The above diagram interestingly shows the connection of how environmental regulation is the 'umbrella' which includes Environmental Impact Assessments, Environmental Reporting and Environmental Management Systems which are connected.
The above figure highlights the 4 broad areas of environmental impacts from Offshore activities, namely:
1. Drilling Waste
2. Produced Water
3. E&P Chemicals
4. Other waste
Figure above represents the key elements in any typical Management System.
Figure 3 represents stakeholders which have an influence on the Environmental Management System. Interesting to note it goes in 'both' direction for the private and government stakeholders.
Figure 5 is a good representation of how to compare a Strategic EIA (has also been termed as a Strategic Environmental Assessment) and Operational EIA.
Above table represents a good comparison between an EIA and SEA. A good tabulation to recognize the shortfalls of applying an EIA alone without an SEA. Shortfalls which have been noted and raised in high level discussions such as the accumulation effect of noise from neighboring industries. An EIA may approve individual projects but the accumulative impacts maybe overlooked.
Figure 6 is an overview of how these 3 issues overlap and can be captured via a more holistic EIA which in some regulatory frameworks is known as an 'Integrated Impact Assessment'.
Figure 7: shows connection of Exploration and Production activities with Ecological Impact and Socio-economic impact that should be captured within the Environmental Impact Assessment.
Figure 8 shows the various organizations (e.g. American Petroleum Institute, Society of Petroleum Engineers,) and their connectivity to other International agreements (as well as Multilateral Environmental Agreements) and stakeholders.
Effectively the above organizations and international agreements etc represent a resource of HSE information for policy makers etc.
To end, for those interested in Environmental Management in particular or Management systems in general, the above figures offers a holistic overview of how issues are connected at a local, national, regional and international level.
I hope the above will assist us all to achieve a better understanding of issues to achieve development which is sustainable for all.
