Welcome to the Oil and Gas UK Environmental Legislation Website. The aim of this site is to provide access to information on statutory environmental requirements for offshore and onshore upstream oil and gas operations. The website provides guidance on consent applications, statutory limits for discharges and emissions, and what statutory and industry reporting mechanisms are in place. Guidance is also given on consent renewal, variation and what to do in the event of non-compliance.

The website is maintained and updated on a quarterly basis to ensure the information provided is accurate and up to date (see How to Use Site for more information). Latest News and Ongoing Consultations is updated more frequently as required.

The contents of the site is driven by the users, and if anyone has suggestions for additional topics or summary tables please contact us. In addition any feedback on broken links, errors or general tidbits for inclusions will be welcomed.

Crown material has been reproduced with the permission of the controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. The material available in this guide is designed to provide general information only. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, it does not constitute legal or other professional advice. Content of this site must not be used for re-sale.

Latest News and Ongoing Consultations

29 October 2008 - Site wide update undertaken, see News for details of key updates.

28 October 2008 - DECC has launched a consultation on the proposals for carbon accounting in the UK under the Climate Change Bill. Closing date for responses 19 January 2009.

22 October 2008 - DECC has issued draft Guidance for industry comment on Oil Pollution Emergency Plans (OPEP) and Emergency Pollution Plans (EPP) under the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation Convention) Regulations 1998 and the Offshore Installations (Emergency Pollution Control) Regulations 2002 respectively. Closing date for responses 13 January 2009.

20 October 2008 - DECC has issued draft guidance for offshore oil / gas industry on the EU Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) Regulation 2037/2000 and the EU Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (F-Gases) Regulation 842/2006.

7 October 2008 - Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) launched. The Department brings together much of the Climate Change Group, previously housed within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), with the Energy Group from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).

15 September 2008 - MCA launched a consultations on the draft Merchant Shipping (Anti-Fouling Systems) Regulations 2008. Closing date for responses 15 December 2008

14 September 2008 - Environment Agency has launched a consultation on new and revised sets of standard rules and generic risk assessments that will be available next year under the Environmental Permitting (EP) Regulations 2007. The rules sets concern waste operations and some low risk installations under the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive. Closing date for responses 14 November 2008.

12 September 2008 - Environment Agency consult on proposed charges for 2009/2010. Closing date for responses 5 December 2008.

24 June 2008 - Adapting Our Ways: Managing Scotland's Climate Risk: Consultation to inform Scotland's Climate Change Adaptation Framework. Closing date for responses to Scottish Government 31 October 2008.