Environmental Report 1999 Index

Next Section

Regulation Last year, we published our first Environment Report. Its purpose was to set the baselines against which the offshore oil and gas industry could be measured in the future. This report looks at the progress made in 1998, and includes updated performance statistics. During 1998 there were a record number of Government policy reviews and regulatory initiatives. For some years, most offshore operators have been carrying out Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and making the results available to the public. Last year, the introduction of the Environmental Impact Assessment regulations made this voluntary practice a formal requirement. More importantly, the Government confirmed that the Pollution Prevention and Control Directive would apply to the offshore oil and gas industry. During a debate in Parliament, the Government announced that it would use the Directive to end the piecemeal regulation scheme currently in place. UKOOA and its member companies welcome efforts to streamline the process of regulation. The 200-plus sets of regulations that govern our industry fail to provide the transparency which would allow stakeholders to examine how we carry out our activities. Therefore, it is difficult for people to assure themselves that we are competent guardians of the offshore environment. We fully support and welcome the Government's plans for a more unified and transparent regulatory framework; it is long overdue. Having said this, any new environmental regime will need to be well planned and adequately resourced if it is to achieve the necessary balance between protecting the environment and preserving the benefits the Industry brings to society. In our view, the new regulatory plans need to be thoroughly reviewed to ensure that, as well as addressing public aspirations and allowing the Government to meet its responsibilities, the regulations deliver real benefits for society as a whole.