Submission period opens on STOS marine consent application

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has today opened the submission period on a marine consent application by Shell Todd Oil Services (STOS) to continue its offshore activities in the Māui natural gas field.

The application has been publicly notified by the EPA in major daily newspapers, the Taranaki Daily News and on the EPA website.

STOS is seeking a marine consent for a term of 35 years to undertake activities relating to the extraction, production and transport of natural gas and condensate at its Māui Platform Alpha (Māui A) and Māui Platform Bravo (Māui B) and all associated structures and submarine pipelines.

The existing activities undertaken at the Māui facilities are currently covered by the provisions of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) legislation which allow for certain existing activities to continue without a marine consent for the term of their mining permit.

STOS has to apply for a marine consent to enable offshore activities to continue after the term of its mining licence expires in June this year.

The EPA Board has appointed a Decision-making Committee to determine whether or not the application should be granted. The committee is comprised of experienced decision-makers with collective expertise in environmental management, engineering and tikanga Māori.

Committee members are Alan Bickers (Chair), Gillian Wratt (EPA Board representative), Greg Shaw, Miria Pomare and Sue Powell.

Submissions on the application must be received by 5pm on 24 February 2015. Full details about the application and how to make a submission are available on the EPA website: www.epa.govt.nz/EEZ/stos

Background
The EPA forms part of an integrated regulatory regime for managing activities in New Zealand’s EEZ and Continental Shelf (CS). We are responsible for regulating the effects of certain restricted activities on the environment and existing interests in the EEZ and CS under the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012 (EEZ Act). The purpose of the EEZ Act is to promote the sustainable management of the natural resources of this area. Our role is to consider applications for marine consents, monitor compliance with the EEZ Act and any conditions on marine consents, carry out enforcement, and promote public awareness of the requirements of the EEZ Act and associated regulations.

ENDS

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