PETROLEUM (ONSHORE) ACT 1991 - SECT 77
Direction to suspend operations
PETROLEUM (ONSHORE) ACT 1991 - SECT 77
Direction to suspend operations
77 Direction to suspend operations
(1) The Secretary may, by written notice
(a
"suspension notice" ), direct a responsible person to suspend (for such period
as is specified in the direction or until further notice) all, or any
specified, operations under a petroleum title or an activity approval relating
to the operations if the Secretary considers that--
(a) circumstances exist
that could constitute a ground for cancellation of the petroleum title under
section 22 (1) (b)-(g), or
(b) circumstances exist that could constitute a
ground for cancellation of the petroleum title under section 22 (1) (h), in
relation to a contravention of a direction under section 75 only, or
(c) on
any other ground specified in the regulations.
(2) Before giving a suspension
notice, the Secretary is to--
(a) cause written notice of the proposed
suspension notice and the grounds for it to be served on the holder of the
relevant petroleum title, and
(b) give the holder of the relevant
petroleum title a reasonable opportunity to make representations with respect
to the proposed suspension notice, and
(c) take any such representations into
consideration.
(3) The suspension notice takes effect on the date on which it
is given to the holder of the relevant petroleum title or on a later date
specified in the notice.
(4) The suspension of a petroleum title does not
affect any liability incurred by the holder of the relevant petroleum title
before the suspension took effect.
(5) The holder of the relevant
petroleum title is not entitled to compensation merely because of the
suspension of operations under the petroleum title or an activity approval in
accordance with a suspension notice.
(6) If a suspension notice under this
section is issued to a person who is not the current holder of the relevant
petroleum title, the Secretary must cause a copy of the notice to be served on
any current holder within 5 days after the notice is issued.
(7) A direction
served on a person under this section may require the person to prepare, and
submit to the Secretary or inspector, reports as to any of the following--
(a)
the measures the person proposes to take for the purpose of complying with the
direction,
(b) the progress made by the person in implementing any such
measures.
