Call to dismantle North Sea oil rigs on land

LONDON — Welcoming the decision to dismantle Shell's North Sea gas rig installation, the Brent Spar, on land, Greenpeace called on the British government to rule out dumping at sea for all oil installations and abandon the so-called "case by case" approach. "The issue is whether we live in a throwaway society", said Greenpeace campaign director Chris Rose on February 5. "The public knows it is wrong to dump old cars in the village pond — and it's wrong for the government to let the oil industry treat the sea as its rubbish dump." In Norway, contracts have now been let for the dismantling of the North East Frigg field entirely on land. Last year, countries in the north-east Atlantic banned the dumping of oil installations at sea. However, the British government would not sign the ban. Greenpeace also pointed out that in December 1995, a report for the oil industry group UK Offshore Operators Association noted that the "best environmental option" for decommissioned steel installations is to bring them ashore. A consultant's report for Greenpeace also found that over 95% of the Brent Spar could be recycled.