PO30 3BT, U K Oil & Gas plc, AP3804LV/A001

Overview

UK Oil and Gas PLC applied to us for an environmental permit for a new well site to explore and appraise hydrocarbon minerals at Arreton on the Isle of Wight. We held a consultation to seek your views (which closed on 9 July 2021) and we were in the process of determining the application. https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/psc/po30-3bt-u-k-oil-gas-plc/

On 25 March 2022, we were notified by the applicant that they are withdrawing their application. Therefore we will no longer be determining this environmental permit. Withdrawing a permit application does not mean that they cannot re-apply to us at a later stage.

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We are seeking your comments on an environmental permit application received from UK Oil & Gas plc for
Arreton Well Site
A3056, Arreton, Blackwater, Isle of Wight
PO30 3BT

We can take account of

• Relevant environmental regulatory requirements and technical standards.
• Information on local population and sensitive sites.
• Comments on whether the right process is being used for the activity, for example whether the technology is the right one.
• The shape and use of the land around the site in terms of its potential impact, whether that impact is acceptable and what pollution control or abatement may be required.
• The impact of noise and odour from traffic on site.
• Permit conditions by providing information that we have not been made aware of in the application, or by correcting incorrect information in the application (e.g. monitoring and techniques to control pollution).

We cannot take account of

• Issues beyond those in the relevant environmental regulations.
• Anything outside the remit of the EPR, e.g. the proposed location of the site, which is done by the local authority via land use planning.
• Whether a site should have a formal designation under Habitats Directive or other conservation legislation.
• Whether the activity should be allowed or not as a matter of principle. For example we will not consider whether wood, gas, or coal should be burnt to produce electricity; only that the options and environmental impact of say wood has been considered. We will not consider whether a waste incinerator proposal should be turned into a sorting and recycle proposal, only that the incinerator options and effect have been considered.
• Land use issues when determining a permit application, even if changing the location of the activity would improve its environmental performance.
• The impact of noise and odour from traffic travelling to and from the site.
• The legally defined process we follow to determine a permit.
• The granting of a permit/variation if the operator is able to demonstrate that they can carry out the activity without significant risk to the environment or human health.