CHEMICALS likely to be discharged by an oil rig drilling in Poole Bay are not a "significant" risk to the environment, the Government says.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: "All chemicals used during offshore oil and gas operations undergo stringent safety and environmental risk assessments.
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"The risk assessment for the Colter well confirmed that proposed chemical use and discharge would not pose a significant environmental risk."
After several days of delays the rig is now expected to appear in the bay – some four miles from the coast of Studland and six from Bournemouth – over the weekend.
Petroleum licence operator Corallian Energy has until February 28 to assess the level of oil in the Colter prospect, which it expects to take three weeks.
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