ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

Examining the Interplay between UNCLOS, OSPAR, EU and UK Legislation Covering Environmental Regulation of the UKCS Oil and Gas Industry

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Examining Legislation Covering Environmental Regulation

Introduction

This discussion will critically examine the interplay between UNCLOS, OSPAR, EU and UK legislation covering environmental regulation of the UKCS oil and gas industry. The discussion will present my opinion on the degree to which international treaties such as UNCLOS, have regionally applied OSPAR Decisions, EU Directives and UK national legislation led to “over-regulation” and possibly confusion (at both government/operator levels) in environmental protection, control and monitoring in the offshore industry, with specific reference to the UKCS. In order to do so adequately, the discussion will critically examine key environmental legislation and regulation in another European country with an offshore Oil and Gas industry as a comparison, to highlight the conclusion.

Since the review conducted in 1994, the United Kingdom has made remarkable progress achieving several of its environmental objectives and developing its environmental infrastructure, but at the rate allowed by spending relatively limited the fight against pollution. Targets for emissions of pollutants traditional air, persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals, and for the quality of drinking water and surface water, have been achieved. Important investments in infrastructure sewage have been made in privatization of water services in England and Wales.

Discussion & Analyses

The UK has extended the scope of its environmental objectives in part meet its obligations as a member of the EU and other commitments international agreements to which it has subscribed, but also to achieve its own objectives sustainable development. The country has a more balanced set of measures in recent years, giving more room for economic instruments, while continuing to focus on the regulation and development of the territory. Since 1990, the regulation of large point sources of pollution industry is part of the integrated fight against pollution, which favors options offering the most cost-effective. Regimes for different regulatory environments focus on source reduction point to industrial pollution and the treatment of urban wastewater.

The changes in device to fight against pollution to the compliance with the EU Directive on the prevention and reduction of integrated are previously excluded facilities and introduce new objectives of preventing pollution and improving efficiency in the use of resources. Principles polluter pays user-pays are quite strictly applied in the area of the distribution of water and the purification of wastewater in England and Wales, but not Scotland. The United Kingdom has developed and started to implement new instruments economy, including a fee of landfill, a tax on construction materials, a tax on climate change and systems trading of emission. A reform is underway to better integrate environmental objectives in project planning.

However, despite the development of environmental management in the late 80s and real progress that we have just mentioned, the UK can still achieve many environmental progress, since it is the average of EU countries and OECD for many environmental indicators, many of its environmental objectives have not been achieved and its infrastructure remain inadequate environmental (waste ...