The Baird government plans to loosen coal seam gas rules allowing exploration to proceed without environmental impact statements, spurning recent recommendations from the Chief Scientist for more openness in the industry.

The government is seeking feedback until December 2 for plans to amend the State Environmental Planning Policy to remove requirements for full EIS reports on exploration involving six or more gas wells.

Loosening the rules: The Baird government plans to allow CSG explorations to proceed without environmental impact statements. Credit:Julie Lyford

Petroleum exploration now covered by a so-called five-wells rule will also no longer be considered a State Significant Development, also diminishing oversight, critics say.

"It's a retrograde step and completely inconsistent with the over-arching recommendations of the Chief Scientist's report," Sue Higginson, principal solicitor at the Environmental Defenders Office NSW, said. All exploration "can now be carried out under a lower order of scrutiny," she said.