UK oil spill treatment review begins
The MMO is tasked with approving treatment products (including dispersants) that ensure the impact of a pollution incident is minimised.
A six week consultation on how to treat oil spills was launched in the UK on the 15th of this month.
Representatives from across industry, government and the environmental sector have been urged to have their say as part of the Oil Spill Treatment Product Approval Scheme review led by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is the national champion of sustainable development in the marine and coastal area, and regulates the use of the seas around England. It was established in 2010 under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 to deliver the UK government's vision for clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.
Oil spills can be extremely damaging to sensitive marine and coastal environments, and it is important that the response to these doesn’t cause more damage than the oil itself. The MMO is tasked with approving treatment products (including dispersants) that ensure the impact of a pollution incident is minimised.
The consultation is the main stage in the review, which will assess whether the current approval scheme is fit for purpose. The review is expected to be completed by April 2011.
The MMO’s Marine Pollution Response Manager, Nick Greenwood, said, ‘This will ensure that the approval scheme is kept up to date with the new National Contingency Plan and ongoing work by oil and gas review groups.
‘The Gulf of Mexico incident in particular has raised new questions over the use of dispersants, and we want to make sure our scheme benefits from the latest evidence and experience.
‘To ensure the review takes in all the relevant issues, I would like to hear from anyone with an interest in this area, and welcome suggestions on any information we should consider.’
All responses will be treated in confidence, and should be sent to oilspillapprovalreview2011@marinemanagement.org.uk
More information can be found at www.marinemanagement.org.uk/protecting/pollution/review.htm
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