Decree No. 2007-105 amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree 2004-094 of 4 November 2004 on the Environmental Impact Assessment

This decree amends and supplements certain provisions of Decree 2004-094 on Environmental Impact Assessment. It applies to the natural environment (air, water, soil, flora, landscape…) and human environment (social, economic, and cultural). 

The decree defines the activities subject to Environmental Impact Assessment or Notice, its requirements, and the procedures to follow. This is defined by sector, including the list of works, structures, developments, activities, and planning endeavors subject to an environmental impact study or environmental impact notice. It includes, among others, the following oil activities: 

• Seismic campaigns;
• Oil drilling;
• Development and storage of hydrocarbons; 
• Oil or natural gas exploration using seismic method or drilling; 
• Exploitation of oil or natural gas; 
• Offshore installation; 
• Extraction or transport by pipeline of oil or natural gas;
• Installation of crude oil refineries, liquefaction or gasification facilities with a capacity greater than or equal to 15000 barrels of oil equivalent/day. 

An environmental impact assessment must include:

• A presentation of the project with a justification of technical choices and localization;
• An analysis of the initial state of the site and its environment;
• An analysis of direct and indirect impacts on the site and its environment;
• An Environmental Management Plan including data of pollutants' emission rates.

An the environmental impact notice must include:

• A description of the initial state and its environment;
• A description of the planned activity;
• A description of the negative environmental impacts. 

There is no specific mention of methane, but activities typically emitting methane are managed through this process.

Want to know more about this policy ? Learn more