Environment Report 2018

While not linked to the implementation of a specific EU Directive, the European Commission established a technical working group (TWG) in 2015 to develop a Hydrocarbons BREF (later became a BAT Guideline) covering environmental aspects of all stages of the hydrocarbon exploration and production process. Oil &Gas UK continues as a member of the TWG, ensuring the proposed risk management approaches and BATs are achievable and suitable for the implementation on the UKCS. During 2018 the EU Commission commenced a review of the implementation of the Offshore Safety Directive (OSD). Oil & Gas UK was invited to represent the views of the UKCS and provide feedback on the potential inclusion of new aspects. A public consultation on the implementation of the OSD is currently underway and Oil & Gas UK is facilitating the development of an industry response. Further Consultations and Regulator Engagement The Offshore Environmental Civil Sanctions Regulations 2018 come into force on 1 October 2018. Throughout the development of the regulations and the supporting guidance document, OPRED has engaged industry via Oil & Gas UK to consult and engage with industry on the potential implications. An investigation workshop took place in November 2018, which provided further insight into the application of the regulations. Oil & Gas UK has co-ordinated industry responses to consultations which includes Merchant Shipping Regulations, Environmental Principles and Governance Bill, Climate Change (Scotland) Bill and Marine Protected Areas and continues to monitor the various regulators and advisory bodies for consultations relevant to our membership. Oil & Gas UK has also engaged with OPRED to facilitate the consultation on a number of guidance reviews including the development of the Offshore Environmental Civil Sanctions Guidance and other key guidance. On behalf of industry, Oil & Gas UK provided OPRED with two technical note proposals (data gaps and significant capacity reduction) for review and inclusion in the EU ETS guidance. An offshore inspection workshop was held in October to review previous years trends. Six focus topics were identified (F-gas, hose management, bunkering operations, OPEP, OCR and OPPC) with industry solutions identified to minimise repeat findings. These will be worked through over the coming year. This workshop also allowed for discussion on the inspection process to enable learning for both industry and the regulator. Oil & Gas UK and its members supported EOSCA in a call for data to help understand the potential discharge of microplastics in the marine environment. This data collection supported a European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) consultation on microplastics. To better understand the potential discharges a request will be made to the OIC in 2019 to change the Harmonised Offshore Chemicals Notification Format (HOCNF) registration forms to include the identification of polymers and microplastics. If successful, this change may occur during 2019–20. Legislation on the discharge of microplastics will be consulted on in 2019 with the implementing act likely to be passed in 2020. Efficiency Improvements Improving efficiency in oil and gas production is an area of important focus for the UK industry to reduce costs and improve competitiveness. Oil & Gas UK’s Environment Technical Groups and associated work groups have been standardising and simplifying approaches in several areas of environmental management.

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