Socio-environmental diagnosis and environmental impact assessment asstrategic tools of licensing for offshore decommissioning

Abstract

Different decommissioning strategies for offshore systems can produce distinct impacts on the biotic, physical, and socioeconomic environments, directly affecting the timing and success of environmental agency approval for decommissioning projects and associated environmental monitoring. In this context, socio-environmental diagnosis and environmental impact assessment (EIA) become essential tools for studying alternative disposal options for systems to be decommissioned. This article aims to highlight the connection between socio-environmental diagnosis, decommissioning strategies and Post- Decommissioning Monitoring Plan (PDMP) proposals, as well as their influence on the environmental licensing process. The result of this study is a Social- environment Diagnostic Report (SDR) model, integrated into the standard of PDMP planning and execution and aligned with the decommissioning project current systematics. The application of the socio-environmental assessment during the planning phase has already benefited 70% of the eligible decommissioning projects over 13 months of implementation, enabling the evaluation and estimation of the applicable monitoring programs. It was concluded that the diagnosis not only leads to greater quality of socio-environmental characterization and EIA process but also contributes to strengthening the project planning phase with better cost, critical resources estimates and more consistent PMDP proposals.