EC adopts offshore platform dumping ban

The European Commission (EC) has adopted a recommendation that derelict offshore oil and gas platforms should not be dumped in European waters.

The initiative came from Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard and Energy Commissioner Christos Papoutsis and will be put before the council for approval as European Union policy.

International negotiations about the Ospar Convention for prevention of marine pollution and dumping are slated for July. This initiative is intended to be put forward as EC's proposal for final Ospar rules.

Few exceptions

Immediately after Shell U.K. Exploration & Production announced a new disposal plan for the Brent spar instead of the original dumping, the EC said it was seeking consensus for an onshore disposal policy (OGJ, Feb. 9, 1998, p. 31).

EC said that all but a limited number of the 600 offshore installations in European waters can be completely, safely, and economically taken to land for recycling and disposal.

"The only category to be exempted from the rule," said the EC, "would be existing large concrete platforms, for which there is currently no proven technology to remove them, and where the environmental impact of disposal is limited.

"In addition, it is recognized that in exceptional cases existing installations may be exempted from the prohibition. However, this should only happen after a detailed individual evaluation and consultation of all parties."

Greenpeace cheers

Environmental campaign group Greenpeace welcomed the EC announcement and called for countries involved in the July Ospar Convention meeting to adopt the no-dumping principle.

Greenpeace said that in 1995 all Ospar governments except the U.K. and Norway supported a moratorium on dumping, and that the U.K. and Norway want to retain the dumping option for up to 63 North Sea steel platforms.

Louise Gale, Greenpeace campaigner, said: "The commission's proposal for a global ban on the dumping of steel installations should further strengthen the commitment of those countries that want a ban on disposal at sea."

Confirmation

Bjerregaard said that the EC Council of Ministers will be invited to confirm adoption of the anti-dumping rule so the commission can persuade European governments outside the EC, such as Norway, to follow suit.

"The objective," said Bjerregaard, "is to avoid that our seas are turned into a dumping ground. Rules for disused platforms should be in line with the rules for all other wastes. Once we have agreed on the new Ospar rules, there will be no more Brent spar affairs."

New EU rule

Meanwhile, the European Parliament voted to enable the European Environment Agency to carry out environmental monitoring for any EU institution, including the parliament.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) want the agency to be able to carry out such work on its own initiative. Under an earlier EC proposal, it could only respond to requests from the EC or a member state.

MEPs also voted for the agency to be able to comment on environmental trends and prospects, in addition to simply publishing a report on the state of the environment every 5 years.

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