Environmental Assessment Guidelines for Oil and Gas ...

1 Kojo Agbenor-Efunam Principal Programme Officer Oil and Gas OR Environmental Assessment Guidelines for Oil and Gas Development in Ghana Ebenezer Appah-Sampong Chief Programme Officer PPME & SCOPE OF PRESENTATION Introduction Environmental Policy & EIA Relevant Environmental laws and Guidelines Environmental Assessment Procedures and Oil and Gas Development Conclusions & Way foward Introduction Formal EIA system Established 1994 Components were Policy Framework Legislative Instruments Administrative Procedures Institutional Capacities and Responsibilities Public Consultation Three Different stages Foundation stage procedures, legal regime Consolidation stage capacity building, decentralization , Guidelines development Maturity Stage application to complex projects, ICT, SEA, experience sharing National Environmental Policy 1991 NEP formulated to provide the framework for the implementation of NEAP ultimate aim to improve the surroundings, living conditions and the quality of life of the entire citizenry, both present and future.

2 Policy seeks to ensure reconciliation between economic development and natural resource conservation - to make a high quality environment a key element supporting the country s economic and social development. The National Environmental Policy puts emphasis on prevention and sustainable development. National Environmental Policy Objectives integrate Environmental considerations in sectoral, structural and socio-economic planning at the national, regional, district and grassroots levels guide development in accordance with quality requirements to prevent, reduce, and as far as possible, eliminate pollution and nuisances National Environmental Policy Principles use of incentives in addition to regulatory measures use of most cost-effective means to achieve Environmental objective delegation of decision-making and action to the most appropriate level of government polluter pays for the cost of preventing and eliminating pollution and nuisances caused by him public participation in Environmental decision-making international co-operation.

3 National Environmental Policy & EIA institute and implement an Environmental quality control programme by requiring prior Environmental impact assessments of all new investments that would be deemed to affect the quality of the environment Environmental Protection Agency Act 1994, Act 490 (parts 1&II) Environmental Assessment Regulations 1999, LI 1652 Legal Backing for Environmental Assessment EPA Act 1994, 490 Part 1 Establishment of the Agency 12. Environmental impact Assessment . Environmental Quality Guidelines Noise Effluent Discharge Quality Oil and Gas Waste Management Guidelines Health Care Waste Management Guidelines Ambient Air Quality Installation and operation of communication base stations Installation and operation of LPG Refilling Plants Institutional Arrangements EPA is the lead Agency in Ghana for Environmental Assessment matters Environmental Assessment and Audit Dept Relevant Sectoral Departments-Petroleum, Mining, Natural Resources, etc Other Regulatory institutions Scope of Environmental Assessment Application Undertakings listed in schedules 1 and 2 Undertakings located in environmentally sensitive areas All sectors are covered EPA s opinion Integrated definition of Environment.

4 Biophysical, social, institutional, public health issues EA Procedures Registration Screening Scoping EIA Study EIS Review Decision Making SCREENING 25 WD INSPECTION PER REVIEW DECISION DRAFT EIS REVIEW (Committee) 50 WD EIS FINALISED DRAFT EIS SUBMISSION SUBMISSION OF EA APPLICATION (Registration Form) EIA STUDY SCOPING (Terms of Reference) EP DECLINED EP ISSUED 15 WD EP ISSUED EP DECLINED EIS REVISION PUBLIC HEARING (Panel) EIA - Environmental IMPACT ASSESSMNET EA - Environmental Assessment EIS - Environmental IMPACT STATEMENT EP - Environmental PERMIT PER - PRELIMINARY Environmental REPORT PEA - PRELIMINARY Environmental Assessment PH - PUBLIC HEARING WD - WORKING DAYS REQUIRED FOR REVIEW Proponent Action EPA Action Public EIA Required EP ISSUED EP DECLINED PEA Required Revision Required Revision Required Approval Recommended Approval Recommended No EIA Required Public Hearing Required PER SUBMISSION PUBLIC HEARING (Panel)

5 ADMINISTRATIVE FLOW CHART OF THE EA PROCEDURE EIA Processes - Screening Schedule 1 Initial Assessment Schedule 2 Mandatory EIA Schedule 5 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Screening Decisions Initial Assessment Preliminary Environmental Assessment Environmental Impact Assessment Strategic Environmental Assessment Policies, Plans and Programmes Oil and Gas Proposals Schedule 1 Establishment of petroleum products storage facilities Crude oil and natural gas production facilities Oil and Gas Proposals Schedule 2 oil and gas fields development; construction of off-shore and on-shore pipelines; construction of oil and gas separation, processing, handling and storage facilities. d. construction of oil refineries; construction of product depots for the storage of petrol, gas or diesel which are located within 3 kilometers of any commercial, industrial or residential areas. Levels of Assessment for Offshore Upstream Activities Registration Surveys Preliminary Environmental Assessment Drilling of Wells Full EIA Petroleum Production Full EIA Construction of off-shore and on-shore pipelines Decommissioning/Abandonment Plan Decommissioning and Abandonment Scoping Extensive Consultation Processes Secondary and Primary Data Collection Identification of key issues Scoping Ghanaian Context Notice to be issued by the proponent to Relevant ministries, depts.

6 , Assemblies Advertise in at lest one national newspaper & local newspaper (if any) Scoping reports to be made available in the locality for inspection by general public EPA examines scoping report and comments within 25 working days Outputs of Scoping Scoping Report Draft Terms of Reference -Specific Guidelines on impacts to be studied, how they are to be measured, evaluated and presented in the EIS Key Issues Relevant baseline data to be generated Comprehensive Consultee Lists EIA Study for Oil and Gas Projects Based on approved TOR. Baseline survey and inventory, Development proposal options, Detailed description of the project Potential impact identification, prediction, Mitigation and alternative considerations Monitoring Plan Environmental Management Plan and Other requirements of the TOR. Initiate a public information programme EIS The findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment are compiled into an Environmental Impact Statement Draft EIS Revised EIS Final EIS EIS Review Technical Review Public Review Review Decisions Environmental Permitting Decision (EPD) Issuance of an Environmental Permit with conditions such as.

7 Submit Annual Environmental Reports every 12 months Submit Environmental Management Plans within 18 months of issuance of permit and revised every three years Submit periodic monitoring reports (frequency to be specified) Give notice of commencement of operation of the undertaking and Obtain Environment Certificate within 24 months of satisfactory operations and compliance with Environmental permitting conditions Oil & Gas Experiences Full test of the system (EIA) West African Gas Pipeline 2004 Jubilee Field Development and Management - 2008 Gas Utilization Project Oil Services Terminal Development Surveys & Exploration (IA & PER) Servicing Activities Some Challenges and Lessons Innovative & Extensive Consultations Required at all stages National and International Capacities for Review Need for comprehensive sector specific Guidelines and standards led to the development of the oil and gas Guidelines for the offshore.

8 Inter-sectoral Guidelines Management of public processes and expectations and competing interest Setting of permitting conditions Follow-up mechanisms Confidence and technical competence Way Forward Deepen public consultation processes Build national technical capacity Develop additional Guidelines and standards Develop further legislations Develop monitoring capacity Deepen international cooperation and collaboration Improve institutional collaboration THANK YOU MORE INFORMATION @