OSPAR States Called on to Follow EC Policy & End Offshore Platfo

["greenbase" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>]

GREENPEACE CALLS ON OSPAR STATES TO FOLLOW EC POLICY 
AND END DUMPING OF DISUSED OFFSHORE PLATFORMS

Brussels, 18 February 1998 --- Welcoming the European
Commission's announcement today of its policy decision to ban
the disposal of off-shore installations at sea, Greenpeace
called on countries which will participate at the July meeting
of the OSPAR Convention (1) to adopt the same principle.

"The Commission's announcement is a big step towards a ban on
the dumping at sea of disused installations. We hope that this
position will be endorsed by all countries participating at the
OSPAR Ministerial meeting in Lisbon this July", said Louise Gale
of Greenpeace.

The vast majority of countries which are party to OSPAR have
called for a general prohibition on sea disposal of off-shore
installations. In 1995, all countries except Norway and the UK
supported the moratorium on dumping, which has remained in force
ever since. Many of the OSPAR member countries (2) expressed
their satisfaction at the recent announcement by Shell to bring
the Brent Spar on shore for  recycling and re-use. 

Despite this positive development, the Norwegian and UK
Governments still seek to retain the dumping option on up to 63
steel installations in the North Sea (3). "The Commission's
proposal for a global  ban on the dumping of  steel
installations should further strengthen the commitment  of 
those countries who want a ban on  disposal at sea  and who
should be prepared to push this issue for  a final decision  at
the OSPAR meeting", added Gale.

--- end ---

For information:
- Louise Gale, Greenpeace European Unit, in Brussels, t. +32 2
280  1400.

NOTES:

(1) OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine
Environment of the North East Atlantic. The OSPAR Convention
regulates marine pollution in the North East Atlantic from
Gibraltar to the Arctic. The Ministerial meeting will take place
on 20-24 July 1998. The meeting will deal with the reductions in
emissions of radioactive substances, elimination of hazardous
substances, and disposal of decommissioned off-shore
installations at sea.

(2) The following countries are members of the OSPAR Commission:
Belgium, Denmark, European  Commission, Finland, France,
Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg,  Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK. NB Switzerland is a contracting
state to the OSPAR Convention.

(3) Draft inventory of Off-shore installations in the OSPAR
maritime area, December 1996; EC Technical Review of the
possible methods of decommissioning and disposing of off-shore
oil and gas installations. 

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