Unacceptable impacts on matters protected under national environmental law

Mark these words "unacceptable impacts on matters protected under national environmental law" because if the Environment Minister Tony Burke is to sign off on proposed world largest gas refinery in the world at James Price Point, these will be the same words.

Federal government has approved Australia's first multi-billion dollar coal seam gas projects, in a move which has angered farmers and environmentalist.Environment Minister Tony Burke told a media conference in Canberra on Friday his department had given conditional environmental approvals for Gladstone Liquefied Natural Gas (GLNG) - a joint venture between Santos, Malaysia's Petronas and France's Total - and BG Group's Queensland Curtis LNG.

"I have decided that these projects can go ahead without unacceptable impacts on matters protected under national environmental law," Mr Burke said, revealing he had placed 300 conditions on each of the projects.

"We must protect the Great Artesian Basin, our threatened species, our waterways and the Great Barrier Reef." lol lol lol

The approvals were delayed earlier this year by Mr Burke's predecessor, Peter Garrett, who was concerned about the projects' potential impact on groundwater and the Great Barrier Reef.

Green groups and farmers have raised concerns about coal seam gas development.

This week four toxic chemicals - benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) - were discovered in eight exploration wells owned by the Australia Pacific LNG in the Surat Basin.

The Queensland government has dismissed calls for a moratorium on the industry, which environmentalists say poses a threat to marine life on the Great Barrier Reef and underground water, and could seriously degrade land.

Mr Burke said one of the more critical conditions surrounded how to deal with the issue of water within coal seams.

"The companies must carry out detailed planning and monitoring to protect groundwater resources, and submit management plans for aquifers, groundwater and surface water for approval," the minister said.