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EDS calls for Resource Management Act to cover oil
EDS calls for Resource Management Act to cover oil exploration
The Environmental Defence Society has responded to the announcement that Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee will reveal today the successful bidders for oil exploration in the Raukumara Basin off East Cape, by calling for effective environmental protections to be put in place urgently.
"The lesson from the Gulf of Mexico is that oil exploration is an extremely high risk and potentially hugely damaging activity," said EDS Chairman Gary Taylor.
"BP's exploration has led to the biggest environmental catastrophe in American history with no end in sight.
"In New Zealand, outside of the 12 nautical mile limit, there is no effective environmental regulation.
"To allow oil exploration to take place in our Exclusive Economic Zone (between 12 and 200 nautical miles offshore) and Continental Shelf before measures are put in place would be reckless in the extreme.
"We are extremely concerned at the potential impact on marine mammals, seabirds and fish from an incident at an oil rig incident off East Cape. Existing oil exploration elsewhere is also of concern.
"We welcome the Prime Minister's indication that government is alert to the dangers and will be putting in place a regulatory regime that works. This has to be done promptly.
"The simplest and most effective way of doing that would be to extend the scope of the Resource Management Act beyond the present 12 nautical mile limit off the coast. It could give the new Environmental Protection Authority jurisdiction over all exploration and mining activities with it filling the role of the regional council for the purposes of the Act.
"Oil exploration should be subject to an exhaustive resource consenting process involving public hearings, assessment of environmental effects and strict monitoring and bonds for non-performance. A National Environmental Standard would add robustness to that process.
"EDS also wants to see a swift transition away from dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels to renewable so we can avoid the risks both to the marine environment and to the atmosphere," Mr Taylor concluded.
This issue is on the program for EDS's national conference Reform in Paradise which kicks off tomorrow (Wednesday) in Auckland (www.edsconference.com).
ENDS
Environmental Defence Society
EDS speaks for the environment. It has influence.
Since 1971, EDS has been driving environmental protection in Aotearoa New Zealand
through law and policy change. That's why it's one of this country's most influential non-
profit organisations when it comes to achieving better environmental outcomes.
EDS has expertise in key disciplines including law, planning, landscape and science. It
operates as a policy think-tank, a litigation advocate, and a collaborator – bringing together
the private and public sectors for constructive engagement.
EDS runs conferences and seminars on topical issues, including an annual Environmental
Summit and the Climate Change and Business Conference.
EDS is a registered charity and donations to it are tax-deductible.
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