FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1978
LEGISLATION PROPOSED TO SUPERVISE AND CONTROL
OIL STORAGE INSTALLATIONS
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THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE NEW CONTROLS OF SUPERVISION OVER OIL STORAGE INSTALLATIONS.
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, WHICH IS CONTAINED IN THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT LARGE SCALE OIL SPILLAGES FROM EXISTING AND NEW OIL STORAGE INSTALLATIONS.
ONE CLAUSE IN THE BILL, WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, RE-DEFINES +BUILDING TO INCLUDE OIL STORAGE INSTALLATIONS AND ALSO SPELLS OUT THE MEANING OF OIL STORAGE INSTALLATIONS.
ANOTHER ENABLES REGULATIONS TO BE MADE BY THE GOVERNOR-IN- COUNCIL TO PROVIDE FOR LICENSING OF OIL STORAGE INSTALLATIONS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STANDING COMMITTEE TO ADVISE THE BUILDING AUTHORITY ON THIS SUBJECT.
THERE IS ALSO A CLAUSE PROPOSING MAXIMUM PENALTIES OF A $100,000 FINE AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS FOR CONTRAVENTIONS OF THE REGULATIONS.
ALSO GAZETTED TODAY ARE THE BUILDING (OIL STORAGE INSTALLATIONS) REGULATIONS 1978.
THESE PROVIDE A LEGISLATIVE BASIS FOR AN APPROVED CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF OIL STORAGE INSTALLATIONS.
THE CODE WAS DRAWN UP FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATION CONTAINED IN THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE 1973 AP LEI CHAU OIL SPILL. IT WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT THE LICENSING AUTHORITY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MINIMISING THE RISK OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION RESULTING FROM DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF OIL STORAGE INSTALLATIONS, OR UNSATISFACTORY INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE OR OPERATION.
THESE REGULATIONS ALSO SET OUT PROCEDURES AND CONDITIONS FOR ISSUING LICENCES, WHICH WILL COST $2,000 A YEAR, AND THE ESTABLISH- MENT OF AN ADVISORY STANDING COMMITTEE AS THE STATUTORY BODY TO ADVISE THE BUILDING AUTHORITY ON MATTERS RELATING TO OIL STORAGE INSTALLATIONS.
THE DANGEROUS GOODS(GENERAL) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1978, ALSO PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE, MAKE MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE DANGEROUS GOODS (GENERAL) REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO OVERLAP OF RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES.
IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE BILL AND THE TWO SETS OF REGULATIONS SHOULD COME INTO OPERATION JOINTLY BY MAY 1.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE OIL INDUSTRY REPRESENT- ATIVE COMMITTEE WAS FULLY CONSULTED ON THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION.