PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) has published a draft guideline on consultation to prepare an environment plan, following an in-person and virtual stakeholder briefing in Perth.
NOPSEMA was tasked by Resources Minister Madeleine King to provide improved guidance to the oil and gas industry on consultation requirements following the Federal Court judgement in relation to the Barossa offshore gas development.
Oil and gas major Santos lost an appeal in the Full Federal Court against a September decision by the Federal Court to set aside the acceptance by NOPSEMA of an environmental plan covering the drilling and completion activities in relation to the Barossa gas project.
The Federal Court’s decision was based on a finding that NOPSEMA could not be lawfully satisfied that the drilling environment plan met the criteria required by the regulations and in particular failed to assess whether the drilling environment plan demonstrated that Santos consulted with each person that it was required by the regulations to consult with.
NOPSEMA has called for feedback on its guidelines, with the consultation period to close on March 15, after which the guidelines will be finalised and published.