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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Lisa Cox

Offshore oil regulator ‘avoiding scrutiny’ over approval for Woodside blasting and drilling

Greenpeace activists drop a ‘Stop Woodside’ banner from a crane outside Woodside’s headquarters in Perth on Tuesday.
Greenpeace activists drop a ‘Stop Woodside’ banner from a crane outside Woodside’s headquarters in Perth on Tuesday. Greenpeace are among 30 organisations that have written to the federal government urging it to strengthen the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority’s regulations. Photograph: Greenpeace

Environmental lawyers have raised concern the offshore petroleum regulator is attempting to avoid scrutiny by not publishing its reasons for approving seismic blasting and drilling for a major fossil fuel development in northern Western Australia.

The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (Nopsema) granted approval for seismic testing and drilling of up to 10 wells for Woodside’s $16.5bn Scarborough gas development last Friday.

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