Consultation outcome

Amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment regime for offshore oil and gas projects

• From: Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Published: 24 July 2020
• Last updated: 10 December 2020 — See all updates

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Environmental Impact Assessment regime for offshore oil and gas projects: government response to consultation

PDF, 356 KB, 37 pages

Detail of outcome

The government response conclusion outlines the amendments we’ve made to the 2020 Regulations.

The 2020 Regulations will ensure full transposition of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive in respect to offshore oil and gas projects, improve the procedure for public participation and clarify aspects of the environmental assessment and consenting process.

They will also introduce new inspection, investigation and civil sanctions provisions to further enhance the EIA regulatory regime for offshore hydrocarbon projects.

The 2020 Regulations will enter into force on 31 December 2020.

Detail of feedback received

We received 13 responses to the consultation, offering comments on the proposals and specific suggestions for revising provisions within the 2020 Regulations.

Respondents included:

• developers
• industry trade associations
• statutory consultees
• non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
• other government departments / public bodies
• independent individuals

---

Original consultation

Summary

We're seeking views on draft Regulations to amend the offshore oil and gas Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regime to make the processes for challenging decisions clearer and enhance other aspects.

This consultation ran from
10:30am on 24 July 2020 to 11:45pm on 2 October 2020

Consultation description

We’re seeking views on the proposed Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Unloading and Storage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2020 which would replace the Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999.

The proposed 2020 Regulations would:

• consolidate, clarify and simplify the provisions of the 1999 Regulations
• provide a clear process for the publication and challenge of decisions
• incorporate other changes such as the inclusion of civil sanctions

An Impact Assessment is not required as the legislative amendments being introduced by the proposed 2020 Regulations would have no significant cost implications (that is, equal to or greater than £5 million a year) for the offshore oil and gas sector.

We welcome views from anyone with an interest, but in particular from:

• the offshore oil and gas industry
• industry trade associations
• nature conservation bodies
• environmental NGOs
• other government departments and agencies

See the BEIS consultation privacy notice.

Please do not send responses by post to the department as we will not be able to access them at this time.

Documents

Consultation on proposed amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment regulatory regime for offshore oil and gas exploration, production, unloading and storage projects

PDF, 532 KB, 57 pages

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

PDF, 475 KB, 27 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alt.formats@beis.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Published 24 July 2020
Last updated 10 December 2020 + show all updates

1. 10 December 2020

   Government response published.

2. 24 July 2020

   First published.