Media Release: Gareth Hughes, Green Party. 20 November, 2013
The Green Party is calling on the Government to release Anadarko’s oil spill modelling and oil spill response plan before the company starts drilling off the coast of Raglan.
“The National Government must release Anadarko’s oil spill modelling and oil spill response plan before the company starts drilling off the coast of Raglan,” said Green Party energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes.
“Anadarko’s track record for emergency preparedness is poor; Anadarko expressly signed off the emergency response plan for the Deepwater Horizon which was later described by the United States Congressional Energy and Commerce Committee as ‘tragically flawed’ and ‘embarrassing’.”
There is currently a standoff between the Oil Free Seas flotilla and Anadarko’s drill ship which has not started drilling.
“The National Government can release this important information before Anadarko starts drilling but they have refused; the Government and Maritime New Zealand are blocking the release of this information in a timely manner,” said Mr Hughes.
“The National Government is suppressing this information because they don’t want New Zealanders to know the potential consequences of a spill and what it would take to clean it up.”
Mr Hughes received a letter from Maritime New Zealand this week, confirming that it had not responded within 20 working days to his office’s Official Information Act request and stating that it would not release the documents possibly until December 13th.
“Simon Bridges said in Parliament that the documents could be obtained under the Official Information Act, but the National Government and the agencies they oversee are dragging their heels and keeping this information from the public for as long as possible,” said Mr Hughes.
“December 13th is too late. The public deserve the right to know what the risks are before Anadarko begins drilling.
“The public also deserves the right to know how Anadarko plans to respond to a spill if it were to happen.