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standards for older facilities is often a very complicated and
controversial process. Such complications affect the scope and depth
of the environmental assessment process. In the absence of clear
regulatory guidelines, the operating company and environmental
assessment professional must clearly define the standards that will be
applied during the assessment. This requires the establishment of
clear company environmental policy, strategy and guidelines,
incorporating industry standards, international guidelines and any
other relevant requirements. Each company can then establish its own
environmental standards applicable within its own country of
operation and develop full and open communications with the local
and national governments. It is by these local and national standards
that the environmental performance of companies is measured. In
establishing an effective long-term environmental strategy, a
company or facility will be better positioned to set a representative
standard if it has a well established environmental assessment
programme, a full and clear knowledge of its environmental
limitations and capabilities, a solid track record of responsible
environmental protection and well established communication
channels with government and public interest groups.
11,12
Conclusions
Environmental assessments are a vital tool in effectively managing oil
and gas industry operations. They are needed to ensure that sound
and effective environmental performance is incorporated into all
aspects of operations. Integration of environmental assessments into
the company’s operating and strategic planning activities can be
critical to the long-term success of the company’s operations. The
success or failure of an environmental assessment programme can
rest on initial efforts to scope and tailor the assessment process to
meet stakeholder needs. This effort also includes ensuring that the
programme reflects the evolving company environmental culture,
typically evidenced by a shift from a ‘compliance-driven’ review
programme to a broader ‘management systems’ approach. Increasing
regulatory pressure, heightened public awareness, the changing
market and a global focus will continue to present new challenges.
An effective environmental assessment programme is absolutely
essential if companies are to continue to meet these challenges.
Companies have the choice to participate and grow or to wither and
fade in today’s demanding environment. ■
1. Liebenthal A, Michelitsch R, Tarazona E, Extractive industries and sustainable development:
an evaluation of the World Bank group’s experience, World Bank Publications, 2005.
2. Bregman JI, Edell RD, Environmental compliance handbook, Second edition, CRC Press, 2001.
3. Sheldon C, Yoxon M, Environmental Management System, 3rd edition, Earthscan, 2006.
4. Zackrisson M, Bengtsson G, Astrand C, Measuring your company’s environmental impacts &
tools for a complete ISO 14001 initial review, Earthscan, 2004.
5. American Society for Testing Materials, Standard Practice for Environmental Site
Assessment: Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Process, ASTM E1527, 2005.
6. Carter N, Wilde L, Environmental due diligence, the role of ISO 14015 in the environmental
assessment of sites and organizations, BSI Standards, 2004.
7. International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, Guidelines on reputational due diligence,
Report no. 356, OGP Publications, 2004.
8. American Petroleum Institute, Design and hazards analysis for offshore production facilities,
API Recommended Practices, 2001;14.
9. Gilpin A, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): cutting edge for the twenty-first century,
Cambridge University Press, 2006.
10. United Nation Environmental Programme, Environmental Impact Assessment Manual, 2nd
edition, Earthprint, 2002.
11. Epstein PR, Selber J, The life cycle of oil: a new report analyzes health and environmental
impacts, Energy Journal, 2002;27:4–9.
12. Nykvist B, Nilsson M, Are impact assessment procedures actually promoting sustainable
development?, Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 2009;29(1):15–24.
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