744Regulations about data management

744 Regulations about data management

(1) The regulations may make provision for and in relation to—

(a) the keeping of accounts, records and other documents in connection with operations in the offshore area under—

(v) a greenhouse gas special authority; or

(vi) a greenhouse gas research consent; and

(b) the collection and retention of cores, cuttings and samples in connection with those operations; and

(c) the giving to the Minister, or a specified person, of reports, returns, other documents, cores, cuttings and samples in connection with those operations.

(2) In particular, the regulations may establish a scheme that—

(a) applies in relation to operations in the offshore area under—

(v) a greenhouse gas special authority; or

(vi) a greenhouse gas research consent—

held by a person (the holder); and

(b) requires the holder to prepare and submit a plan (a data management plan) that deals with any or all of the following—

(i) the keeping of accounts, records and other documents in connection with those operations;

(ii) the collection and retention of cores, cuttings and samples in connection with those operations;

(iii) the giving to the Minister, or to a person specified in the data management plan, of reports, returns, other documents, cores, cuttings and samples in connection with those operations; and

(c) empowers the Minister to make decisions about the approval of—

(i) a data management plan; and

(ii) variations of a data management plan; and

(d) requires the holder to comply with an approved data management plan submitted by the holder.

(3) A scheme referred to in subsection (2) may provide that the holder must not commence the relevant operations unless—

(a) an approved data management plan is in force; or

(b) the Minister gives consent to the commencement of those operations.

(4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not limit subsection (1).

(5) A requirement under section 743 is in addition to a requirement under regulations made for the purposes of this section.

Division 3—Information‑gathering powers