[News] from [guardian.co.uk]
[guardian > Business > Oil]
North Sea oil rigs will face tougher environmental scrutiny after BP spill
｛ＢＰ社の原油流出事故により、北海の原油掘削リグにも環境監視に厳しさを増す｝
Chris Huhne is to increase oil inspectors after Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico
｛英国のクリスハッフニー長官、メキシコ湾でのディープウォーター・ホライゾンの大惨事を受けてオイル検査者を増員する｝
Tim Webb
The Guardian, Tuesday 8 June 2010
Article history
The new energy and climate secretary Chris Huhne will announce plans today to beef up environmental inspections of North Sea oil rigs in the wake of the BP Gulf of Mexico disaster, but is increasing the numbers from just six to nine staff.
｛今日、クリスハッフニー新気候変動エネルギー長官は、ＢＰ社のメキシコ湾の大惨事を受けて北海の原油掘削リグに対して環境検査者を増員する考えを表明する。がすでに６人から９人に増員している｝
The current six government inspectors, based in Aberdeen, are responsible for investigating and enforcing environmental standards on the 24 drilling rigs and an estimated 280 oil and gas production installations in the UK's part of the North Sea. Last year they carried out 69 inspections, of which eight were of drilling rigs.
A spokeswoman for the Energy Department said last night that the increase in manpower would result in the number of drilling rig inspections being doubled. She did not say when they would be in place.
The Gulf of Mexico disaster has focused attention on regulation of the oil industry's safety and environmental performance around the world. Environmental campaigners are demanding that tighter regulations are introduced particularly for deepwater drilling rigs – like the Deepwater Horizon, whose explosion caused the Gulf slick – which typically explore for oil in technically challenging areas where little is known about the geology. This year the government agreed to offer millions of pounds worth of tax breaks to oil companies seeking to develop the deep waters off the west coast of the Shetland Isles.
Huhne said the regulatory regime for the North Sea was "fit for purpose" following a review of procedures after last month's disaster. But he added: "The Deepwater Horizon gives us pause for thought and, given the beginning of exploration in deeper waters west of Shetland, there is every reason to increase our vigilance."
A spokeswoman for the trade association Oil and Gas UK said inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive also monitored companies' compliance with regulations.
Jake Molloy, of the Offshore Industry Liaison Committee, a trade union for offshore workers, said inspectors needed to work "hand in glove" with the HSE. The HSE focuses on ensuring employee safety on offshore installations. The Energy Department is responsible for assessing firms' environmental compliance.
Last month Oil and Gas UK established a working group to examine how companies can best tackle an oil spill, in which the government said it would participate.
This week a whistleblower who worked for a BP contractor called for safety checks on all BP's rigs in the North Sea. Ken Abbott claims 6,000 out of 7,000 documents meant to be in place regarding another BP platform in the Gulf of Mexico were missing, and that his attempts to raise his concerns were not taken seriously. BP has denied the allegations, saying its ombudsman's office had twice investigated the claims, and insisting the documentation and filing procedures had "no bearing" on operating or regulatory issues.
[guardian > Environment > Whaling]
Sea Shepherd expels Peter Bethune over weapons
｛団体シーシェパード、ピーターベテューヌ氏を武器を持ち込んだとして除名処分｝
Activist, who is on trial in Tokyo over attack on Japanese whaling ship, had a bow and arrows while aboard the Ady Gil
｛日本の捕鯨船への妨害行為で東京の裁判にかけられている活動家、アディ・ギル号船上に弓矢を持ち込む｝
Associated Press
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 8 June 2010 12.25 BST
Article history
The anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd has expelled a member, currently standing trial in Tokyo, for allegedly violating the organisation's policies against carrying weapons.
｛反捕鯨団体シーシェパードは、現在、東京で裁判にかけられているメンバーを武器の携帯を禁じた当団体の政策に違反したとして除名処分にした。｝
New Zealander Peter Bethune, 45, had a bow and arrows with him while he was aboard the Sea Shepherd vessel Ady Gil, although he never used them and the group believes he never intended to use them, said Chuck Swift, Sea Shepherd's deputy chief executive officer.
"His decision to bring them on a Sea Shepherd campaign is unacceptable," Swift said in a statement on Friday.
Bethune is being tried on charges including trespassing, vandalism, possession of a knife, obstructing business and assault. He pleaded guilty to all but the assault charge in last month's opening session. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
Prosecutors say Bethune climbed on to the Japanese whaling vessel Shonan Maru 2 from a jetski in February, while the ship was in the Antarctic Ocean. He was apprehended when the ship returned to Tokyo in March. Bethune is suspected of throwing glass bottles containing rotten butter at the Japanese harpoon boat in an attempt to block its whaling mission, injuring a crew member.
Sea Shepherd has been protesting Japan's whaling policy for years.
Japan, alongside Norway and Iceland, hunts whales under exceptions to a 1986 moratorium by the International Whaling Commission. Its programme involves large-scale expeditions down to the Antarctic, while other whaling countries mostly stay along their coasts.
Sea Shepherd says it will continue to support Bethune through his court battle in Japan and sees him as a dedicated hero for its cause.
"But unfortunately he will no longer be formally associated with, or be a representative of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society," said Swift.
In tearful court appearances last month, Bethune said it is likely that he will end his anti-whaling protests.
"I thought my crew were going to die," he said, sobbing. "I live with this vision of being run over – images of this big boat running us over. This broke my heart."
Sea Shepherd says that in its 30 years of activism, it has never injured anyone.
[guardian > Business > Oil]
North Sea oil rigs will face tougher environmental scrutiny after BP spill
｛ＢＰ社の原油流出事故により、北海の原油掘削リグにも環境監視に厳しさを増す｝
Chris Huhne is to increase oil inspectors after Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico
｛英国のクリスハッフニー長官、メキシコ湾でのディープウォーター・ホライゾンの大惨事を受けてオイル検査者を増員する｝
Tim Webb
The Guardian, Tuesday 8 June 2010
Article history
The new energy and climate secretary Chris Huhne will announce plans today to beef up environmental inspections of North Sea oil rigs in the wake of the BP Gulf of Mexico disaster, but is increasing the numbers from just six to nine staff.
｛今日、クリスハッフニー新気候変動エネルギー長官は、ＢＰ社のメキシコ湾の大惨事を受けて北海の原油掘削リグに対して環境検査者を増員する考えを表明する。がすでに６人から９人に増員している｝
The current six government inspectors, based in Aberdeen, are responsible for investigating and enforcing environmental standards on the 24 drilling rigs and an estimated 280 oil and gas production installations in the UK's part of the North Sea. Last year they carried out 69 inspections, of which eight were of drilling rigs.
A spokeswoman for the Energy Department said last night that the increase in manpower would result in the number of drilling rig inspections being doubled. She did not say when they would be in place.
The Gulf of Mexico disaster has focused attention on regulation of the oil industry's safety and environmental performance around the world. Environmental campaigners are demanding that tighter regulations are introduced particularly for deepwater drilling rigs – like the Deepwater Horizon, whose explosion caused the Gulf slick – which typically explore for oil in technically challenging areas where little is known about the geology. This year the government agreed to offer millions of pounds worth of tax breaks to oil companies seeking to develop the deep waters off the west coast of the Shetland Isles.
Huhne said the regulatory regime for the North Sea was "fit for purpose" following a review of procedures after last month's disaster. But he added: "The Deepwater Horizon gives us pause for thought and, given the beginning of exploration in deeper waters west of Shetland, there is every reason to increase our vigilance."
A spokeswoman for the trade association Oil and Gas UK said inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive also monitored companies' compliance with regulations.
Jake Molloy, of the Offshore Industry Liaison Committee, a trade union for offshore workers, said inspectors needed to work "hand in glove" with the HSE. The HSE focuses on ensuring employee safety on offshore installations. The Energy Department is responsible for assessing firms' environmental compliance.
Last month Oil and Gas UK established a working group to examine how companies can best tackle an oil spill, in which the government said it would participate.
This week a whistleblower who worked for a BP contractor called for safety checks on all BP's rigs in the North Sea. Ken Abbott claims 6,000 out of 7,000 documents meant to be in place regarding another BP platform in the Gulf of Mexico were missing, and that his attempts to raise his concerns were not taken seriously. BP has denied the allegations, saying its ombudsman's office had twice investigated the claims, and insisting the documentation and filing procedures had "no bearing" on operating or regulatory issues.
[guardian > Environment > Whaling]
Sea Shepherd expels Peter Bethune over weapons
｛団体シーシェパード、ピーターベテューヌ氏を武器を持ち込んだとして除名処分｝
Activist, who is on trial in Tokyo over attack on Japanese whaling ship, had a bow and arrows while aboard the Ady Gil
｛日本の捕鯨船への妨害行為で東京の裁判にかけられている活動家、アディ・ギル号船上に弓矢を持ち込む｝
Associated Press
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 8 June 2010 12.25 BST
Article history
The anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd has expelled a member, currently standing trial in Tokyo, for allegedly violating the organisation's policies against carrying weapons.
｛反捕鯨団体シーシェパードは、現在、東京で裁判にかけられているメンバーを武器の携帯を禁じた当団体の政策に違反したとして除名処分にした。｝
New Zealander Peter Bethune, 45, had a bow and arrows with him while he was aboard the Sea Shepherd vessel Ady Gil, although he never used them and the group believes he never intended to use them, said Chuck Swift, Sea Shepherd's deputy chief executive officer.
"His decision to bring them on a Sea Shepherd campaign is unacceptable," Swift said in a statement on Friday.
Bethune is being tried on charges including trespassing, vandalism, possession of a knife, obstructing business and assault. He pleaded guilty to all but the assault charge in last month's opening session. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
Prosecutors say Bethune climbed on to the Japanese whaling vessel Shonan Maru 2 from a jetski in February, while the ship was in the Antarctic Ocean. He was apprehended when the ship returned to Tokyo in March. Bethune is suspected of throwing glass bottles containing rotten butter at the Japanese harpoon boat in an attempt to block its whaling mission, injuring a crew member.
Sea Shepherd has been protesting Japan's whaling policy for years.
Japan, alongside Norway and Iceland, hunts whales under exceptions to a 1986 moratorium by the International Whaling Commission. Its programme involves large-scale expeditions down to the Antarctic, while other whaling countries mostly stay along their coasts.
Sea Shepherd says it will continue to support Bethune through his court battle in Japan and sees him as a dedicated hero for its cause.
"But unfortunately he will no longer be formally associated with, or be a representative of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society," said Swift.
In tearful court appearances last month, Bethune said it is likely that he will end his anti-whaling protests.
"I thought my crew were going to die," he said, sobbing. "I live with this vision of being run over – images of this big boat running us over. This broke my heart."
Sea Shepherd says that in its 30 years of activism, it has never injured anyone.