A PLAN to prioritise environmental assessments of coal and coal seam gas projects in parts of Queensland and NSW could hurt Santos, Arrow Energy, BHP Billiton and Shenhua.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard phoned premiers this week and urged them to sign up to a new approvals process for coal and CSG projects and for measuring their impact on a region's water resources, The Australian Financial Review reports.
The NSW Minister for Resources and Energy, Chris Hartcher, said NSW had concerns about the plan.
"We would not support any approach that would create delay, duplication or uncertainty in our planning approval process," he said.
Queensland this week became the first state to back the environmental assessments which the federal government promised as part of a deal to introduce the resource rent tax last November with independent MPs Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.
In exchange for its support, the Queensland government will receive a one-off payment of $18 million from the federal government, from $50 million allocated to encourage the states to sign up.
Mr Windsor said he was pleased the committee had prioritised the region around his electorate, which includes the Liverpool Plains in NSW, where BHP Billiton and Shenhua have clashed with farmers as they explore for coal and Santos prospects for CSG.
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