From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
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Public consultation on application for consent to conduct a rig-site geophysical in the south-west Kinsale, Ballycotton and Seven Heads Gasfields, Celtic Sea, Ireland proposed by PSE Kinsale Energy Limited (Kinsale Energy) who currently hold the Kinsale Petroleum Lease (OPL-1) and the Seven Heads Petroleum Lease.
An application for consent to conduct a rig-site geophysical in the south-west Kinsale, Ballycotton and Seven Heads Gasfields, Celtic Sea, Ireland has been received by the Petroleum Affairs Division of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment on 6 March 2020.
The survey application has been received from PSE Kinsale Energy Limited (Kinsale Energy), within the Kinsale Petroleum Lease (OPL-1) and the Seven Heads Petroleum Lease, granted by the Minister for Communications Climate Action and Environment pursuant to Section 8 of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960.
The public are invited to make submissions in relation to this application. Submissions can be sent to PADadmin@dccae.gov.ie
This application was posted on the department's website on 13 March 2020 and any submission received by close of business on 13 April 2020 will be considered by the Minister.
The following documents have been received.
Kinsale Energy – Kinsale Area rig-site geophysical survey – Cover letter
Kinsale Energy – Kinsale Area rig-site geophysical survey – Application Form
Kinsale Energy – Kinsale Area rig-site geophysical survey – Environmental Impact Assessment
Kinsale Energy – Kinsale Area rig-site geophysical survey – Appropriate Assessment Screening report
Kinsale Energy – Kinsale Area rig-site geophysical survey – Pre-survey Fisheries Assessment
The public consultation period for this application has now been extended until close of business on 24 April.
Further to Regulation 42 (3) (b) of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011-15 as amended (Birds and Habitats Regulations), PSE Kinsale Energy Ltd. have been directed to provide further information to enable screening for Appropriate Assessment be carried out on the application for the rig-site geophysical survey in the south-west Kinsale, Ballycotton and Seven Heads gas fields.
When received, the additional information will be published on the department's website and further submissions will be invited on the additional material for the purposes of the AA Screening Assessment. Any submissions received will be taken into account in any AA Screening Determination made in respect of this application.
An application for consent for a rig-site geophysical survey in the south-west Kinsale, Ballycotton and Seven Heads Gasfield, from PSE Kinsale Energy Limited was received by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment on 5 March 2020. Consent was sought for approval to undertake a rig-site clearance survey in the south-west Kinsale, Ballycotton and Seven Heads gas fields. The survey is required, as part of the decommissioning process, to inform well abandonment conditions of the 13 subsea wells within the Kinsale area and Seven Heads gas fields. The application was accompanied by Environmental Impact Assessment Report, an Appropriate Assessment Screening Report and a pre-survey Fisheries Report.
The Minister for Communications, Climate Action, and Environment has now made determinations on the application, details of which are set out below.
Judicial Review
Please note that the validity of the decisions may be questioned by judicial review under Order 84 of the Rules of the Superior Courts (S.I. No.15 of 1986), as amended. Any application for leave to apply for judicial review must be made promptly and in any event within three months from the date of this decision. Practical information on the review mechanism can be obtained from the Citizens Information Board, Ground Floor, George's Quay House, 43 Townsend Street, Dublin 2, or online at www.citizensinformation.ie or www.courts.ie.
Disclaimer: The above is intended for information purposes. It does not purport to be a legally binding interpretation of the relevant provisions on judicial review and it would be advisable for persons contemplating legal action to seek legal advice .