’ [31] Annex III of the OSPAR Convention was also amended to ena

’ [31]. Annex III of the OSPAR Convention was also amended to enable, on the same conditions set out in Annex II, the dumping of CO2 streams from offshore installations. The EU CCS Directive establishes a detailed legal framework for the environmentally safe storage of CO2 both onshore and offshore. The UK has implemented (‘transposed’) the Directive׳s

provisions by modifying its pre-existing petroleum legislation and associated regulatory policies [32]. Existing UK legal and policy frameworks that impact on offshore CO2 storage and planning for such activities fall into four broad clusters, which are discussed below: This legislation was developed in order to consolidate regulation and AZD2281 order planning of marine activities in UK waters, and implement in a marine context the UK Government׳s commitment to sustainable development [33],

[34], [35], [36] and [37]. The Act׳s core provisions relate to: establishment of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) (Part 1); designation of certain maritime zones (Part 2); marine planning and licensing (Parts 3 and 4); nature conservation including the designation of marine conservation zones (Part 5); inshore and offshore fisheries management (Parts 6 and 7); law enforcement (Part 8); and recreational coastal access (Part 9). The foundation of the Act׳s marine planning and licensing framework is a ‘Marine Policy Statement’, in which the UK Government and other participating government bodies publish general policies ‘for contributing to the achievement of sustainable development’ in UK waters [38]. The current (and first) Marine Policy Statement buy PD0332991 was published in March 2011 and Staurosporine manufacturer was prepared jointly by the UK Government, Northern Ireland

Executive, Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government [39]. The statement contains several paragraphs that highlight the importance of offshore CO2 storage, and planning for such activities, as means of implementing the UK׳s legal and policy commitments concerning climate change mitigation [40]. The MCAA subdivides UK waters into eight ‘marine planning regions’ which correspond to the inshore and offshore regions of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales [41]. The Act does not establish a planning framework for the inshore regions of Northern Ireland and Scotland, reflecting a devolution of legislative responsibility to those constituent countries [42]. For each of the remaining six planning regions (or parts thereof), the Act provides for the preparation of a ‘Marine Plan’ by designated government bodies [43]. The list of designated bodies includes the MMO, which operates autonomously from the UK Government, but is required to comply with directions issued under with MCAA section 37 by the Secretary of State (i.e. cabinet minister) in charge of the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

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