The Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Unloading and Storage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2020

1. Introductory Text

2. 1. Citation, commencement and application

3. 2. The 1999 Regulations and related legislation

4. 3. Interpretation

5. 4. Requirement for Consent

6. 5. Requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment

7. 6. Requirement for a screening direction

8. 7. Decision that no environmental impact assessment is required, without a screening direction

9. 8. Environmental Statement Requirements

10. 9. Scoping opinion for an environmental statement

11. 10. Obtaining information for preparing the environmental statement

12. 11. Public Consultation Requirements - United Kingdom

13. 12. Provision of further information and related public consultation requirements

14. 13. Consultation Requirements – other countries

15. 14. Secretary of State decision on whether to agree to the grant of consent

16. 15. OGA decision on whether to grant consent

17. 16. Publication of Secretary of State and OGA decisions

18. 17. Exempt projects – defence and civil emergencies

19. 18. Exempt projects – adverse effect on the project purpose

20. 19. UK participation in overseas projects

21. 20. Confidentiality

22. 21. Provision of Documents

23. 22. Fees

24. 23. Inspection and investigation

25. 24. Application to court by Secretary of State

26. 25. Offences

27. 26. Revocation

28. 27. Amendments to the Offshore Environmental Civil Sanctions Regulations 2018

29. 28. Consequential Amendments

30. 29. Transitional and Saving Provisions relating to the 1999 Regulations

31. 30. Review

32. Signature

33. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

       Requirement for an environmental impact assessment where the definition of “project” applies

       1. 1. Extraction of oil and natural gas for commercial purposes where...

       2. 2. Installations for storage of oil with a capacity of 200,000...

       3. 3. Activities captured by section 17(2)(a) or (b) of the Energy...

       4. 4. Installations for the capture of carbon dioxide streams for the...

       5. 5. Pipelines with a diameter of more than 800 mm and...

       6. 6. Pipelines with a diameter of more than 800 mm and...

       7. 7. A change to a project that falls under this Schedule...

    2. SCHEDULE 2

       Requirement for a screening direction where the definition of “project” applies

       1. 1. (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), drilling a well or borehole...

       2. 2. Surface installations for the extraction of oil or natural gas....

       3. 3. Extraction of oil or natural gas for commercial purposes where...

       4. 4. Installations for storage of oil with a capacity of less...

       5. 5. Activities captured by section 2(3)(a) to (d) of the Energy...

       6. 6. Installations for the capture of carbon dioxide streams for the...

       7. 7. Pipelines that are— (a) for the transport of oil, combustible...

       8. 8. A change to a project that falls under Schedule 1,...

       9. 9. A change to a project that falls under this Schedule....

    3. SCHEDULE 3

       Secretary of State to decide if an environmental impact assessment is required, without a screening direction application where the definition of “project” applies

       1. The construction of a pipeline for the transport of oil,...

    4. SCHEDULE 4

       Information required in an application for a screening direction

       1. 1. The name and address of the developer.

       2. 2. A description of the project, including— (a) the physical characteristics...

       3. 3. The description of the project must take into account—

    5. SCHEDULE 5

       Matters to be taken into account in deciding whether a project is likely to have a significant effect on the environment

       1. 1. Characteristics of the project

       2. 2. Location of the project

       3. 3. Type and characteristics of the potential impact

    6. SCHEDULE 6

       Information for the environmental statement

       1. 1. A description of the project comprising information on the site,...

       2. 2. A description of the reasonable alternatives (for example in terms...

       3. 3. A description of the relevant aspects of the current state...

       4. 4. An assessment of the likely significant effects of the project...

       5. 5. The assessment under paragraph 4 must— (a) cover the likely...

       6. 6. A description of the features of the project or measures...

       7. 7. A description of the forecasting methods or evidence, used to...

       8. 8. A non-technical summary of the information provided under paragraphs 1...

       9. 9. A reference list detailing the sources used for the descriptions...

    7. SCHEDULE 7

       Consequential Amendments

       1. 1. Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001

       2. 2. Offshore Chemicals Regulations 2002

       3. 3. Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) Regulations 2005

       4. 4. Energy Act 2008 (Consequential Modifications) (Offshore Environmental Protection) Order 2010

       5. 5. Offshore Combustion Installations (Pollution Prevention and Control) Regulations 2013

       6. 6. Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017

34. Explanatory Note