ELIZABETH II

Oil Spill Safety and Recovery Act 2021

2021 CHAPTER 18

An act to improve safety on offshore oil rigs and provide economic aid to those affected by spills.
Bill ID B079
Author(s) The Rt Hon Reverend Sir George Vere OOBC PC MP
Amended by N/A
First reading 2021 May 23
Royal assent 2021 July 11
Commencement 2021 July 11
Affected legislation N/A

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

1 Safety

  1. The Department of Department for the Environment, Energy, and Climate Change shall double the number of inspectors involved in inspecting offshore oil rigs, with the Department being empowered to hire the people necessary to accomplish this provided all hires meet the department's qualifications.
  2. All offshore oil rigs in UK waters must be inspected at least three times per year. In addition, the period between an oil rig's inspections must be two months or longer.
  3. Private boating shall be prohibited within five miles of an offshore oil rig, unless granted permission by the Department for the Environment, Energy, and Climate Change.

2 Economic recovery

  1. HM's Treasury shall put together an economic aid package in the amount of £2 billion, to be distributed to coastal communities in the regions of North Wales and Merseyside that have been affected by the Douglas Complex oil spill.
  2. The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) shall form the Merseyside Oil Spill Task Force, which shall encourage economic generation in areas of Merseyside affected by the Douglas Complex oil spill.
  3. The Secretary of State for Home Rule shall create a joint task force with the Welsh devolved government on the subject of encouraging economic regeneration in areas of North Wales affected by the Douglas Complex oil spill.
  4. A special commission shall be established to investigate the impact of the Douglas Complex oil spill on the economy of Merseyside and North Wales, and to issue a report upon the conclusion of its investigation.
    1. This commission shall consist of 12 members, of which at least half must be current residents of either Merseyside or North Wales.
    2. Members of the special commission shall be appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Energy, and Climate Change
  5. The Department for the Environment, Energy, and Climate Change shall commission a study on the effects of the Douglas Complex oil spill on the marine biology and ecology of the Irish Sea region, with particular focus on the coastal waters of Merseyside and North Wales. a. The study must be conducted by either a governmental body or an accredited university in either Merseyside or North Wales.

3 Short title, commencement and extent

  1. This Act may be cited as the Oil Spill Safety and Recovery Act 2021.
  2. This Act comes into force on royal assent.
  3. This Act extends to the United Kingdom.
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