19/04/2006 - Companies
exploring for oil and gas within New Zealand's
EEZ have agreed to work according to best practice
environmental guidelines, Environment Minister
David Benson-Pope announced today.
The Ministry for the Environment
and Maritime New Zealand, together with the Petroleum
Exploration and Production Association of New
Zealand (PEPANZ), have completed best practice
environmental guidelines for offshore petroleum
activities in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic
Zone. This is the area from 12 to 200 nautical
miles offshore.
“We want to protect the marine
environment but allow for responsible exploration
of New Zealand’s petroleum resources at the same
time," said David Benson-Pope. "These
voluntary guidelines are a first step to protecting
this remote territory.”
At the moment, companies do
not have to assess and manage environmental effects
before they undertake development activities in
the Exclusive Economic Zone as comprehensively
as under the Resource Management Act. The Government
is currently working on an Oceans Policy that
will address this. Until then, the voluntary guidelines
provide offshore petroleum companies with environmental
best practice.
Mike Patrick, Executive Officer
of PEPANZ, said the industry is supportive of
the guidelines: "Our members always want
to minimise the environmental impacts of their
work. PEPANZ has played a major role in formulating
these guidelines and we are very supportive of
their use.
"We are keen to play a
further role in the Oceans Policy that Government
is now working on. We are also eagerly awaiting
the introduction of the Marine Protection Rule
200 that will set standards for the discharge
of pollutants from petroleum production installations,"
said Dr Patrick.
Environmental Best Practice
Guidelines for the Offshore Petroleum Industry
are available on www.mfe.govt.nz, www.maritimenz.govt.nz.
and www.pepanz.org.
Fact Sheet: The Environmental
Best Practice Guidelines for the Offshore Petroleum
Industry
The Environmental Best Practice
Guidelines for the Offshore Petroleum Industry:
are a result of joint industry
and government efforts
provide clarity on what activities
are currently regulated and what activities are
voluntary
provide a list of environmental
principles for the industry to be guided by when
undertaking exploration, development and production
activities
provide a list of parties who
should be consulted prior to undertaking activities
advise on what should be covered
or taken into account in environmental assessments,
environmental management plans, monitoring and
reporting and employee/contractor training.
The Exclusive Economic Zone
The area offshore of New Zealand from 12 to 200
nautical miles is called our Exclusive Economic
Zone. This area is about 15 times the size of
our land mass. It not only provides a habitat
for sea creatures, it also holds significant economic
opportunities, such as fishing, petroleum mining
and shipping.
Oil field developments within
the 12-mile limit are controlled under the environmental
management provisions of the Resource Management
Act.
Marine Protection Rule
200
The Marine Protection Rule 200 will introduce
a discharge management plan (a form of environmental
management plan), which must be approved for all
offshore installations. It is designed to promote
the application of ‘best practicable option’ to
prevent or minimise adverse effects on the environment
due to the discharge of pollutants.
