Petroleum Development Oman L.L.C.

RESTRICTED
Jan-16

Document ID: SP-1011

Filing Key: Business Control

Health Safety Environment & Sustainable

Development

Specification for Biodiversity

User Note:
The requirements of this document are mandatory. Non-compliance shall only be authorised by
the Document Owner or his Delegate through STEP-OUT approval.
A controlled copy of the current version of this document is on PDO's EDMS. Before making
reference to this document, it is the user's responsibility to ensure that any hard copy, or
electronic copy, is current. For assistance, contact the Document Custodian or the Document
Controller.
Users are encouraged to participate in the ongoing improvement of this document by providing
constructive feedback.
Please familiarise yourself with the
Document Security Classification Definitions
They also apply to this Document!

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Specification for Biodiversity

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Document Authorisation

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Specification for Biodiversity

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Petroleum Development Oman LLC

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ii Revision History
The following is a brief summary of the 4 most recent revisions to this document. Details of all
revisions prior to these are held on file by the issuing department.
Version No.
Version 3.0

Date
Feb 2008

Author
Mohammed
Shuaily

Al

MSEl24
Feb 2003

Faisal
CSM/24

Al-Lamki

Version 2.0

Dec 1998

Frans
CSM

Willekes,

Version 1.0

Scope / Remarks
Updated to reflect current regulatory
requirements
and
re-structuring
specification content (see section 1.2)
To incorporate Ministerial Decision
130/2000 endorsing the Management
Plan for the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary
and other relevant decrees enforced
between Dec 1998 and Feb 2003
Original guideline

Corporate
Functional
Discipline Head for
HSE

iii Related Business Processes

Code

Business Process (EPBM 4.0)

iv Related Corporate Management Frame Work (CMF)

Documents
The related CMF Documents can be retrieved from the Corporate Business Control
Documentation Register TAXI.

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Specification for Biodiversity

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
i

Document Authorisation........................................................................................................ 3

ii

Revision History.................................................................................................................... 4

iii

Related Business Processes................................................................................................. 4

iv

Related Corporate Management Frame Work (CMF) Documents........................................4

Introduction........................................................................................................................... 6

1.1

Purpose........................................................................................................................... 6

1.2

Changes to the Specification........................................................................................... 6

Scope.................................................................................................................................... 6
2.1

Definitions & Abbreviations............................................................................................. 7

2.2

Deliverables.................................................................................................................... 7

2.2.1

Records.......................................................................................................... 7

2.2.2

Reports.......................................................................................................... 7

2.3

Performance Monitoring.................................................................................................. 8

2.4

Review and Improvement............................................................................................... 8

2.5

Performance Standards.................................................................................................. 8

2.5.1

Requirements................................................................................................. 8

2.5.2

Execution....................................................................................................... 9

Appendix A.......................................................................................................................... 10
3.1

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Appendix 1: General Land Use Policies by Zones (MD 130/2000)...............................10

Specification for Biodiversity

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1 Introduction
1.1

Purpose
This Specification describes PDO's minimum requirements for protection of flora and
fauna in its concession areas or when activities taking place in a conservation or
environmentally sensitive areas.

1.2

Changes to the Specification

The following overall changes have been made:
-

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The adoption of an agreed common format for all Environmental specifications

The adoption of corporate specification template
Updating to ensure that all the key requirements emanating from Omani
environmental regulations, SIEP GES and International standards to which PDO
subscribes are current.
Additional supporting details contained in the above requirements will be made
available in this specification through a direct web-link to the document concerned.
The intent of a specification is to focus on the specific requirements; hence details
of how specifications to be met, which are included in other procedures are
removed. Where relevant this information is re-allocated to appropriate
procedures.

Specification for Biodiversity

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2

Version: 3.0
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Scope
Describe the specification scope within clearly defined boundaries, noting any specific
exclusions.

2.1

Definitions & Abbreviations

Flora - Includes agricultural areas and natural vegetation.
Fauna - Includes livestock, wild animals and birds.
MECA: Ministry of Environment and Climate Affiars

2.2

Deliverables

Records
Records shall be maintained to document the management of flora and fauna
protection

Reports
Sightings of the Arabian Oryx within the boundaries of the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary and
other threatened animal species are required to be reported to the White Oryx Project
(WOP) field manager.
Any non-compliances with this Specification shall be notified, investigated and reported
as per CP-122 PDOs Code of Practice for Health Safety and Environmental Protection.
Directors Within their area of authority (including contractors activities where
appropriate) Function Directors have the overall responsibility, either directly or through
delegation, for ensuring that protection of flora and fauna are managed in accordance
with the requirements of this Specification.
Project Managers and Company Site Representatives have the responsibility for
ensuring that protection of flora and fauna are managed in accordance with the
requirements of this Specification.
Such Flora and fauna shall be:

identified

recorded, as appropriate (refer to Section 2.2.1)

reported, as appropriate (refer to Section 2.2.2)

In the event that circumstances prevent compliance with this Specification, Delivery
Team Leaders shall seek the advice and if necessary, a step-out approval from the
Document Authority. This approval requires recording subject areas, which do not
conform as a non-compliance (refer to the Non Compliance Report Form CP 122 HSE
Management System Manual, Part 2 Chapter 6).
Corporate Functional Discipline Heads are responsible for ensuring that the
requirements of this Specification are reflected in the technical standards for which
they are responsible.
Contractors are responsible for ensuring that protection of flora and fauna, in the
course of carrying out their contractual requirements, is managed in accordance with
the requirements of this Specification and reported, when applicable

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Specification for Biodiversity

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Document Custodian
The Document Custodian is responsible for ensuring compliance with this specification
and that it is updated as necessary to reflect any changes to Omani legislation, Shell
standards and other requirements to which PDO subscribes.

2.3

Performance Monitoring
A program shall be developed, implemented and maintained to demonstrate
compliance with this Specification and any additional requirements specified in an
Environmental Permit, and to supply the necessary data to prepare required reports.
To supply the necessary data to prepare required reports associated with the above
(see Section 2.2.2).

2.4

Review and Improvement

Any user of this document who encounters a mistake or confusing entry is requested to
immediately notify CORPORATE HSE& SD MANAGER using the form provided in CP
122 HSE Management System Manual, Part 2 Chapter 3, Section 5.
This Specification shall be reviewed every 4 years. However changes to the current
version may be made in less than four years as the need arises depending upon the
issue of new and relevant environmental legislation and or major organizational
changes in PDO.

2.5

Performance Standards

Requirements
The relevant Omani legislation for the protection of the environment and conservation
of biological diversity is the Royal Decree 6/2003 on Issuing a Nature Reserves &
Wildlife Conservation. This states that:
-

It is prohibited to establish any activity in a Natural Reserve before obtaining

ministerial approval (Article 4). An Environmental assessment is required in
support of such an approval (Article 5)

A permit must be obtained in order to hunt, restrain, breed, or transport any

protected animal in these areas and in order to cut protected trees in these areas
(Article 14).

In addition the protection of wildlife is generally addressed by Royal Decree 114/2001

Law of the Conservation of the Environment and Prevention of Pollution, (Articles 7
and 21). There are supporting Royal Decrees and Ministerial Decisions and in principal
the following is a summary of the process:
-

An RD or MD would establish the borders of reserves in Oman

Individual MDs would specify the requirements for a particular area / reserve.

Further to these Omani requirements, PDO subscribes to Shells Biodiversity Standard

which is committed to:
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work with others to maintain ecosystems

respect the basic concept of protected areas
seek partnerships to enable the Group to make a positive contribution towards the
conservation of global biodiversity.
Specification for Biodiversity

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To satisfy these commitments Shell Companies will:

-

conduct environmental assessments, including the potential impacts on

biodiversity, prior to all new activities and significant modification of existing ones,
and
bring focused attention to the management of all activities in internationally
recognised hotspots, including the identification of, and early consultation with, key
stakeholders.

The environmentally sensitive areas shall be classified as Areas of Concern, Sites and
Areas of Special Interest, as in the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary (AOS).
Royal Decree 4/94 Arabian Oryx Nature Reserve established a protected nature
reserve with defined boundaries. Management of the reserve and approvals for any
activities within the reserve boundaries is assigned to the MECA. This represents a
typical example of how such areas are identified and managed.
Oil and Gas exploration and production activities in officially designated protected
areas are to be permitted only after consultation between the Ministry of Oil and Gas,
the concession holders and the MECA.
The demarcations of these zones have been incorporated in PDO operations maps and
a guideline is available describing the process of implementing these requirements
within PDOs concession areas.
Oil companies shall be totally responsible for the activities of any contractors or subcontractors employed by them, and shall ensure adequate and effective supervision of
these contractors and sub-contractors to ensure compliance with the above.

Execution
No activities may commence in these areas without first preparing an Environmental
Impact Statement and the granting of a relevant permit (See SP 1013 Environmental
Permitting).

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Specification for Biodiversity

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3 Appendix A
3.1

Appendix 1: General Land Use Policies by Zones (MD 130/2000)

Zone 1, Special Protection Zone:
To be a refuge for the Arabian for the Arabian Oryx, Gazelle, Ibex and other wildlife in
times of drought or other adverse conditions and thus ensure their long time survival.
Zone 1 and a representative of the Huqf escarpment will be managed to keep human
disturbance and competition from domestic stock to a minimum.

Zone 2, Controlled Use Zone:

Encompasses tracts of land containing other important biological resources (including
habitat regularly used by the Oryx), wilderness areas, scenery of exceptional beauty
and sites of geological and archaeological interest. Access would be allowed, but
controlled, and the nature of development activities would be compatible with
achieving the conservation aims.

Zone 3, Buffer Zone:

Encompassing further sites of interest, but with control of existing activities in order to
help to protect the inner zones. The boundary of zone 3 corresponds to the overall
boundary of the Sanctuary.

Zone 4, Utility Zone:

Areas within which essential infrastructure will be sited and planned so as to minimize
impact upon the sanctuary resources. Abu Mudhabi, Al-Ajaiz and Abu Dhahr are
specified as local service centers and a number of other locations designated for the
provision of other specified services.

Zone 5, Special Use Zone:

To demarcate areas of land over which agreement has been reached that the
concerned Government authorities or other party, in the national interest may have a
permanent facility or occasional access.

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Specification for Biodiversity

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Specification for Biodiversity

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