## “Coronavirus exemption from public inspection requirements 

10A. —(1) Regulations 9(2)(c) and 9(2)(f)(iii) do not apply where the effects of coronavirus, including any restrictions on movement, mean that it is not reasonably practicable for the public to inspect copies of documents at a specified address within the United Kingdom. 

(2) Regulation 10(2)(d)(ii) does not apply where the effects of coronavirus, including any restrictions on movement, mean that it is not reasonably practicable for the public to inspect copies of documents at a specified address within the United Kingdom. 

(3) Where paragraph (1) applies— 

(a) regulations 9(2)(d), 9(2)(e), 9(2)(f)(vi) and 9(5) do not require the undertaker to make copies of documents available for collection in person; 

(b) the undertaker must make available by post a copy of the application for consent in the same way as for the environmental statement, as set out in regulations 9(2)(d), 9(2)(e) and 9(5), but the undertaker may not charge for the supply of a copy of the application for consent; 

(c) the undertaker must include in the notice referred to in regulation 9(2)(f) a statement on how a copy of the application for consent may be obtained by post, in the same way as for the environmental statement, as set out in regulation 9(2)(f)(vi). 

(4) Where paragraph (2) applies— 

(a) regulation 10(2)(c) does not require the undertaker to make copies of documents available for public inspection at an address within the United Kingdom; 

(b) regulations 10(2)(c) and 10(2)(d)(iii) do not require the undertaker to make copies of documents available for collection in person; 

(c) the undertaker must make available by post a copy of the application for consent in the same way as for the environmental statement, as set out in regulation 10(2)(c), but the undertaker may not charge for the supply of a copy of the application for consent; 

(d) the undertaker must include in the notice referred to in regulation 10(2)(d) a statement on how a copy of the application for consent may be obtained by post, in the same way as for the environmental statement, as set out in regulation 10(2)(d)(iii). 

(5) For the purpose of this regulation, “coronavirus” means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).”. 

21st April 2020 

## (This note is not part of the Regulations) 

Kwasi Karteng Minister of State Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 

## EXPLANATORY NOTE 

These Regulations make amendments to the Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/360) (the “1999 Regulations”). The 1999 Regulations set out requirements regarding environmental statements for proposed offshore oil and gas projects. This forms part of the approval process for such projects. The amendments disapply the requirement for offshore oil and gas developers to make copies of relevant documents available for public inspection at an address in the United Kingdom where the effects of coronavirus mean that is not reasonably practicable for the public to inspect them. The 

