Role statement - National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority

National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority

The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) is a Commonwealth Government statutory agency and is Australia’s national regulator for health and safety, structural (well) integrity and environmental management for all offshore oil and gas operations and greenhouse gas storage activities in Commonwealth waters and in coastal waters where regulatory powers and functions have been conferred. In 2013, Victoria conferred its functions on NOPSEMA for the regulation of health and safety and structural integrity of offshore petroleum operations in Victorian waters.

NOPSEMA’s key focus areas are:

preventing major accident and events
preventing loss of well control
effective oil pollution emergency preparedness
responsible asset stewardship

Titleholders are responsible for arrangements to respond to and monitor oil pollution arising from offshore petroleum operations. NOPSEMA as the regulator is provided with specific provisions for monitoring and securing compliance of titleholder arrangements. In the event of an oil spill, NOPSEMA may also give significant incident directions in areas of State/Territory jurisdiction or declare an oil pollution emergency.

Mitigation

Activity	Critical task alignment / activity source
Promote and advise on occupational health and safety, well integrity and environmental management in offshore petroleum operations and offshore greenhouse gas well operations and environmental management of greenhouse gas storage activities	1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 4.5, 4.6
Develop and implement effective monitoring and enforcement strategies to secure compliance for occupational health and safety, well integrity and environmental management in offshore petroleum operations and offshore greenhouse gas well operations and environmental management of greenhouse gas storage activities	1.3, 4.3, 16.2

Response (including Relief)

Activity	Critical task alignment / activity source
Ensure response activities in an offshore area are carried out in a manner consistent with accepted regulatory documents and significant incident directions	3.2
Provide advice and briefings to the responsible Commonwealth Minister and relevant Minister(s), the public and the media on emergencies at or involving offshore petroleum operations and greenhouse gas storage activities	2.1, 4.5, 4.6
Provide expert advice to assist other agencies who are responding to emergencies at or involving offshore petroleum operations and greenhouse gas storage activities	4.5, 4.6
Cooperate with other Commonwealth, State and Territory agencies or authorities on matters relating to offshore petroleum operations and greenhouse gas storage activities	4.5, 4.6
Input to strategic direction of the Commonwealth Government response to offshore petroleum incidents and greenhouse gas storage incidents	4.5, 4.6

Recovery

For recovery activities, refer directly to the agency for further information.

Assurance and Learning

Activity	Critical task alignment / activity source
Investigate accidents, occurrences and other circumstances that may affect occupational health and safety, well integrity and environmental management of offshore petroleum operations and offshore greenhouse gas well operations and environmental management of greenhouse gas storage activities	4.4, 11.1, 21.1