The EIC's paper, 'Oil Spills - Are We Ready?', argues that the 164 maritime local authorities must have a statutory obligation and funding to prepare Oil Pollution Emergency Plans (OPEPs) that are updated and harmonised with the National Contingency Plan , as is already the case with offshore oil installations, ports and harbours.

Offshore oil spills are a regular occurrence, with small spills happening every year, and spills of 10,000 tonnes or more happening on average once every three years. Recent disasters such as the Sea Empress and Brear inUK waters, and the Erika and Prestige in France and Spain, demonstrate the likelihood of such disasters and their capacity for widespread and long-lasting environmental and economic destruction. The UK, with over 10,000 miles of coastline, is at particular risk.

The extent of damage caused by oil spills, and the costs of remediation, can be reduced significantly if the response is swift, appropriate, and technically competent.

Local authorities must have a plan to enable them to rapidly assess the nature of the incident, draft in outside resources, and co-ordinate efforts on the ground. Local authorities have developed plans, but without a statutory obligation or resources there is a risk these will not be effective.

The report, therefore, calls on the Government to:

Place a statutory obligation on all maritime local authorities to produce an Oil Pollution Emergency Plan in compliance with the National Contingency Plan.

Provide funding to ensure that adequate professional expertise goes into the preparation of these OPEPs.

Require the OPEPs to be approved by the Marine and Coastguard Agency, as are the port, harbour, and offshore oil installation OPEPs.

Require regular updating of the OPEPs.

MJ Information No: 19716