WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2018

An independent decision-making committee, acting on behalf of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), has granted OMV New Zealand’s (OMV) application for a marine discharge consent.

The application was seeking consent to discharge trace amounts of harmful substances through the deck drains of mobile offshore drilling unit(s) as part of an exploration drilling programme in offshore Taranaki.

The decision-making committee granted the decision after holding a public hearing in New Plymouth in September. They found that any potential adverse effects on the environment from the discharge of trace amounts of harmful substances will be negligible.

They also found that the effect on commercial fishing activities will be minimal and all of the proposed operational procedures, mitigation measures and conditions will ensure that the biological diversity of marine species and ecosystems in offshore Taranaki will be protected.

General Manager of the EPA’s Climate, Land & Oceans Group, Siobhan Quayle says, now that we have a decision, pending any appeal, the EPA’s compliance team will take over the role of monitoring OMV’s activities to ensure they abide to the conditions of the consent.

The duration of the discharge consent aligns with MBIE permit well commitments.

A copy of the full decision is available here.

ends

© Scoop Media