Power of the competent authority to prohibit operations
26.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies where—
(a)the competent authority is of the opinion that the measures for preventing or limiting the consequences of a major accident proposed in a safety case are insufficient to fulfil the requirements set out in the relevant statutory provisions; and
(b)the competent authority notifies the duty holder who sent the safety case that it is of the opinion described in sub-paragraph (a).
(2) Where this paragraph applies, the duty holder shall not operate or commence operation of the installation to which the safety case relates.
(3) The prohibition in paragraph (2) ceases to apply if the competent authority notifies the relevant duty holder that it is no longer of the opinion described in paragraph (1)(a).
(4) Paragraph (5) applies where—
(a)the competent authority is of the opinion that the measures for preventing or limiting the consequences of a major accident proposed in a notification of combined operations are insufficient to fulfil the requirements set out in the relevant statutory provisions; and
(b)the competent authority notifies the duty holder who sent the notification of combined operations that it is of the opinion described in sub-paragraph (a).
(5) Where this paragraph applies, no duty holder for an installation which is or is to be involved in the combined operation may operate or commence operation of the duty holder’s installation.
(6) The prohibition in paragraph (5) ceases to apply if the competent authority notifies the duty holder who sent the notification of combined operations that it is no longer of the opinion described in paragraph (4)(a).
(7) Paragraph (8) applies where—
(a)the competent authority is of the opinion that the measures for preventing or limiting the consequences of a major accident proposed in a notification of well operations are insufficient to fulfil the requirements set out in the relevant statutory provisions; and
(b)the competent authority notifies the well operator who sent the notification of well operations that it is of the opinion described in sub-paragraph (a).
(8) Where this paragraph applies the well operator shall not continue or commence the operation to which the notification relates.
(9) The prohibition in paragraph (8) ceases to apply if the competent authority notifies the well operator that it is no longer of the opinion described in paragraph (7)(a).