Citation and Commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 and come into force on 23rd April 2020.

Amendment to the Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999

2.  The Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999(4) are amended as follows.

3.  After regulation 10, insert—

“Coronavirus exemption from public inspection requirements

10A.—(1) Regulations 9(2)(c) and 9(2)(f)(iii) do not apply where the effects of coronavirus, including any restrictions on movement, mean that it is not reasonably practicable for the public to inspect copies of documents at a specified address within the United Kingdom.

(2) Regulation 10(2)(d)(ii) does not apply where the effects of coronavirus, including any restrictions on movement, mean that it is not reasonably practicable for the public to inspect copies of documents at a specified address within the United Kingdom.

(3) Where paragraph (1) applies—

(a)regulations 9(2)(d), 9(2)(e), 9(2)(f)(vi) and 9(5) do not require the undertaker to make copies of documents available for collection in person;

(b)the undertaker must make available by post a copy of the application for consent in the same way as for the environmental statement, as set out in regulations 9(2)(d), 9(2)(e) and 9(5), but the undertaker may not charge for the supply of a copy of the application for consent;

(c)the undertaker must include in the notice referred to in regulation 9(2)(f) a statement on how a copy of the application for consent may be obtained by post, in the same way as for the environmental statement, as set out in regulation 9(2)(f)(vi).

(4) Where paragraph (2) applies—

(a)regulation 10(2)(c) does not require the undertaker to make copies of documents available for public inspection at an address within the United Kingdom;

(b)regulations 10(2)(c) and 10(2)(d)(iii) do not require the undertaker to make copies of documents available for collection in person;

(c)the undertaker must make available by post a copy of the application for consent in the same way as for the environmental statement, as set out in regulation 10(2)(c), but the undertaker may not charge for the supply of a copy of the application for consent;

(d)the undertaker must include in the notice referred to in regulation 10(2)(d) a statement on how a copy of the application for consent may be obtained by post, in the same way as for the environmental statement, as set out in regulation 10(2)(d)(iii).

(5) For the purpose of this regulation, “coronavirus” means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make amendments to the Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/360) (the “1999 Regulations”). The 1999 Regulations set out requirements regarding environmental statements for proposed offshore oil and gas projects. This forms part of the approval process for such projects. The amendments disapply the requirement for offshore oil and gas developers to make copies of relevant documents available for public inspection at an address in the United Kingdom where the effects of coronavirus mean that is not reasonably practicable for the public to inspect them. The amendments also clarify that copies of documents do not need to be made available to be obtained in person in these circumstances. Additionally, the amendments provide that copies of the application for consent must be supplied by post where requested, during any period where copies of the application are not made available for public inspection at an address in the United Kingdom. Under the 1999 Regulations, copies of other relevant documents are already required to be supplied by post, and all relevant documents are required to be published on a public website.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as this is a temporary, emergency measure and no significant impact on business, charities, voluntary bodies and the public sector is foreseen.