically sustainable development (Ecologically Sustainable Development Steering Committee, 1992) and aim to protect biodiversity. This statement of environmental objectives has been developed through consultation between Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA), the petroleum exploration industry and environmental interest groups. It expresses the expectations of the environmental performance of explorers using seismic exploration techniques. Each operator undertaking seismic operations shall achieve the three objectives set out below. Any code of environmental practice (CEP) submitted under Regulation 16 of the Petroleum Act 1940 must include a commitment to achieve these objectives before approval will be considered. It is proposed that a legislative requirement to achieve the objectives will be introduced during 1998 with a Bill for a new Petroleum Act. This is in line with PIRSA's objective-based and co-regulatory approach to environmental management. The three objectives (which are supported by a number of goals) are: · Objective 1: ensure that the potential impacts of the proposed seismic operation on biological diversity and cultural components of the environment are assessed within a planning process and incorporated into field management procedures. · Objective 2: monitor and manage those activities that have, or are likely to have, temporary impacts on biological diversity, cultural components of the environment, groundwater or other land users and facilitate rehabilitation so as to minimise such impacts if they occur. · Objective 3: avoid undertaking any activities which have, or are likely to have, long-term significant adverse impact(s) on biological diversity, cultural components of the environment, groundwater or other land uses. As a general guideline, the community should expect recovery of seismic impact to within natural variability in about eight years. However, climatic events in this arid environment may markedly affect recovery periods. Impacts that are irreversible or are likely to take 16 years or longer in this environment to recover are taken to be long-term. Achievement of these objectives will be assessed by using one or more of the following methods: · goal attainment scaling (GAS) · defined conditions · scientific surveys · photo-monitoring · other techniques as appropriate. Two sets of criteria for GAS are included. One is an 'enabling' set, for measurement on completion of a work program, where achievement of acceptable levels is likely to lead to acceptable long-term outcomes. The second set is focused on the longer term rehabilitation of affected areas. Use of this second set of criteria incorporates the changing expectations of seismic line conditions over time and defines the criteria for ultimate 'recovery' of the seismic line. Audits of seismic lines to ascertain the achievement, or otherwise, of the objectives will be undertaken by operators and the results provided to PIRSA. Random audits will be undertaken by PIRSA. Audits by third parties may also be made. If an operator proposes to undertake a seismic survey in a land system not covered by approved assessment criteria (e.g. those contained in this document), then the operator will need to develop appropriate criteria in consultation with Government, industry and, if required, community interest groups. Such criteria would need to be approved by PIRSA. This document will be reviewed at least once every three years. It is expected that the objectives would be unlikely to change, but changes to assessment methods, criteria etc. may reflect changing technology, research and community expectations.