DISPOSAL OF DISUSED NORTH SEA OIL AND GAS PLATFORMS

Early day motion 1470, tabled 29 June 1998 by Robert Smith (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 52 members.

That this House welcomes the Government's commitment to protecting the marine environment but notes with concern the UK negotiating position for the OSPAR Ministerial Conference in Lisbon on 20th to 24th July, which would allow dumping at sea of all steel disused offshore installations in more than 75 metres of water or where the substructure weighs more than 4000 tones, amounting to 123 steel installations in the OSPAR region; notes that engineering experts IPLOCA have said 'there is no cost, safety, environmental, or technical reason to hinder total removal of all North Sea platforms...platform removal can be accomplished with existing resources in a safe, environmentally sound and cost effective way'; notes that Aker Maritime, having removed the 7700 tonne Odin installation in 103 meters of water, produced to OSPAR Heads of Delegation a report saying 'there are no technical or safety reasons for saying that structures sitting in more than 75 metres of water or where the substructure weighs more than 4000 tonnes, should be left in place or toppled to form a rubbish dump'; notes that amongst OSPAR signatories the UK position is only supported by Norway, but opposed by 11 other countries and the EC Commission and urges the Government to support the vast majority of Member States who are calling for a ban on the dumping at sea for all existing steel installations in order to bring them to land and reuse or recycle them, and for all future steel and concrete installations, in accordance with generally agreed waste management policy.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 25, Labour 20, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 2, Conservative 1, UUP 1.