This study investigates how the environmental impacts of petroleum exploration and development can be addressed by applying Environmental Valuation. The Contingent Valuation (CV) method has been applied in a small scale study in relation to native vegetation removal and disturbance in the Cooper Basin of South Australia. This was the first recorded application of CV in a context of petroleum developments in Australia. Study results indicate that there is a potential for successful application of valuation techniques such as CV to address negative environmental externalities associated with petroleum developments.