The Hornsea Four Offshore Wind Farm Order 2023

Chemicals, drilling and debris E+W+S

11.—(1) Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the MMO all chemicals used in the construction of the authorised scheme must be selected from the List of Notified Chemicals approved for use by the offshore oil and gas industry under the Offshore Chemicals Regulations 2002(1) as maintained by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.

(2) The undertaker must ensure that any coatings or treatments are suitable for use in the marine environment and are used in accordance with relevant guidelines approved by Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.

(3) The storage, handling, transport and use of fuels, lubricants, chemicals and other substances must be undertaken so as to prevent releases into the marine environment, including bunding of 110% of the total volume of all reservoirs and containers.

(4) The undertaker must inform the MMO of the location and quantities of material disposed of each month under the Order, by submission of a disposal return by 31 January each year for the months August to January inclusive, and by 31 July each year for the months February to July inclusive.

(5) The undertaker must ensure that only inert material of natural origin, produced during the drilling installation of or seabed preparation for foundations, and drilling mud is disposed of within the Order limits seaward of MHWS.

(6) The undertaker must ensure that any rock material used in the construction of the authorised scheme is from a recognised source, free from contaminants and containing minimal fines.

(7) In the event that any rock material used in the construction of the authorised scheme is misplaced or lost below MHWS, the undertaker must report the loss to the MMO’s Local Office in writing within 48 hours of becoming aware of it and if the MMO in consultation with the MCA and Trinity House, reasonably considers such material to constitute a navigation or environmental hazard (dependent on the size and nature of the material) the undertaker must endeavour to locate the material and recover it at its own expense.

(8) The undertaker must ensure that no waste concrete slurry or wash water from concrete or cement works are discharged into the marine environment. Concrete and cement mixing and washing areas should be contained to prevent run off entering the marine environment through the freeing ports.

(9) The undertaker must ensure that any oil, fuel or chemical spill within the marine environment is reported in writing to the MMO, Marine Pollution Response Team in accordance with the marine pollution contingency plan agreed under condition 13(1)(d)(i).

(10) All dropped objects within the Order limits must be reported to the MMO using the dropped object procedure form as soon as reasonably practicable following the undertaker becoming aware of an incident. On receipt of the dropped object procedure form, the MMO may require relevant surveys to be carried out by the undertaker (such as side scan sonar) if reasonable to do so and the MMO may require obstructions to be removed from the seabed at the undertaker’s expense if reasonable to do so.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 12 para. 11 in force at 3.8.2023, see art. 1

(1)

S.I. 2002/1355.