Oil, an Environmental Blessing or a Curse?

http://eecoy.com/content/oil-environmental-blessing-or-curse Oil, an Environmental Blessing or a Curse? Posted on January 11, 12 Oil and gas reserves are usually sited under sea floor. However, offshore gas and oil drilling may heavily damage marine areas and hurt its species. According to environmentalists, there are assumptions that at a certain time developments might step forward in all areas, regardless of their ecological value. Article 60 of the Petroleum Law entitled “Environmental Protection and Related Measures,” states that the Lebanese law for the protection of the environment shall apply to Petroleum Activities in any location to the extent such Petroleum Activities are conducted in Waters. The environmental advisor, Mazen Abboud warns about the lack of planning and effective control. “In the light of the mounting disaster of petroleum in the world, the law of petroleum resources in marine waters should include heavier and clearer articles that penalize those responsible for any environmental disaster caused during excavation,” he states. Abboud calls on the Lebanese government to correct this structural imbalance by issuing strict and comprehensible decrees which apply environmental and public safety requirements more plainly. For instance, responsibilities, fines and compensation due to any technical fault could be imposed. He also asks those in charge of the sector to pay attention to these issues when drafting contracts, as well as providing enough safeguards to prevent a disaster and address the consequences. “Beach tourism will be the alleged victim for a disaster, as any failure is likely to occur in oversight or implementation’’. Abboud hopes the government will deliberately select among all disciplines the finest elements to oversee this vital sector in Lebanon, and not to turn oil wealth from blessing to a curse.