Petroleum Act 1998

31Section 29 notices: supplementary provisions

(1)Subject to subsection (3), the Secretary of State shall not give a notice under section 29(1) in relation to an offshore installation to a person within paragraph (d) or (e) of section 30(1) if the Secretary of State has been and continues to be satisfied that adequate arrangements (including financial arrangements) have been made by a person or persons within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) to ensure that a satisfactory abandonment programme will be carried out.

(2)Subject to subsection (3), the Secretary of State shall not give a notice under section 29(1) in relation to a submarine pipeline to a person within paragraph (b) or (c) of section 30(2) if the Secretary of State has been and continues to be satisfied that adequate arrangements (including financial arrangements) have been made by a person or persons within paragraph (a) to ensure that a satisfactory abandonment programme will be carried out.

(3)Subsections (1) and (2) shall not apply if there has been a failure to comply with a notice under section 29(1) or if the Secretary of State has rejected a programme submitted in compliance with such a notice.

(4)The Secretary of State shall not give a notice to a person under section 29(1) without first giving him an opportunity to make written representations as to whether the notice should be given.

(5)Where the Secretary of State has given a notice under section 29(1) in relation to an installation or a pipeline, he may at any time before the programme required by it is submitted withdraw the notice or give (subject to the preceding provisions of this section) a further notice under section 29(1) (whether in substitution for or in addition to any notice already given); and if he does so he shall inform the recipients of any other notices which have been given in relation to that installation or pipeline and not withdrawn.

(6)Neither the withdrawal of a notice given under section 29(1) nor the giving of a further notice shall relieve the recipient of any other notice of his duty to submit a programme (jointly, in a case where more than one notice is given and not withdrawn, with the recipients of the other notices).