Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 1754 of 2001).

These Regulations implement for the United Kingdom provisions of Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds and Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora in relation to oil and gas activities carried out wholly or partly on the UK continental shelf.
The Regulations substantially provide for appropriate assessment of the effects of certain oil and gas activities where the activity is likely to have a significant effect on a relevant site, i.e. special area of conservation and other protected sites including a site of Community importance classified under one of the two Directives. The Regulations also require the Secretary of State to give directions in specified circumstances, in order to avoid, reverse, reduce or eliminate adverse effects on relevant sites, or deterioration or disturbance of certain natural habitats or species and to provide for the protection of certain creatures, birds and plants.