These Regulations are made under sections 2 and 7(9) of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999. They provide for the phasing out of the system of exemptions under the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971 (permitting certain discharges of oil into the sea) and the replacement of that system by a permit system. Regulation 3 provides that, in order for operators of offshore installations to discharge oil into relevant waters, a permit must be granted to them. This regulation also allows for