Oil and gas: OPRED communications
Published communications issued to stakeholders relating to regulation of environmental and decommissioning activity for UK offshore oil and gas operations.
Documents
Details
OPRED communications issued to stakeholders in order to raise awareness of any pertinent information relating to the regulation of environmental and decommissioning activity for offshore oil and gas operations in the UK will be published here going forward
Updates to this page
Last updated 11 November 2024 + show all updates
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UK ETS Baseline Data Collection process overview. Between 1 April to 30 June 2025, all installation operators within scope of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) are required to submit data to their regulator ahead of the next allocation period. This data collection period is also used as the application window for free allocation and for Hospital or small emitter (HSE) and Ultra-small emitter (USE) status. The baseline data collection is an essential part of the free allocation application, and failure to submit this report by the deadline will result in an operator not receiving free allocation at any point during the second allocation period. It is essential that applicants for HSE or USE status submit all data required to apply to join these lists for the 2026-2030 period in this window. Your regulator has sent more detailed instructions to operators via email. Please check this communication and if you have any questions after reading this information, please direct these to your regulator. This information is also available on gov.uk: guidance on participating in the UK ETS. The UK ETS Authority and scheme regulators will share regular updates on the data collection process over the coming months.
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Consultation on draft supplementary guidance for assessing the effects of scope 3 emissions on climate from offshore oil and gas projects – now live!
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UK ETS Update - The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2024. Industry alert.
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Inspection of Local Aids to Navigation by Trinity House, Merchant Shipping Act, 1995, Section 198(1)
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Request for information of Trained Oil Spill Response Personnel During 2023
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To whom it may concern, In February/ March 2024 the UK ETS Authority ('the Authority') consulted on proposals to make several amendments to scheme civil penalties. Please see attached the Authority Response to this consultation, including an intention to legislate for changes before 1 January 2025. Kind regards, The UK ETS Authority
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Consultation on moving the UK ETS Second Free Allocation Period uploaded. Following the consultation on free allocation rules in December 2023, the UK ETS Authority is seeking views from operators on a proposal to move the start of the second allocation period from 2026 to 2027 and extending the current allocation period to include 2026. See attached for details. This consultation is open until 23:59 on Friday 11 October. Please send responses to ukets.consultationresponses@energysecurity.gov.uk. The UK ETS Authority is also holding a webinar to explain the proposals and take questions on 2 October. To register and attend the webinar or receive a recording contact: emissions.trading@energysecurity.gov.uk.
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The UK ETS Authority ('the Authority') is consulting on three proposals relating to (1) the publication of historical UK ETS Registry transaction data; (2) the disclosure by national authorities of information held or obtained under five pieces of UK ETS legislation ('UK ETS information'); and (3) criteria for eligibility for ultra-small emitter (USE) status in the allocation period 2026-2030. The first of these proposals would require the Authority to publish reports containing the details of transactions made in the UK ETS Registry, three years in arrears, in line with the policy intent as stated in 'The Future of UK Carbon Pricing' (2019). The second proposal would create an additional exemption to the restriction on disclosure of UK ETS information under article 75B of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2020, such that a national authority would be permitted to disclose information for specific purposes including the development of policy for a limited number of specific purposes related to climate change, and to support the Committee on Climate Change in performing its statutory functions. The third proposal would introduce new criteria governing applications for USE status, such that it would be possible for operators which started operations in 2021, 2022 or 2023 to apply to be classed as a USE during the allocation period 2026-2030. The attached consultation document sets out more detail on these proposals, and asks questions relating to each. The Authority is seeking responses from the groups listed in the consultation document, including operators, account holders, and trade associations. Responses should be sent to ukets.consultationresponses@energysecurity.gov.uk by 15 October 2024. Kind regards, The UK ETS Authority
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Website issues notification to public
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Annual Well Intervention and Production Applications: a reminder to Industry
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Statement on the implications of the Finch Supreme Court judgment for Environmental Impact Assessments
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Call for upcoming impulsive noise activites in the SNS SAC in 2025
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IRS submission issues now resolved
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Notification of issue using the IRS
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Announcement of OPRED Interim Director and new Deputy Director
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Notification of Marine Licence Application to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO); Rocket launch from within the German EEZ adjacent to UK waters in the Central North Sea.
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METS – New MMP process for approval
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Updated - Portal Environmental Tracking System (PETS) Applications - 22/05/2024
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Portal Environmental Tracking System (PETS) Applications - 21/05/2024
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Request for EMS annual public statements
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Communication about Marine Licence returns in EEMS
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Notes to industry on Geological Survey Notification Guidance and the new seismic, explosive and piling close-out reporting process.
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draft version of IRS Guidance, which was originally uploaded to facilitate consultation, removed to prevent the inadvertent use of the document' Current version can be found on the Oil and gas: environmental alerts and incident reporting including anonymous reporting page
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OPRED Easter Bank Holiday closure
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METS AER submission deadline - OPRED notification of easter closure
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The UK ETS Authority is seeking views on four amendments to existing civil penalties within the scheme, to ensure civil penalty values are comparable to penalties of a similar nature and are proportionate to the type of breach. The first amendment will enable regulators to apply a consistent punitive element across the 3 penalties within the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2020 (the Order), which relate to the breach of operating without a penalty. These three penalties are Articles 50, 57 and 60 of the Order. On 6th October 2023, Directions came into force for Articles 50 and 60 of the Order. Included within both was a consistent approach to the punitive element regulators may impose as part of those civil penalties, which we are proposing to introduce for Article 57. The second amendment will enable Regulators to apply a more proportionate approach for penalties related to under-reporting discovered after submission of an annual emissions report within the Order. The proposal will amend the penalty given to hospitals and small emitters in Article 56, to a more proportionate calculation when compared with penalties given to main UK ETS participants under Article 52 (4) of the Order. The third amendment will ensure that the inflation factor included within penalties given under Article 52, Article 53 and the proposed penalty in Article 56 of the Order will be correctly applied and that the appropriate and most fair rate of inflation is used in its calculation. The final amendment will amend Article 53 of the Order, so that when the deficit notice penalty is introduced under-surrender penalties will align whether the under-surrender is discovered before or after a permit transfer. If you have any feedback, please respond at emissions.trading@energysecurity.gov.uk by 08/03/2024.
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OPRED communication from UK ETS Authority for change to application window for second allocation period.
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OPRED communication for reporting 2023 data gaps in annual emissions reports within METS
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Communication on behalf of the UK ETS Authority consultation publication on market and free allocation policies.
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Addition of OSPAR ANNUAL REPORTING ON THE PHASE-OUT OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES letter
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Inspection of Local Aids to Navigation, Merchant Shipping Act, 1995, Section 198(1)
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Advice to industry on Consent to Locate condition issued
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Offshore Combustion Installations (PPC) Regulations PIR Survey issued
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Addition of Habitats Regulations PIR Survey
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UK ETS Authority communication on delayed submission of baseline data reports
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Addition of letter - "Details on upcoming noisy activities in the Southern North Sea 2024"
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Reminder of Well Intervention Application (WIA) annual 2024 chemical permits process and to update Production Operations (PRA) chemical permits to include 2024 chemical use and discharge data.
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OCR Post Implementation Review Survey 2023 Issued
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PETS PPC SAT changes note – Issued 18/09/2023
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Upload of MCP Permit Application Letter to Industry – Issued 15/09/2023
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Publication of The Offshore Environmental Civil Sanctions Regulations 2018 – Post Implementation Review Survey 2023.
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PPC Guidance Letter to Industry Added
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Request for information of Trained Oil Spill Response Personnel During 2022
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UK ETS ETSWAP to METS migration and transition third update
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Migration from ETSWAP to METS (Manage your UK Emissions Trading Scheme Reporting Service) - Go Live 31st July 2023 - upload letter
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The Works Detrimental to Navigation (Powers and Duties of Inspectors) Regulations 2018 Post Implementation Review Survey 2023 - Issued 26/07/2023
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OPPC Post Implementation Review Survey 2023 - Issued 17/07/2023 - file attachment updated
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OPPC Post Implementation Review Survey 2023
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UK ETS ETSWAP to METS migration and transition update
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Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) communication. Update with Phase 3 implementation changes and delayed compliance deadline.
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Update - BST Inbox - new address
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OPRED change of email address
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Publish note - Changes to OPRED email address
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Communication regarding IT and inbox issues within OPRED Business Support Team (bst@beis.gov.uk)
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Change to on call Met office availability.
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EMS Annual Public Statement notice
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OPRED communication to industry regarding Maritime Safety Information (MSI) to mariners via Navtex
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UK ETS ETSWAP to METS migration and transition update
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Communication on behalf of the UK ETS Authority on launch of METS, the ESTWAP replacement.
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Details on upcoming noisy activities in the Southern North Sea 2023 published
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ETSWAP Maintenance - update
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Trinity House notification of intention to inspect aids to navigation added
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Notification of Inspection of Local Aids to Navigation, Merchant Shipping Act, 1995, Section 198(1
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Addition of 2022 OSPAR Annual Reporting on the Phase-Out of Hazardous Substances Request.
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Licensee Liability Update Letter uploaded
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Stakeholder Alert – UK ETS Authority publishes response to registry data publication consultation.
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Changes to access - ETSWAP user password policy and security questions
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Activity Level Changes – COVID-19 communication from the UK ETS Authority
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Reminder of Well Intervention Application (WIA) annual 2023 chemical permits process and to update Production Operations (PRA) chemical permits to include 2023 chemical use and discharge data.
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The following is a message from the UK ETS Authority on change to the PMRV launch plan.
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UK ETS update and ETSWAP to PMRV migration August 2022
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PPC Monitoring Guidance Letter to Industry added
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Government Response to the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS).
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PPC Emissions monitoring plan – Letter to industry 29.07.2022
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REMINDER for Information of Trained Oil Spill Response Personnel during 2020 - Issued 12/07/2022
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Energy Security Bill Introduction - BEIS Secretary of State Letter to Stakeholders
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Consultation published on behalf of the UK ETS Authority (made up of the UK Government and Devolved Administrations) relating to the publication of data on the UK ETS Registry and additional scheme date. Please find attached the consultation text outlining the UK ETS Authority’s proposals and accompanying questions. Please respond by 24 July. All responses should be sent to emissions.trading@beis.gov.uk.
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UK ETS update - Migration from ETSWAP to the new permitting, monitoring, reporting and verification (PMRV) system for operators
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Request for Information of Trained Oil Spill Response Personnel during 2021 Template return spreadsheet for infomration of Trained Oil Spill Response Personnel During 2021 request
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Uploaded Withdrawal of OPRED incident notification telephone number – 01224 254058
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Communications for OPRED Pollution Emergency Response uploaded
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Reminder for EMS Annual Public Statement
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Addition of IRS Enhancements April 2022
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EMS Annual Public Statement 2022
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Addition of notification advising The UK ETS Authority – made up of the UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland who jointly run the scheme – has published a consultation on developing the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS).
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Addition of communication confirming OPRED Website Issues now resolved
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Addition of communication regarding OPRED Website Issues
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Update to OPPC Guidance and Standard Industry Conditions as a result of clarification on reporting requirements for Miscellaneous discharge streams plus update to webpage
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Addition of 'Details on upcoming noisy activities in the Southern North Sea' communication
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Addition of 'UK ETS general update from OPRED' communication
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Reminder - Cessation of Out of Hours Permitting Function.
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Addition of 'Reminder - Updating PON1s in legacy ePON1 system – Function to be withdrawn' communication
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Addition of 'Announcement of OPRED Chief Executive and Executive Director' communication and Tom Child and Wendy Kennedy's biographies to accompany this communication
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Addition of communication on 'The Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Unloading and Storage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2020'
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Addition of Inspection of Local Aids to Navigation, Merchant Shipping Act, 1995, Section 198(1) communication
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The EU and UK are cutting the availability of HFC’s by 79% between 2015 and 2030. OPRED would like to make Operators aware of the following ban which will be imposed from 1 January 2022.
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Updating PON1s in legacy ePON1 system – Function to be withdrawn
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Addition of Cessation of Out of Hours Permitting Function communication
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Addition of Annual Chemical Permit Reminder
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Cessation of out of hours permitting function
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The notification provides details about the recent publication of Defra's revised UK Plan for Shipments of Waste and the Government Response to the consultation on the UK Plan
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OPEP Guidance Publication Comms.
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Addition of OPRED response to PON1, OPPC, IRS Consultation - OGUK response document and Reminder of IRS go live date
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IRS - General Guidance, Enhanced/Additional Features and Managing Distribution Lists Added.
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Energy Portal - Integrated Reporting System (IRS) – Action Required, populating IRS Teams - Issued 25/08/2021
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OPRED Communications - Energy Portal inactive OPRED applications note.
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Addition of 'Offshore Chemicals Regulations 2002 and the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) Regulations 2005' communication
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Verifier site visits update post Covid 19 published on Communications page.
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Defra Consultation on amending the Civil Procedure Rules to establish environmental review
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Defra Consultation on Best Practice Guidance for developing compensatory measures in relation to Marine Protected Areas published.
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BEIS Consultation on reforming the framework for better regulation published. Offshore EIA Regulations Communication – Consent for Projects published.
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Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme Public Consultation. Register your interest to join a stakeholder event by 12 July.
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Addition of PETS PPC SAT changes note
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PON1, OPPC and Integrated Reporting Service Guidance Consultations published.
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Addition of Reminder for Information of Trained Oil Spill Response Personnel during 2020
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Reminder for EMS Annual Public Statements uploaded
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UK ETS Authority publishes the free allocation table for 2021-2025 allocation period.
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BEIS-OPRED NOTIFICATION TO STAKEHOLDERS - Scottish Government Consultation on a proposed UK Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy.
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Addition of 'Request for information of Trained Oil Spill Response Personnel during 2020' and 'Template return spreadsheet for information of Trained Oil Spill Response Personnel during 2020 request'
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OPEP Variation function in CAP - Communication to Industry 20 April 2021
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Addition of request for EMS Annual Public Statements
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OPRED communications page has been updated to include communication on advice notes related to the protection of wild birds in UK offshore waters.
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Addition of 'Energy Portal - Integrated Reporting System (IRS) – Action Required' communication
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Addition of 'Evaluation of Offshore Safety Directive Regulator (OSDR)' communication
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Addition of 'Regulating Offshore oil and gas Installations during Coronavirus (Covid-19) Outbreak – Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning’s return to offshore inspection activity' update
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OPRED UK ETS Update
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Oil and gas: OPRED communications page has been updated to include communication on the protection of wild birds in UK offshore waters.
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Defra consultation on the ‘Updating of the UK Plan for Shipments of Waste'.
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Mercury Regulations & TFSW Regulations - Notification to Offshore Operators
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Addition of 'Regulating Offshore oil and gas Installations during Coronavirus (Covid-19) Outbreak. UK and Scottish Government 04 January 2021 announcement of change to lockdown measures - update 07 January 2021'
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Update on EU ETS transition to a UK ETS.
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The Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Unloading and Storage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2020 - Transitional Provisions & PETS Changes
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RBA Programme Update added
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Notification to Stakeholder regarding The Offshore Oil and Gas (EIA) Regulations (2020)
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Informal Consultation of the UK ETS Civil Penalties Guidance Document and OPRED Notification to the Oil and Gas Industry UKETS Civil Penalties Guidance
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UK Energy Portal will be unavailable from 6pm on Friday 27th November until 9am on Monday 30th November for extended maintenance.
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OSPAR Annual Reporting on the Phase-out of Hazardous Substances - Issued 23/11/2020
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Potential Met Office telephone system outage - Saturday 21st November
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PRA 2021 chemical data and Annual WIA permits
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OPRED EU ETS Transition update Operator Requirements October 2020
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Regulating Offshore oil and gas Installations during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Outbreak – Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning’s return to offshore inspection activity
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Addition of Reminder for Information of Trained Oil Spill Response Personnel during 2019
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Offshore EIA Regulations 2020
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Proposed Offshore Chemicals and the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 Consultation
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Addition of EIA Pre-consultation Engagement document
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OPRED position published on offshore site visits by verifiers during the Coronavirus Outbreak 2020.
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Addition of 'Request for information of Trained Oil Spill Response Personnel during 2019' and template return spreadsheet
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Publication of Guidance for assessing the significance of noise disturbance against Conservation Objectives of harbour porpoise SACs
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Future of UK carbon pricing consultation response
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Addition of reminders for EMS Annual Statement and Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Returns
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Covid19 Update
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Addition of Request for Mercury Regulations Returns and corresponding reporting form
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Addition of 'EIA Regulations - Coronavirus Amendment' notification
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Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Return communication updated and return form added
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Addition of 'Request for Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Return'
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Addition of Covid19 Position Update
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Addition of Request for EMS Annual Public Statement
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New communication added
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New communication added
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Addition of new communication
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Addition of 'The Impacts of Covid-19' communications
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New communication added
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Addition of notification
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New communication added
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New communication added
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Addition of Noise Guidance Consultation Notification
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First published.