The U.K. government passed new environmental controls for the offshore oil and gas industry that will bring the U.K. in line with European Commission law.
The Pollution Prevention & Control Act 1999 sets out a framework for new U.K. legislation that will implement the EC's Integrated Pollution Prevention & Control Directive. New offshore installations are required to meet the directive's requirements as of Oct. 30, 1999, while existing installations are required to be compliant by 2007.
Energy Minister John Battle said,"We aim to integrate and improve environmental controls on companies exploring for and producing oil and gas in U.K. waters. The act provide the necessary powers.
"Over the next year, proposed new regulations will provide extra safeguards over the use of chemicals offshore. These will build on the success of existing voluntary arrangements.
"We also intend to strengthen the government's power to control operations in the unlikely event of an offshore incident that threatens serious oil pollution. These powers reflect Lord Donaldson's recommendations in his report into the Sea Empress oil spill."
Donaldson led a public inquiry into the Sea Empress tanker grounding. The ship ran aground near the mouth of Milford Haven harbor in February 1996, bringing into question the U.K.'s ability to deal with oil spills effectively (OGJ, Jan. 27, 1997, p. 34).
