This Chapter   deals with assessment and approval of actions that Part   3 prohibits without approval ( controlled actions ). (It does not deal with actions that a bilateral agreement declares not to need approval.)

A person proposing to take an action, or a government body aware of the proposal, may refer the proposal to the Minister so he or she can decide:

  (a)   whether his or her approval is needed to take the action; and

  (b)   how to assess the impacts of the action to be able to make an informed decision whether or not to approve the action.

An assessment may be done using:

  (a)   a process laid down under a bilateral agreement; or

  (b)   a process specified in a declaration by the Minister; or

  (c)   a process accredited by the Minister; or

  (ca)   information included in the referral; or

  (d)   preliminary documentation provided by the proponent; or

  (e)   a public environment report; or

  (f)   an environmental impact statement; or

  (g)   a public inquiry.

Once the report of the assessment is given to the Minister, he or she must decide whether or not to approve the action, and what conditions to attach to any approval.