Environmental Statement - Maersk Oil

Balloch Field Development Environmental Statement
Appendix A – Review of Legislation
The Secretary of State considers any representations and issues authorisation.
The PWA process addresses the requirements for DEPCON (Deposits Consent) required under the Petroleum Act 1998.
The DISCON (Discharge Consent) has now been replaced by the requirement to get a permit (with a PON 15c) under the
OCR 2002.
Model Clauses of Authorisation In the Submarine Pipeline Works Authorisation (PWA) the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change will
authorise the project to construct and to use the submarine pipelines and associated equipment, subject to a number of
terms and conditions, including;
The pipeline shall be used only for the transport of condensate, not of oil;
The pipeline shall be constructed, installed and subsequently maintained in conformity with the plans,
specifications and other information furnished by the project;
The pipeline shall be used and operated in accordance with the requirements and shall be maintained in a
proper state of repair and any damage to the pipeline shall be properly acted upon.
The project shall ensure that there is insurance cover in order to enable liability to third parties caused by the
release or escape of any of the contents of the pipelines.
The pipelines shall be installed so that they will not impede or prevent the laying of further pipelines or cables;
Those sections of the pipelines that are to be trenched shall be lowered into the subsoil as soon as practicable
following pipe laying so that wherever practicable the uppermost surface of the pipelines is below the
undisturbed level of the surrounding seabed;
If any part of these sections of the pipelines above the level of the seabed causes actual interference with
fishing or with other activities the Secretary of State may require that part of the pipelines should be lowered
below the level of the surrounding seabed by trenching;
Any parts of the said pipelines left on the seabed during the period of construction shall be covered in such a
way that they will not interfere with fishing gear;
The pipelines shall be suitably protected to ensure that they are not susceptible to third party damage;
The pipelines shall possess such negative buoyancy as may be required for them to remain stable where placed
on the sea floor;
An effective leak detection system shall be installed;
Consent shall be obtained from the placement of rock and concrete mattresses for burying, protecting or
supporting the pipeline and conditions may be attached to that consent;
No object, equipment or material of any kind which is not an integral part of the pipeline shall be disposed of at
sea or abandoned on the seabed during the construction and installation of the pipelines. Where such items
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