In Australia, NOPSEMA to review first case under new authority
March 3, 2014
The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) of Australiawill review the application for an oil exploration projectoff South Australia's Kangaroo Island as one of its first cases since it was granted authority in February to approve offshore oil and gas projects.
Offshore staff
SYDNEY, Australia– The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) of Australiawill review the application for an oil exploration projectoff South Australia's Kangaroo Island as one of the government agency’s first cases since it was granted in February the authority to approve offshore oil and gas projects.
With this new approval system in effect, Bight Petroleum is again seeking approval to conduct seismic testing in a 3,000-sq-km (1,158-sq-mi) area between Kangaroo Island and the Eyre Peninsula. The company had not yet received approval for the project under the old system, so it is now pursuing permissions under the new amended regulations.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare is campaigning against the proposed seismic surveys, arguing that they pose a threat to whale populations in the test area. In the past, Bight Petroleum has denied that the tests pose any risk to marine life.
