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were developed as part of a two and a half year review process that ended in 2007.

The ? rst public consultation period for comments about revising these guidelines was open 19 February - 22 March 2013.

The second (and ? nal) public consultation to revise the guideline ended on 28 May

Editor’s Column 2014, but the World Bank will not issu results until sometime in 2015.

Colloquy

Nina Rach

BRICS

News broke in mid-July that the ? ve BRICS nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and

Marine noise

South Africa, representing major emerging period, it received more than 55,000 com- nderwater noise is recognized as an national economies, agreed on the struc- ments. It issued its ? nal PEIS in February

U adverse environmental stress and ture and planned to ? nance a $50 billion 2014, with several notable measures: to must be addressed in environmental development bank as an alternative (and close areas during whale migration, to impact assessments (EIAs). Companies rival) to the International Monetary Fund geographically separate simultaneous seis- have stepped forward with 3D acoustic (IMF) and the World Bank. The bank will mic airgun array surveys, and use passive modeling and measurement systems as be based in Shanghai and its ? rst presi- acoustic monitoring (PAM) to supplement countries develop regulatory guidelines for dency will be held by India.

Wiliam Gumede, writing for The visual observations of marine mammals all offshore activities that generate noise.

Guardian, points out “there is no prior to and during surveys.

BOEM guarantee that a BRICS bank would not

Since 1998, the US Bureau of Ocean attach conditions as onerous as those

World Bank EHS Guidelines

As part of its risk management strategy, the

Energy Management (BOEM) has part- of the World Bank or other develop-

International Finance Corp. of the World nered with academia and others, investing ment banks;” and goes on to say “It

Bank Group has built a Sustainability more than US$50million on marine noise- must pursue lending that is ecologically

Framework that it promotes as the gold related research and protected species. sustainable, and must promote inclusive standard. The IFC has developed techni-

In 2010, the US Congress directed the economic growth and development.” cal reference documents with general

BOEM to prepare a programmatic envi- Given that competition often fosters and industry-speci? c examples of “Good ronmental impact statement (PEIS) of the greater ef? ciencies, will the new BRICS

International Industry Practice,” includ- potential environmental impacts of G&G bank be able to develop and revise ing Environmental, Health, and Safety activities off the Atlantic coast. environmental guidelines for investments

In March 2012, the BOEM published a (EHS) Guidelines on Offshore Oil and Gas in offshore projects any faster than the draft PEIS, and during the 90-day comment

Development. The current EHS Guidelines

World Bank? seismic surveys and construction activities for less productive

The World Bank 2014 draft EHS guidelines times of the year, where possible. say the following about marine noise:

Sec. 74. O