Nation's Worst Polluter Thumbs Nose At Law, With White House Approval

The country's worst polluter has refused to accept the legally binding orders from the agency in charge of cleaning up polluted sites. And it has happened with full approval of the White House.

Lyndsey Layton reports for the Washington Post

Pentagon Fights EPA On Pollution Cleanup

The Defense Department, the nation's biggest polluter, is resisting orders from the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up Fort Meade and two other military bases where the EPA says dumped chemicals pose "imminent and substantial" dangers to public health and the environment.

The Pentagon has also declined to sign agreements required by law that cover 12 other military sites on the Superfund list of the most polluted places in the country. The contracts would spell out a remediation plan, set schedules, and allow the EPA to oversee the work and assess penalties if milestones are missed.

The actions are part of a standoff between the Pentagon and environmental regulators that has been building during the Bush administration, leaving the EPA in a legal limbo as it addresses growing concerns about contaminants on military bases that are seeping into drinking water aquifers and soil.

Under executive branch policy, the EPA will not sue the Pentagon, as it would a private polluter. Although the law gives final say to EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson in cleanup disputes with other federal agencies, the Pentagon refuses to recognize that provision. Military officials wrote to the Justice Department last month to challenge EPA's authority to issue the orders and asked the Office of Management and Budget to intervene.

Experts in environmental law said the Pentagon's stand is unprecedented.

But what else would one expect?

"This is stunning," said Rena Steinzor, who helped write the Superfund laws as a congressional staffer and now teaches at the University of Maryland Law School and is president of the nonprofit Center for Progressive Reform. "The idea that they would refuse to sign a final order -- that is the height of amazing nerve."

Pentagon officials say they are voluntarily cleaning up the three sites named in the EPA's "final orders" -- Fort Meade in Maryland, Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida and McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey.

Fort Meade borders residential areas in fast-growing Anne Arundel County; Tyndall and McGuire are in less-populated regions. At all three sites, the military has released toxic chemicals -- some known to cause cancer and other serious health problems -- into the soil and groundwater.

But the EPA has been dissatisfied with the extent and progress of the Pentagon's voluntary efforts.

"Final orders" are the EPA's most potent enforcement tool. If a polluter does not comply, the agency usually can go to court to force compliance and impose fines up to $28,000 a day for each violation.

But none of tools usually used to force compliance are available this time. So sad.

Cleanup agreements drafted by the EPA for the 12 other sites contain "extensive provisions" that the Pentagon finds unacceptable, officials said.

Well let's just do whatever the Pentagon finds acceptable, then. And get it over with.

The Future Of Personal Transportation In America

Here's a glimpse of the future, from Emily Wax and Ria Sen in the Washington Post. I've added some photos and a few comments.

"Fuel Prices Boost Cause of S. Asia's Maligned Rickshaw".

The bicycle rickshaws that weave through New Delhi's narrow lanes have long been scorned by authorities here for congesting the city's already fierce traffic. The creaking carriages crawl alongside luxury sedans, book hawkers, horse-drawn carts, hulking buses and cows.

In this city and the other quickly modernizing capitals of South Asia, governments have called the rickshaws backward, embarrassing symbols of the Third World.

Now, however, in a time of $7-a-gallon fuel in New Delhi and growing concerns about pollution, environmental activists and transportation experts are pushing back against rickshaw critics. And rickshaw cyclists are seizing the moment to tout the virtues of their trade.

"My rickshaw is my life. It's very cheap for my passengers," said Saurabh Ganguly, a 27-year-old rickshaw cyclist whose shirt was sticky with dirt and grime. He proudly observed a knot of traffic where about 50 rickshaw cyclists were jangling their bells, pressing their horns and zigzagging past lumbering buses belching plumes of black soot. "We don't even pollute," Ganguly said. "We should be allowed to survive."

Survival has been tenuous for bicycle rickshaws here. Last year, New Delhi banned them in the old walled neighborhood known as Chandni Chowk, one of the capital's most ancient and crowded shopping bazaars, as well as on main roads. While the ban has not been aggressively enforced, rickshaw cyclists say they often pay bribes to keep working.

The rich get richer and the poor pay bribes to keep working.

An international nonprofit group, the Initiative for Transportation and Development Policy, challenged the ban in India's Supreme Court this month, saying current economic and environmental conditions have made rickshaws more necessary than ever.

"We must save the cycle rickshaw drivers. Look at the soaring fuel price hikes," said Nalin Sinha, program director for the group's New Delhi office.

"These bikes are wonderful alternatives. They provide an affordable, smog-free choice," Sinha said. "But unfortunately, when the whole world is talking about the environment, we in South Asia are talking about 'development.' We somehow think we are better if we have hordes of swanky cars."

We're even worse: we think we're better if we have hordes of junk!

There is anecdotal evidence that ridership has increased in some South Asian cities as customers look to save on transportation costs. Sinha said his group is studying the issue.

New Delhi's Center for Science and Environment is also pushing for the court to overturn the ban in Chandni Chowk. The group has pointed to increases in the city's pollution and in the number of children with asthma, blaming the growing number of motor vehicles. India's economic boom is adding nearly 1,000 cars a day to the capital's streets.

"We should be building bike lanes to provide the cycle rickshaws a humane driving area for many reasons. Let's face it, fuel prices are only getting higher, and here we have an alternative right in front of us," said Vivek Chattopadhyaya, the center's pollution researcher. "If we keep banning them, we will regret this in future generations."

Some activists in India cite the increasing number of bicycle rickshaws being used in cities such as London, Paris, New York and Washington, often in neighborhoods with high congestion and heavy foot traffic. Local governments have welcomed the rickshaws as environmentally friendly alternatives.

Here's a situation where it makes perfect sense to "think global, act local". Want to do something for the environment? Sell your SUV, buy a rickshaw, and get an honest job for a change!!

There are an estimated 600,000 bicycle rickshaws in New Delhi serving an estimated 4 million customers. Trips range from one to six miles. The rickshaws -- many festooned with flowers and tricked out with paintings of cartoonish Bollywood starlets and cricket stars -- usually charge less than 50 cents a trip. On a recent monsoon-drenched afternoon, two female college students shopping for jeans said they were taking a bicycle rickshaw as an alternative to increasingly pricey taxis and auto-rickshaws, also powered by gas.

Indian women and children tend to take bicycle rickshaws more often than men because the rickshaws are seen as safe compared with overstuffed buses and unknown taxi drivers.

"We love the peaceful and private ride and the breeze," said Shweta Goyal, 19, an English literature major, as she settled in for a ride. "I like that the price is never impacted by fuel hikes. To me, it's a lovely way to do some shopping as a woman."

In Bangladesh's traffic-clogged capital of Dhaka, where there have been widespread protests over the rising prices of rice and fuel, rickshaw cyclist Shamsul Haque said business has never been better.

We could use some widespread protests ourselves. And some widespread rickshaws.

"There's been a turning point suddenly," said Haque, 25, a father of two who moved from a rural area to get a job as a rickshaw cyclist. "Our customers know we are cheap and very friendly."

Cheap and very friendly? Not me; I'm just cheap.

Some government officials have a different view.

"The rickshaws are popular in the walled old city like Chandni Chowk, but they can lead to large amounts of congestion," said Pawan Khera, secretary to the chief minister of New Delhi. "It's also not so easy for them since there are so many different kinds of motorized traffic on the roads."

It's not so easy for them because of the polluting traffic that's stopped in their way. So let's ban them. That'll make it easier for them!!

Khera said cycle rickshaws will always have a place around the city, but perhaps only in certain areas. New Delhi, meanwhile, is working to curb pollution by expanding the metro rail system and requiring new buses to run on compressed natural gas.

On a recent day in Chandni Chowk, rickshaw cyclists could be seen sweating and straining as they conveyed passengers through the city. Amid the chaotic lanes lined with sellers of Rajasthani slippers, fresh lime soda and incense, a few sari shoppers loaded stacks of wedding clothes onto one rusty old rickshaw. Their fare would be a quarter of what it would cost to drive or take a taxi.

"We do a proper job for everyone," lamented Mohammed Avip, 35, a rickshaw cyclist nearby. "Why does the police and government harass us so?"

Maybe they just need somebody to harass, somebody from whom to extract bribes.

Did Mohammed Avip ever think of that? Did you?

When our mechanized civilization is all over except the crying, before the radiation poisoning has killed absolutely everybody, wheels will still roll and people will still roll them.

Prepare yourself or not; it's your choice.

But don't say I didn't warn you.

Choose Your Lens -- But Do It Carefully

New from Mark Morford: We are doomed! Sort of!
Earth in crisis, food and water increasingly scarce, people freaking out. Should you join them?

It would be nice to think much of the ugliness is coming to an end.

It would be lovely to imagine the era of brutal Earth-mauling technologies, coal extraction and petroleum and industrial agriculture and strip mining and clear cutting and industrial fishing and all rest, all the more rapacious and unforgiving notions of how we exist on this planet are, after an era of unchecked capitalistic greed and waste and over-consumption right along with almost zero concern for consequences and the ethics of sustainability, finally moving toward obsolescence -- or rather, are quickly being shoved there by sheer necessity, brutal market forces, as supply runs dry and oil production slows and the Earth groans and spits and says, "enough already."

It is a pivotal time, and now more than ever, you get to choose the lens through which you want to watch it all unfold. Or implode.

Choose your lens! And pick your frame!

How much are you willing to look at? And what are you willing to see when you look at it?

For every bit of good news, bad seems to top it like a dirt clod on an ice cream cone. More than 10 years ago, we banned CFCs and as a result, the ozone hole is actually healing, which could theoretically help slow global warming. Then again, as the ice shelves melt, more trees grow, which, given the circumstances, might actually make things worse by reducing the albedo effect.

On it goes. Flooding in the Midwest has severely damaged corn and soy crops, further straining the food supply and washing tons of pesticides into the water table. Meanwhile, California is in drought, wildfires are spreading like, well, wildfire as the state endures its driest spring ever.

It's tempting to see it as one vicious tug of war, eternal dark forces pitted against eternal light, exemplified by, say, Big Oil CEOs on one side and hemp-loving biodiesel hippies on the other, a grand footrace to see if our rapacious capitalistic appetites will destroy us before our finer reason and good conscience saves us in the final minute.

Far harder to swallow the reality, which is far more gray and murky and strange. Because of course there is no 100-percent perfect energy source, no such thing as zero pollution, no magic bullet, no way to move through God's wicked workshop without breaking a few glasses and swiping some gumballs and leaving skid marks on the lawn. Maybe the real question isn't which lens to choose, but rather, do we even know how to see?

I think you should read the whole piece, and Mark Morford's archives are here.

Raiding The Vault IV -- Read 'Em And Weep

I'm in the midst of a difficult week and can't write much at the moment ... but I can point you toward a few elderly posts which I hope will be ... um ... educational?

A short [!] post from April 24, 2005, is reproduced in full below. It's called "Read 'Em And Weep".

The conditions described here are still in effect -- only worse. We're still reading -- and still weeping.

~~~

This will not be pleasant, but I assure you it's necessary.

Read the following excerpts, and see if you can put two and two together:

Robert Kohler: Silent genocide: Depleted-uranium munitions are contaminating the world

[According to] former Livermore Labs geologist Leuren Moret .... depleted uranium turns into an infinitesimally fine dust after it explodes; individual particles are smaller than a virus or bacteria. And, “It is estimated that one millionth of a gram accumulating in a person’s body would be fatal. There are no known methods of treatment.”

And DU dust is everywhere. A minimum of 500 or 600 tons now litter Afghanistan, and several times that amount are spread across Iraq. In terms of global atmospheric pollution, we’ve already released the equivalent of 400,000 Nagasaki bombs, Moret said.

The numbers are overwhelming, but the potential horrors only get worse. DU dust does more than wreak havoc on the immune systems of those who breathe or touch it; the substance also alters one’s genetic code.

Thus, birth defects are way up in Afghanistan since the invasion: children “born with no eyes, no limbs, tumors protruding from their mouths … deformed genitalia,” according to the tribunal report. This ghastly toll on the unborn — on the future — has led Mohammed Daud Miraki, director of the Afghan DU and Recovery Fund, to coin the term “silent genocide” to describe the effects of this horrific weapon.

Riverbend: Baghdad Burning: The Cruel Month...

The weather is warm now. We often turn on the ceiling fan (or panka) in an attempt to move around the muggy air. April is a month of fresh beginnings all over the world but in Iraq, April is not the best of months. April is a month of muggy warmth and air thick with dust and sand- and now of occupation. We opened the month with a dust storm that left the furniture in our houses sand-colored with an opaque layer of dust. We breathed dust, ate dust and drank dust for a few days. The air is clearer now but everything is looking a little bit diminished and dirty. It suits the mood.

What a mood! Diminished and dirty and extremely deadly. April may be a cruel month, even in "normal times". But these times are definitely not normal. Every month is cruel in Iraq now. How could it be otherwise, when there's depleted uranium everywhere?

We breathed dust, ate dust and drank dust...

And we know what was in that dust...

Even in our time of unrelenting doublespeak, "Operation Iraqi Freedom" must be the most cynical lie of all. The only "freedom" conferred upon Iraq by this operation will be "Freedom from Worrying about the Future".

It's this simple: When you're breathing, eating and drinking dust, and that dust contains depleted uranium, there's no point in worrying about the future. Because there is no future.

Read Bob Kohler. Read Riverbend. Read 'em and weep.

Every American, every Brit, every Australian, every citizen of any country involved in the so-called "coalition", who is not doing his or her utmost to get this horror-show stopped, is silently complicit in this crime. And the crime, unless I am badly mistaken, will end up making Hitler's holocaust look like a picnic in the park.

Read 'em and weep. May God have mercy upon our souls.

Surprise! Ralph Nader Is Running For President!

In a move that's bound to surprise somebody, somewhere, Ralph Nader has announced his candidacy for the presidency, as an independent.

All the mainstream media will be full of the standard swill -- and in fact it already is! -- a reminder of how Nader supposedly cost Al Gore the 2000 election, and a flurry of quotes from "the candidates" about how this affects the race from their point of view.

I think this is all bogus and without substance, transparently intended to discredit Nader in the same way as they -- "the candidates" and the media -- would try to discredit any alternative, credible or not.

Clearly, above all else, they wish to avoid talking about the issues.

So I went to Ralph Nader's site, clicked through to the main page and found a link to a page marked "Issues". There Nader lists "Twelve Issues That Matter For 2008", and as he explains, the list is a work in progress. Here's what he has so far:

• Adopt single payer national health insurance
• Cut the huge, bloated, wasteful military budget
• No to nuclear power, solar energy first
• Aggressive crackdown on corporate crime and corporate welfare
• Open up the Presidential debates
• Adopt a carbon pollution tax
• Reverse U.S. policy in the Middle East
• Impeach Bush/Cheney
• Repeal the Taft-Hartley anti-union law
• Adopt a Wall Street securities speculation tax
• Put an end to ballot obstructionism
• Work to end corporate personhood
  

And here's the offer he's making:

Remember, these twelve issues represent the tip of the political iceberg. But they are indicative of the corporate domination of the Democratic and Republican parties. There are many more where these came from. We’ll be adding them as we go along. Write to us with your suggestions.

So now I'm going to write to him and say:

Dear Ralph:

Investigate 9/11
Stop the "war on terror"
Eliminate electronic voting
Break up the media monopoly
End tax breaks for the wealthy
Restore habeas corpus
Investigate 9/11
Stop all the torture everywhere
Restore fairness in media
Eliminate electronic voting
Repeal the PATRIOT ACTs
Repeal the Military Commissions Act
Investigate 9/11
Stop fomenting terrorism
Shut down the death squads
Tear down the concentration camps
Quit invading foreign countries
Eliminate electronic voting
Investigate 9/11
Execute the war criminals

I invite you to do the same, or something similar. And if you wish to share your "Letter to Ralph" in the comments thread, by all means please do so.

Beyond The Mirror -- The 9/11 Funhouse, Part IV

In this series, I've been discussing some of the most transparently false arguments concerning 9/11 and the Global War On Terror that are still in circulation (starting here, then parts one, two and three). In this installment, a few fallacies concerning the so-called "conspiracy theorists" who say "9/11 was an inside job": more personal forms of attack, and a more personal defense.

Conspiracy Theorists Need Something To Believe In

Like all good propaganda, the most enduring lies about 9/11 are difficult to disentangle. One of the most complex is the one that says:

The people who see a conspiracy behind 9/11 are basically paranoid conspiracy theorists who see conspiracies everywhere. They can't accept the fact that the world is chaotic -- they need to believe unseen forces are at work behind everything happening around them. These people would have seen a conspiracy behind 9/11 no matter what they saw, no matter what they were told, no matter what actually happened.

This is difficult to refute because there's a grain of truth to it. There are people who see unseen forces behind everything. But I'm not one of them.

I have no need to believe unseen forces are at work, anywhere. I would be quite content to believe that everybody was playing by the same rules, just like in checkers or something, and get on with it. But I seem to be driven by a more powerful force -- a need to make sense of the world.

I'm an empiricist: I grew up reading Arthur Conan Doyle's stories about Sherlock Holmes and absorbing wisdom such as "It is a capital mistake to theorize in advance of the facts." Even now, I have no interest in simply theorizing about things; I want to see the details. I'm not the type to fix the intelligence around the policy. I want to base the policy on a coherent analysis of the intelligence.

As a kid, I spent a lot of time thinking about the famous line from Holmes that runs: "When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." As a student I specialized in math and science. For fun I played chess and music. Later on I taught math. Now I program computers for a living.

All these activities keep me thinking about what is true and what is false. They've taught me to eliminate the impossible and to accept the truth, no matter how improbable it might seem. And it's become a vital life-skill. In prior days, my math had to be solid or the college would have booted me out. Nowadays, my code has to be solid or my clients will go elsewhere. When the day comes that I can't separate the true from the false, I'm out of a job. I've always known that.

So in a very hand-to-mouth sense, I need to believe in the truth -- both on a low level (my code is good; this math is right; that move is solid; this note is correct) and on higher levels as well (I know my kids are lying to me if their explanation doesn't fit the facts, and the same goes for clients and students and the television and the internet and everything else).

I'm happy if a story holds together. I'm happy if something is true. And it doesn't matter to me whether the truth is expressed as Bach or The Clash, whether it's beautiful architecture or witty graffiti, whether it's the sort of chess Bobby Fischer used to play, or Capablanca before him, or Paul Morphy before either of them! ... or Gauss or Newton or my favorite math teachers, or any of the other people who see how things work and describe them in ways that make sense.

And that's why I can't believe the official story of 9/11. It's not that I'm a conspiracy theorist by nature. It's just that the official story doesn't make any sense. It didn't make any sense on the day it happened, it's made even less sense as the years have gone by, and that's why I don't believe it.

I don't expect geopolitics to make sense in the way that Bach or Morphy did. I understand that we have a multitude of players, playing under multiple sets of rules -- or not playing under any rules at all! -- moving at the same time, deliberately cutting across one another's plans, and leaving a mess in their wake. I don't expect that wake to be simple, or easily untangled.

In other words, I might buy the story if there were only one or two incredible details. I would probably be satisfied with the idea that the attack was complex and bound to leave a few "loose ends", even if those "loose ends" were absolutely bizarre ... if there were only a few "loose ends" left over.

But it's not just a few loose ends. It's massive contradictions, clear evidence of lying, conflict of interest all over the place, advance warnings ignored, investigations shut down, evidence destroyed, official stories changed -- and changed again! -- and much more besides, including magical violation of the laws of physics.

For a single example of this magic in action, consider the "collapse" of the South Tower. As shown in the photos, the top third of the building broke off and started to topple over.

Part of it extended beyond the perimeter of the building, as we can clearly see.

If it had been a gravity-driven event, with no explosives involved, we would expect at least part of this block to continue falling, since there is no tower beneath it -- nothing to crush it but thin air. It should have landed in the street, or on an adjacent building. Instead this part of the tower turned to dust before it ever hit the ground. All because of gravity? Sorry! That can't happen in real life.

In other words, there's not necessarily anything wrong with me, and there's not necessarily anything wrong with anyone who agrees with me; there's something wrong with the story we've been told.

That's why I'm a "conspiracy theorist".

And I resent the constant media push to question my sanity, and that of others like me -- from people who won't even examine the facts of the case because they're so busy attacking those who do so. Some very well-known writers have lost all my respect for this very reason (and if I were less of a gentleman I might mention names such as Alexander Cockburn, George Monbiot, and Gwynne Dyer).

Conspiracy Theorists Find Their Bizarre Theories Comforting

Just in case it's not obvious yet, I don't speak for anybody but myself. I'm not a member of any 9/11-related organization, I don't hang at any 9/11-related websites, I'm not in any formal alliance with any group or individual. I do correspond with a few people who I support in various ways, and a few other people who help me too, but I have never discussed any of this with any of them. So I don't know what they think about it. I only know what I think.

I don't find any comfort in the belief that American democracy is over. I don't find any comfort in knowing that my country is fighting multiple wars based on gigantic and deliberately-crafted lies; that it has killed and/or maimed and/or rendered homeless millions and millions of people, in "revenge" for what amounts to nothing more than a bit of political "street theater".

There are already billions of people suffering through every day of their lives, dying from easily preventable diseases, starving to death, all kinds of horrible things going on in a world that's got enough natural cruelty to last a lifetime, without my country -- the wealthiest and most powerful nation the world has ever seen -- dropping bombs on people while they sleep, kidnapping them and taking them away to be tortured, destroying their hospitals, cutting off their water and electricity, and poisoning their landscape with depleted uranium -- all to separate them from their oil.

Anyone who has a heart and a moment to think about these things can see that there is nothing even remotely comforting about any of this -- nothing whatsoever. And I am more than a little bit offended by this particular transparently false argument about 9/11.

Conspiracy Theorists Hate America

This is possibly the biggest red herring there ever was. It's also a conflation of endless very different entities into a single ball of nonsense.

I've loved most of the American people I've ever met, most of the American landscape I've ever seen, too many individuals and places and things to mention, and let's not forget the principles on which the country was founded. I hate the violence; I hate the pollution; I hate the propaganda; I hate the endless war against the rest of the world; I hate the relentless glorification of rich idiots and serial killers; I hate the marginalization of the poor and the demonization of the gentle; I hate the racism and the intolerance and the hatred; I hate the national leadership of both major parties. Does this mean I hate America? Not at all -- and what if it did?

There are plenty of things to love about America, and plenty of things to hate. The truth or falsehood of the official 9/11 story doesn't depend on any of them.

Conspiracy Theorists Blame Bush For 9/11 Because They Hate Him

This is a reversal of cause and effect. Conspiracy theorists blame Bush because they can see so many ways in which he deserves to be blamed.

His reaction to the attack was inappropriate, every step of the way. He sat in the classroom and listened to the kids read the story about the goat, even though he knew the country was under attack. What sort of commander in chief is this?

Then he declared endless limitless war against the rest of the world. What sort of a statesman would do that?

Bush resisted any official investigation for as long as possible. Then when he was forced to empower one, he assigned the monstrous war criminal Henry Kissinger to run it. Kissinger had to resign to avoid the exposure of a blatant conflict of interest. He realized this when he was asked whether he had any Saudi Arabian clients named "Bin Laden".

So then Philip Zelikow was handed the assignment. He had previously written a book with Condoleeza Rice. He had also written a treatise on catastrophic terror and the political uses to which it could be put. He's a specialist in public myth-making. Bush put him in charge of the investigation.

When his turn came, Bush refused to testify in public, or under oath, or without Dick Cheney at his side. Bush and Cheney refused to allow any records of their "testimony" to be kept. All this was designed to make us trust them?

Then we found out that before 9/11, Bush ignored counter-terrorism officials who tried to warn him about the coming attack. We found out that investigations into certain families and certain countries had been systematically shut down. We found out that members of the Bin Laden family were allowed to leave the country in the immediate wake of the attacks. We found out that the Bush family and the Bin Laden family have done business together for a long time. We found out a lot more, too, that traces directly to the president, and his father.

Conspiracy theorists hate George Bush because of all this. They didn't make all this up in order to support some baseless, irrational, pre-determined hatred of him.

This deliberate reversal of cause and effect is so transparent; it's more an assault on the fabric of reality than on the "inside job" argument.

In other words, "If you'll believe this, you'll believe anything!"

And that's exactly what they're hoping for.

Lessons From Poland: Preparing For Martial Law

During the American Revolution, the Good Guys received enormous assistance from a small number of foreigners, including the Polish soldier and politician Casimir Pulaski, who emigrated to North America and became a General in the Continental Army. We now face a crisis no less grave, and once again we have a Polish friend offering assistance.

We know so little about what has happened in foreign countries, even in our own lifetimes. Many of us remember the imposition in 1981 of martial law in Poland. As some of us recall, it was a brutal onslaught against the Solidarity movement led by Lech Walesa. A few of us could even tell you the name of the Army General who led the assault, although very few of us could spell Wojciech Jaruzelski.

But most of us know nothing of the struggle of the Polish people against this monstrosity, and in view of the current situation, we ought to be trying to learn everything we can about it.

I urge you to consider the following passages from Lech Biegalski's "Martial Law" (via Canada Watch dot Org, and mirrored here):

Historical precedent and parallels:

There are many similarities between the situation that led to the establishment of martial law in Poland and the current situation in the United States and other Western countries. Among these, the most relevant are:

* Expected popular protest and social unrest to oppose the corporate take over of the political system, the end of democracy, and the continental deep integration;

* Expected protests and organized action to oppose the war agenda;

* Crashing economy and a possibility of a market break down.

Due to these similarities, it can be expected that the organization and management of the martial law in the United States (and possibly in other western countries) will be similar to that in Poland two and a half decades ago. It is also possible that forces preparing the martial law today draw on experiences and conclusions from the "Jaruzelski's War Against the Nation." Therefore, it seems to make sense to recall and to analyze the historical events of the 1980s.

Techniques and tactics of popular resistance:

Following are the most common strategies used by population under the martial law in Poland in 1981 - 1983 and how they may apply to a potential martial law in U.S., and Canada:

* Compile and constantly update lists of persons arrested and interned, to keep the authorities accountable for all political prisoners.

* Collect pictures, statements, and other documented evidence of crimes and incidents involving abuse of power by the authorities, including names of persons responsible, publish the information and share it with international organizations such as Red Cross and Amnesty International. Pass this information to foreign journalists, foreign embassies, etc.

* Demand access to political prisoners by Red Cross, Amnesty International, and families of persons interned.

* Organize help (including material support) for families of persons arrested and interned.

* Organize legal help for political prisoners and popular awareness of their cases.

* Organize small, independently working groups of writers, publishers, and distributors of independent newspapers, brochures, and flyers. (Internet will most certainly be shut down.)

* Print and distribute independent books (these will be outlawed).

* Work in small groups with people that you know well and trust. Avoid extensive contacts with other groups. Avoid people who try to infiltrate your group from outside.

* Use nicknames, even between people who work together. Use messengers. Use contact places that cannot be easily observed or infiltrated (places with large numbers of people randomly contacting each other and frequently moving.)

* Build transmitters and organize "illegal" radio programs. These can be transmitted locally, within a radius of a few kilometres, using a tape deck, a transmitting circuit, a wire antennae, and a couple of 9V batteries. Use two or three twin transmitters on high points in the neighbourhood, for example on the roofs of apartment buildings or local plazas. Have a remote-control that allows you to switch the transmitters on and off in sequence in order to confuse military units with directional tracking devices. These remote controls can be adopted from remote-control toys, especially boats and planes (these have longer range than cars.) Distribute information about the program shortly before its transmission by dropping it in places where large numbers of people gather (malls, churches, etc.)

* Continue suspended activities of trade unions and other organizations in underground. Make sure that communication with members and organization of members is possible. If necessary, select / elect / appoint new governing bodies. This should be done confidentially and with limited number of people involved. Take over old structures, if they are inactive and useless.

* Refuse to use private transportation. Be ready to work but demand that the government provides sufficient public transportation for everybody to go to and from work. They cannot force you to use your private car to travel to and from work.

* Be prepared for and support a general strike. Exclude from general strike companies and services essential for the survival of the population.

* Prepare for sharing of essential needs (food, drinks, medications, clothing.) In critical situation, when the general strike takes a long time, sharing should replace buying. Goods essential for survival of families should be shared everywhere, (store chains and warehouses included.) Ideally, this will be the first step towards establishing local self-governments.

* Support your local self-government in everything they ask for but allow them to work in secrecy. Volunteer your time and your possessions. Respond to their appeals and calls.

* Organize public disobedience and peaceful protests at every occasion possible.

* Organize private meetings and workshops.

* Whenever and wherever strikes are not possible, SLOW DOWN and COMPLICATE the work.

* Ignore and socially isolate people who support the system and the martial law.

The importance of information:

It is necessary to provide people with convincing reasons for resistance. These must be political and must hit home. People must be aware of all consequences of accepting the political agenda of the current government, including the illegal global war for resources, the risk of nuclear pollution of the environment, and the criminal depopulation policy. People must understand that this is a war for survival with a criminal oligarchy and corrupted politicians that serve it. This is an ideological war for the kind of political system we will have in the future. This is a war for our freedom and our liberties. This is a war for democracy and justice. In this war there will be no compromise, it's either them or us. It's serious.

We want all our resources, our land, our markets, our banks, our monetary and fiscal systems nationalized. We want key media corporations nationalized. We want private armies, operating mafia-style outside of any democratic control, outlawed. We want the politicians to represent the people and the military to protect the people. We want to lead the world to a better future. If we do nothing, we all will soon live like Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. People must understand that this is not a conspiracy theory. This is real.

You got all that? I think you should read the entire article. Save it. Print it. Prepare to distribute copies.

Save other important articles, too. Be ready to print and distribute them as necessary.

This is only one of the things we must all be prepared to do. All of them are crucial.

This is an ideological war for the kind of political system we will have in the future. This is a war for our freedom and our liberties. This is a war for democracy and justice. In this war there will be no compromise, it's either them or us.

Mike Gravel On Antiwar Radio With Scott Horton

Former Senator and current Presidential candidate Mike Gravel spoke with Scott Horton for Monday's Antiwar Radio show. Scott describes the interview:

Former Alaska Senator and Democratic Presidential Candidate Mike Gravel discusses his plan for the Congress to criminalize the Iraq war, the cowardice of the Congress, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards’s aggressive position against Iran, his proposal for opening of friendly relations with them instead, how the Iraq war has strengthened Iran’s position in the region, the neoconservatives’ doctrine of global hegemony, Iran’s nuclear program, his plan for direct democracy and the U.S. military’s war against their veterans.

You can listen to Scott Horton's the hour-long interview with Mike Gravel via links on this page or you can just click here.

You may also enjoy this seven-minute reminder of Gravel's performance in the Democratic debate:

Where did this man come from? Here's Scott Horton again:

Senator Gravel enlisted in the U.S. Army (1951-54) and served as special adjutant in the Communication Intelligence Services and as a Special Agent in the Counter Intelligence Corps. He received a B.S. in Economics from Columbia University, New York City, and holds four honorary degrees in law and public affairs.

Mike Gravel served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1963-66, and as Speaker from 1965-66. He then represented Alaska in the U.S. Senate from 1969-81. He served on the Finance, Interior, and Environmental and Public Works committees, chairing the Energy, Water Resources, Buildings and Grounds, and Environmental Pollution subcommittees.

In 1971, he waged a successful one-man filibuster for five months that forced the Nixon administration to cut a deal, effectively ending the draft in the United States. He is most prominently known for his release of the Pentagon Papers, the secret official study that revealed the lies and manipulations of successive U.S. administrations that misled the country into the Vietnam War. After the New York Times published portions of the leaked study, the Nixon administration moved to block any further publication of information and to punish any newspaper publisher who revealed the contents.

From the floor of the senate, Gravel (a junior senator at the time) insisted that his constituents had a right to know the truth behind the war and proceeded to read 4,100 pages of the 7,000 page document into the senate record. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that Senator Gravel did not have the right and responsibility to share official documents with his constituents.

He then published The Senator Gravel Edition, The Pentagon Papers, Beacon Press (1971). This publication resulted in litigation, Gravel v. U.S., resulting in a landmark Supreme Court decision (No. 71-1017-1026) relative to the Speech and Debate Clause (Article 1, Section 6) of the United States Constitution.

He has worked as a cab driver in New York City, a clerk on Wall Street and as a brakeman on the Alaska Railroad. He founded and served as president of The Democracy Foundation, Philadelphia II, and Direct Democracy, nonprofit corporations dedicated to the establishment of direct democracy in the United States through the enactment of the National Initiative for Democracy by American voters.

Other books authored by Senator Gravel are Jobs and More Jobs, and Citizen Power. He lectures and writes about governance, foreign affairs, economics, Social Security, tax reform, energy, environmental issues and democracy.

Dunno about you, but I Like Mike!

The Proposed Iraqi Oil Law

The new Oil Law proposed for Iraq has been leaked to the blogosphere. The text presented below is from a draft dated January 15, 2007, and translated by Raed and Niki of Raed in the Middle. Essential further details, including analysis and PDF files, are available from Raed here.

This page is intended for those who seek the text of the proposed Iraqi Oil Law in HTML. Many thanks to Raed Jarrar for translating this document and making it available to us. I have done a very slight bit of editing for clarity.

~~~~~

Contents

Preamble
CHAPTER I: Fundamental Provisions
ARTICLE 1: Ownership of Petroleum Resources
ARTICLE 2: Scope of Application
ARTICLE 3: Purpose
ARTICLE 4: Definitions

CHAPTER II: Management of Petroleum Resources
ARTICLE 5: Competence Of Authorities
ARTICLE 6: Creating the National Iraqi Oil Company
ARTICLE 7: Re-Arranging the ministry of oil
ARTICLE 8: Oil Fields’ development and production
ARTICLE 9: Grant of Rights
ARTICLE 10: Mechanisms of negotiations and contracting
ARTICLE 11: Oil revenue
ARTICLE 12: Participation of the State

CHAPTER III: UPSTREAM OPERATIONS
ARTICLE 13: Exploration and Production Contract
ARTICLE 14: obligations of the Holders of Exploration and Production right
ARTICLE 15: building local expertise
ARTICLE 16: Unitisation
ARTICLE 17: Conservation
ARTICLE 18: Access to Main Pipelines and Field Pipelines
ARTICLE 19: Ownership of Data
ARTICLE 20: Restrictions on Production Levels

CHAPTER IV: Transportation
ARTICLE 21: Main Pipelines
ARTICLE 22: Rights and Obligations regarding Pipelines

CHAPTER V: Natural Gas
ARTICLE 23: investment of Gas
ARTICLE 24: Associated Gas
ARTICLE 25: Flaring of Natural Gas
ARTICLE 26: Non-Associated Gas

CHAPTER VI: Regulatory Matters
ARTICLE 27: Regulations for Petroleum Operations
ARTICLE 28: Use and Benefit of Land and Rights of Way
ARTICLE 29: Access to Zones Subject to Maritime Jurisdiction
ARTICLE 30: Inspection
ARTICLE 31: Environmental Protection and Safety
ARTICLE 32: Transfer of Ownership and Decommissioning

CHAPTER VII: Fiscal Regime
ARTICLE 33: General Principles of Taxation
ARTICLE 34: Royalty
ARTICLE 35: Other Taxation Issues

CHAPTER VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions
ARTICLE 36: Transparency
ARTICLE 37: implementing anti-corruption laws
ARTICLE 38: attracting competitive participation
ARTICLE 39: Existing Contracts
ARTICLE 40: Resolution of Disputes
ARTICLE 41: Relationship to Existing Legislation
ARTICLE 42: Entry in Force

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS the Iraqi Republic has entered a new era after the adoption of the Constitution In 2005;

WHEREAS, ARTICLE 111 of the said Constitution declares Oil and Gas as the property of the whole nation in all Its Provinces and Governorates;

WHEREAS, ARTICLEs 110, 112, 114 and 115 seen in the light of ARTICLE 111 broadly define the authorities and responsibilities of the Federal and Provincial authorities within the Petroleum sector;

WHEREAS, the Iraqi Republic is endowed with rich Oil and Gas resources, a great portion of which is already discovered and ready for Development whilst more Petroleum resources are yet to be discovered;

WHEREAS, Iraq's Production capacity during the last decades has been low and at great disparity with its exceptionally rich Oil and Gas resources;

WHEREAS, the Iraqi nation finds Itself at the crossroad to a new and more prosperous future which will require quick and substantial funding of reconstruction and modernization projects;

WHEREAS, revenues from oil and Gas represent the most important basis for redeveloping the country in general and the Iraqi economy In particular on sustainable and robust basis in a planned and coordinated manner that takes into consideration the objectives of the Constitution Including the unity of the Iraqi Republic, the exhaustible nature of Petroleum resources, the need for preserving the environment; To help the Iraqi Ministry Of Oil focus on its main duties of creating policies, planning, and supervision, while achieving the necessary upgrading to enhance operational quality, the oil activates operated solely by the Ministry of Oil have to be transferred to technical and commercial entities and institutions including an independent national Iraqi oil company, and the Iraqi provinces and regions should be given more authorities.

WHEREAS the rehabilitation and further development of the petroleum Industry will be enhanced by the participation of international and national investors of recognized technical, managerial and operational skills as welt as robust capital resources to help upgrade and develop national expertise and efficiency in the petroleum sector;

WHEREAS, the national private Industry directly and indirectly related to the Petroleum sector are in need of proactive encouragement and support to play a prominent role in the development of the sector;

WHEREAS, the positive interplay between the Federal and Provincial authorities requires appropriate legislative and institutional framework conditions to ensure efficient co-ordination;

WHEREAS, the introduction of a variety of national and international players in the development of the Petroleum sector calls for clear legislative, institutional and operational framework conditions to ensure co-ordination and efficiency between the Iraqi authorities and the commercial players as well as among these players;

WHEREAS, the development of the petroleum sector must be closely coordinated and harmonized with the development of the society and the national economy in a manner that maintains sustainable development for the economy and the environment and in the long term decreases dependence on Oil and Gas revenues;

WHEREAS, the terms and conditions regulating the Petroleum sector are of great importance to the whole nation as well as to all Investors in the sector, there is a need for a clear, fair, transparent and efficient system of governance that inspires confidence, efficiency and co-operation among all participants in the petroleum sector be that on the authorities side (Federal, Provincial or Governate level) or among the national and International actors;

THEREFORE .......

CHAPTER I: FUNDAMENTAL PROVISIONS

ARTICLE 1: OWNERSHIP OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES

Ownership of oil and natural gas is vested in the entire Iraqi Federal Oil and Gas Council in all provinces and regions.

ARTICLE 2 : SCOPE OF APPLICATION

A - This law applies to Petroleum Operations in all the territory of the Republic of Iraq, including the soil and subsoil on land, as well as inland waters and territorial waters.

B - The scope of this Law excludes the refining of Petroleum, its industrial utilization as well as the distribution and the marketing of Petroleum Products.

ARTICLE 3 : PURPOSE

A - This law establishes the regime for the management of Petroleum Operations in the Republic of Iraq, taking Into account the existing International agreements between the Republic of Iraq and other countries on crude oil transportation.

B - The law aims to build upon existing co-operation between the relevant Ministries in the Federal Government administration, in addition to building a base for coordination and discussions among the federal, regional, and provincial oil producing authorities.

ARTICLE 4 : DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this law, the following terms and expressions shall have the meaning indicated as follows, unless the context in which used requires a different meaning:

1 - "Discovery": the first Petroleum encountered in a Reservoir by drilling that is recoverable at the surface by conventional petroleum industry methods;

2 - "Commercial Discovery": a discovery which has been deemed to be commercial for Development purposes by the holder of Exploration and Production right;

3 - "Region": Kurdistan region or any other regions created in Iraq after issuing this law according to the Iraqi constitution

4 - "Good Oilfield Practices" All those practices related to petroleum operations that are generally accepted by the international petroleum industry as as good, safe, environmentally friendly, economic and efficient In exploring for and producing Petroleum

5 - "Good Pipeline Practices" - all those practices related to transportation by pipelines including the design, construction, commissioning, maintenance, operation and decommissioning of pipelines that are generally accepted in the international petroleum industry as good, safe, environmentally friendly, economic and efficient in transporting Petroleum:

6 - "Production" - the extraction and disposal of Petroleum;

7 - "Petroleum" - all Crude Oil or Natural Gas, or other hydrocarbons produced or capable of being produced from Crude Oil, Natural Gas, oil rocks or tar sands;

8 - "Development": the activities carried out by the holder of Exploration and Production right based on either the Field Development Plan or the Main Pipeline Development Plan, which aim at Production and transportation of Petroleum;

9 - "Exploration": the search for Petroleum by geological, geophysical and other
means including drilling of Exploration and appraisal wells;

10 - "Field" - An area consisting of a single Reservoir or multiple Reservoirs all grouped on, or related to, the same individual geological structural feature or stratigraphic condition. The field name refers to the surface area, although it may refer to both the surface and the underground productive formations.

11 - "Field Pipeline" - a pipeline, including valve stations, pump stations, compressor stations and associated installations, collecting crude oil or natural gas from a field or a group of fields and delivering it to a transfer point for further transportation;

12 - Pipeline: an entity that consists of a linear pipeline accompanied with other components on the ground level including stations of pumping, valves, compression, and other accompanied accessories for gauging, supervision, telecommunications, remote control, for the purposes of transporting crude oil and natural gas from the transfer point to the delivery point.

13 - "Main Pipeline" - The principal pipeline, including valve stations, pump stations, compressor stations and associated installations built by the transporter, for the transportation of crude oil or natural gas from one or several fields or sources inside or outside Iraq;

14 - "Field Development Plan" - a scheduled programme and cost estimate specifying the appraisal and development activities required to develop and produce petroleum from a specific field or group of fields by the holder of an exploration and production contract, prepared in accordance with this law and the relevant provisions in the Regulations for Petroleum Operations and the Exploration and Production Contract covering that contract Area;

15 - "Main Pipeline Development Plan" - A scheme and cost estimate specifying all activities to be carried out by the transporter for the transportation of petroleum by pipeline inside Iraq and across the territory of neighbouring States, prepared in accordance with this Law, the relevant provisions in the regulations for Petroleum Operations and the Exploration and Production Contract covering that Contract Area and any relevant bilateral agreements.

16 - "Decommissioning Plan": a scheme for the closure of Petroleum Operations and restoration of the operating environment including the removal and disposal of all installations;

17 - "Iraqi Person"- Any citizen with Iraqi nationality or any company or institution with legal personality established and registered pursuant to Iraqi legislation, with its headquarters in Iraq and having at least 50% of its share capital held by national citizens or by Iraqi public or private companies or institutions;

18 - "Foreign Person" Any non-Iraqi citizen or any company or institution with legal personality established and registered pursuant to Iraqi legislation, and having less than 50% of its share capital held by national citizens or by Iraqi public or private companies or institutions;

19 - "Petroleum Operations" - all or any of the activities related to Exploration, Development, Production, separation and treatment, storage, transportation and sale or delivery of Petroleum at the Delivery Point, Export Point or to the agreed Supply Point inside or outside Iraq. And includes Natural Gas treatment operations and the closure of all concluded activities;

20 - "Natural Gas" - all hydrocarbons which are in a gaseous state at atmospheric conditions of temperature and pressure, that might be associated or not with liquid hydrocarbons, as well as the residue gas remaining after the extraction of liquid hydrocarbons from the reservoir;

21 -"Associated Natural Gas": Natural Gas which under reservoir conditions is either in solution with liquid hydrocarbons or as gas-cap gas which overlies and is in contact with Crude Oil;

22 - "Non-associated Natural Gas" - The free Natural Gas other than Associated Natural Gas;

23 - "Operator" -the entity designated by the Government, in consultation with the holder of Exploration and Production right, to conduct Petroleum Operations on behalf of the latter;

24 - "Producing province": any Iraqi province that produces crude oil and natural gas continually on rates more than 150 thousand barrels a day (needs revision)

25 - "Reservoir" - a separate accumulation of Petroleum in a geological unit limited by rock characteristics, structural or stratigraphic boundaries, contact surfaces between Petroleum and water in the formation. Or a combination of these, so that Petroleum Production from any portion of the accumulation will affect the pressure in the accumulation as a whole;

26 - "Contract Area": the area within which the holder of an Exploration and Production right is authorized to explore for, develop and produce Petroleum;

27 - "Development and Production Area": a part of the Contract Area which following a Commercial Discovery has been delineated according to the terms and conditions of the Exploration and Production Contract;

28 - "Crude Oil" - all hydrocarbons, regardless of specific gravity, which are produced and saved from the Field in liquid state at atmospheric pressure and temperature, including asphalt, tar and the liquid hydrocarbons known as distillates or condensates obtained from Natural Gas within the Contract Area;

29 - 'Transporter" - the entity designated by the Council of Ministers to receive Crude Oil or Natural Gas from the holder of Exploration and Production right at the Transfer Point and deliver Crude Oil for export or Natural Gas to the holder of Exploration and Production right at the Delivery Point.

30 - "Production Measurement Point" - the place(s) at which volumes and qualities of Crude Oil or Natural Gas to be transferred at the Transfer Point are measured;

31 - "Transfer Point" - the inlet flange(s) of the outgoing Pipelines from the Production Measurement Point, where the Transporter shall receive Crude Oil or Natural Gas from the holder of Exploration and Production right;

32 - "Delivery Point" - the point(s) of the loading facility at which Crude Oil reaches the inlet flange of the receiving tank-ship or such other point inside or outside Iraq, as agreed to under the Exploration and Production Contract. In the case of Gas it is the flange of the inlet to the receiving installation for Natural Gas;

33 - "Supply Point" - the place at which Crude Oil or Natural Gas is transferred from a Main Pipeline or a Field Pipeline to a different type of transport, processing or use;

34 - "The Ministry" - is the Ministry of Oil in the Republic of Iraq and other companies and organizations specifically authorized by it;

35 - "Specialized institute" : Ministry of Oil, National Iraqi Oil Company, or regional institute

36 - "Regional institute": specialized ministry in the regional government.

CHAPTER II: MANAGEMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES

ARTICLE 5: COMPETENCE OF AUTHORITIES

A. The Council of Representatives

First: shall enact all Federal legislation on crude oil and natural gas;

Second: council of representatives shall approve all international petroleum treaties that Iraq signs with other countries that are related to petroleum operations

B. Council of Ministers

First: The council of ministers shall be responsible for recommending proposed legislation on the development of the country's Petroleum resources for introduction into the National Assembly.

Second: The Council of Ministers is the competent authority to formulate Federal Petroleum policy and supervise its implementation. It also administers the overall Petroleum Operations including the formulation of Federal policy on all matters within the scope of this law including i.e. Exploration, Production, Transportation, Marketing, the proposal of Petroleum -legislation, and the approval of such regulations as may be necessary from time to time on the said matters.

Third: In carrying out the above functions, the Council of Ministers shall ensure that the Ministry adopts appropriate and effective mechanisms for consultation and co-ordination with the Provincial, Govenatorial petroleum production authorities

C. Federal Oil and Gas Council

First: To assist the Council of Ministers in creating Petroleum policies and related plans, arranged by the ministry in coordination with the producing provinces and regions, and to put important legislation for exploration and production based on ARTICLE 9 of this law the ministers council creates an entity to be named “the
Federal Oil and Gas Council”. The Prime Minister or his/her representative shall be the president of this council, and the council should include:
1 - Federal Government’s Ministers from the ministries of oil, treasury, planning, and cooperative development.
2 - The director of the Iraqi central bank
3 - A regional government minister representing each region.
4 - A representative from each producing province not included in a region
5 - Executive managers of from important related petroleum companies including the national Iraqi oil company and the oil marketing company
6 - Three or less experts specialized in petroleum, finance, and economy to be hired for a period not exceeding 5 years based on a resolution from the council of ministers.

Second: the Federal Oil and Gas Council holds the responsibility of putting federal petroleum policies, exploration plans, fields’ development and main pipelines plans inside Iraq, and this council has the authority to approve any major changes in such plans and policies.

Third: the Federal Oil and Gas Council reviews and changes the exploration and production contracts that give the rights of petroleum operations according to ARTICLE 9 of this law inside Iraq.

Fourth: the Federal Oil and Gas Council approves the types of exploration and production contracts, and chooses the appropriate contract type for the field nature or exploration area or based on offers.

Fifth: the Federal Oil and Gas Council decides the special instructions for negotiations pertaining to granting rights or signing development and production contracts, and setting qualification criteria for companies.

Sixth: To assist the Federal Oil and Gas Council in reviewing exploration and production contracts and petroleum fields’ development plans, the council rely on the assistant of a bureau called the “independent consultants’ bureau” that includes crude oil and natural gas experts, both Iraqis foreigners, this council decides their number, and they should be qualified and have a good reputation and long practical experience in exploration and production operation and in petroleum contracts, and they should be chosen by consensus of the council and contracted for a renewable one year contract. The independent consultants’ bureau gives its recommendations and advice to the Federal Oil and Gas Council in issues related to rights contracts, fields’ development plans, and any other related issues requested by the Federal Oil and Gas Council.

Seventh: the Federal Oil and Gas Council is the competent authority to approve the transfer of rights among holders of Exploration and Production right and associated amendment of contracts provided this does not adversely affect the national content including the percentage of national participation.

Eighth: the Federal Oil and Gas Council is responsible for ensuring that Petroleum resources are discovered, developed, and produced in an optimal manner and in the best interest of the people in accordance with legislation, regulations and contractual conditions as well as recognised international standards.

Ninth: The Federal Oil and Gas Council have the right to create any entities important for implementing its duties, and to create its bylaws.

Tenth: Members of the Federal Oil and Gas Council can suggest policies and law drafts to the Federal Oil and Gas Council.

D. Ministry of Oil

First: The Ministry is the competent authority for proposing Federal policy, laws and plans.

Second: The Ministry creates legislation as well as issuing regulations and guidelines to implement the feral plans.

Third: The Ministry undertakes the necessary monitoring, supervisory, regulatory and administrative actions required to ensure the proper, coordinated, and unified implementation all over Iraq.

Fourth: On the basis of policies, regulations, guidelines and requirements under ARTICLE 5/D/First and 5/D/Second above, and in accordance with the overall economic and social policies of the Federal Government, the Ministry shall in consultation with the petroleum producing provinces and regional authorities draw up
Federal policies and plans on Exploration, Development and Production on an annual or as needed basis. Such policies and plans shall address both the short term as well as the long term requirements. The geographical distribution and timing of actions and projects shall comprise proposals from the Provinces and Governorates in accordance to ARTICLEs 1, 2 and 3. The suggestions for petroleum policies and related plans are to be submitted to the Federal Oil and Gas Council to be reviewed and approved.

Fifth: The Ministry is the competent authority to represent the Iraqi Republic in regional and international forums.

Sixth: The Ministry is empowered to negotiate international and bilateral agreements related to Oil and Gas with other countries and organizations subject to approval in accordance with the Constitution.

Seventh: The ministry is responsible of monitoring petroleum operations to ensure adherence with the laws, regulations, and contracting terms. In addition to its administrative and technical monitoring duties, the ministry shall carry out verification of costs and expenditures incurred by the holders of rights to ensure correct and justified cost recoveries for the purpose of determining revenues accruing to government. The ministry shall through inspection, technical audits and other appropriate actions verify conformance with legislation, regulations, contractual terms and internationally recognised practices. The ministry must coordinate with regions’ governments and producing provinces to create specialized entities that carry out the ministry’s responsibilities.

Eighth: The Ministry has the right to execute contracts related to Oil and gas supply services other than those covered by ARTICLE 5/B/second and in other applicable legislation.

E. Iraqi National Oil Company

First: The Iraqi National Oil Company (INOC), in accordance with ARTICLE 6 of this law, can participate in exploration and production operations inside Iraq on behalf of the Iraqi government. INOC is obligated to sell its share of crude oil to the Oil Marketing Company based on the delivery price that covers the cost in addition to a reasonable profit that would facilitate the company’s development in exploration and production.

Second: The tasks and scope of operation of INOC shall include carrying out Oil and Gas Exploration, Development, Production, Transportation, Storage, Marketing and sales down to the Delivery Point in accordance with the rights and obligations under this Jaw including the necessary contracts, permits and approvals applicable to all other holders of rights.

Third: INOC shall have the right to participate as a commercial partner in international projects related to the transportation, marketing and sale of Oil and Gas. It may also participate in Exploration and Production contracts outside the Republic of Iraq subject to approval by the Council of Ministers.

Fourth: INOC shall form fully owned Subsidiary companies in selected areas in Iraq based on the location of fields, size of petroleum reserves, production capacity and cost benefit analysis, or based on rearrangements and task management of existing companies based on its work capacity leading to better efficiency based on appropriate bylaws and procedures to be issued for the purpose.

Fifth: INOC shall have the right to establish in association with others affiliated companies or acquire shares in existing companies inside the Republic of Iraq. INOC may also undertake the same outside the Republic of Iraq subject to the approval of the Council of ministers.

Sixth: INOG shall have the right to acquire tangible and intangible assets belonging to natural or legal entities for the purpose of achieving its objectives and in accordance with the law.

Seventh: INOC shall also establish wholly owned subsidiary companies to perform common services in participation with partners from regions and producing provinces.

F. Provincial Authorities

The provincial authorities shall have the following competencies:

First: The Province authorities shall undertake the necessary preparations in order to propose to the Federal authorities activities and plans on behalf of the Province to be included in the Federal plans for Petroleum Operations. It shall further assist the Federal authorities in discussions leading to the finalisation of the Federal plan as required.

Second: Participate in the licensing process regarding activities within its respective province related to exploration and production of discovered but undeveloped fields mentioned in appendix number 3 according to mechanisms motioned in ARTICLE 9 and based on contracting types prepared by the Federal Oil and Gas Council and in accordance to regulations issued by Federal Oil and Gas Council with qualified international oil companies adherent to the bases put by the Federal Oil and Gas Council.

Third: Be represented in discussions carried out by the Oil and Gas Commission In accordance with ARTICLE [5/C/First] of this law.

Fourth: Collaborate with the Ministry to undertake the monitoring and supervision of Petroleum Operations to ensure adherence to legislation, regulations, guidelines and the specific terms of the relevant Exploration and Production Contracts. Such functions shall be carried out in close coordination and harmonisation with the Ministry to ensure uniform and consistent implementation throughout the Republic of Iraq.

ARTICLE 6: Iraqi National Oil Company

A - The Iraqi National Oil Company (INOC) a holding company fully owned by the Iraqi Government and based in Baghdad. INOC is financially and administratively independent and is based on commercial bases.

B - Its scope of operations shall include:

First: Managing and operating existing producing fields mentioned in appendix 1, and both the North Oil Company and the South Oil Company are linked to it.

Second: Participation in the Development and Production of discovered and yet not developed fields mentioned in appendix 2.

Third: Carrying out for Exploration and Production operations in new areas outside its respective areas in adherent to this law through applying for Exploration and Production rights in the new areas based on competition.

Fourth: INOC shall also own, manage and operate the Main oil and Gas Pipeline network and the export ports in the Republic of Iraq and enter into contracts with existing and future shippers of oil and Gas in accordance with this law. The company continues its responsibilities in operating the Main oil and Gas Pipeline network and the export ports in Iraq during a transitional period not exceeding two years until rearranging the ministry of oil companies. Then, the Federal oil and gas Council decides the entity responsible of operating the Main oil and Gas Pipeline network and the export ports in Iraq based on a proposal submitted by the ministry after coordinating with the INOC in adherent to this law and after the approval of the ministers council.

Fifth: To ensure and develop the coordination and collaboration with regions and producing provinces, the INOC establishes subsidiary companies which it owns in total and which will control the petroleum operations in the regions and producing provinces; these subsidiary companies will be represented on the INOC board and
will be paid for the cost they incur in addition to a specific reasonable profit in order that they can develop and enhance their operations.

Sixth: The board of the INOC oversees the INOC and its subsidiary companies; in accordance to the INOC law, the board includes members from the federal government, the regions, and the producing provinces

ARTICLE 7 : Ministry of Oil

A - The ministry, according to law, must create the important institutional and methodology changes to cope with its new responsibilities and duties. In particular, the ministry has to create a new department as soon as possible specialized in planning, developing, and following up the process of obtaining rights. This new department must consist of members of the ministry trained and specialized in operating bids and auctions and conduct professional negotiations with oil companies to sign contracts of exploration and production rights in adherent to the ministry’s authorities and in accordance to ARTICLE number 9 of this law. In addition, this department must include in each and every negotiations representatives from the related producing provinces. It is permissible that the negotiation and rights teams include expert advisers with a distinguished international reputation and experience.

B - The law of rearrangement the ministry of oil must include the suggested mechanisms that will be the basis of re-structuring the relationship between the ministry and other related companies and regulating entities in a way that guarantees a full separation between on the one hand the production companies and oil services
and on the other hand the regulatory, monitory, supervisory, departments in the ministry. In addition, the production departments must be separated yet integrated from the services departments in a way that guarantees increasing productivity and maximizing profits.

ARTICLE 8 : Fields development and oil and gas exploration

A - Regarding the priorities aimed at restoring and increasing production related to existing fields, the INOC is the operator and is authorized to directly sign services contracts or administrative contracts with appropriate oil or services companies, in case this was needed to accelerate reaching to the goals stated in the ARTICLE.

B - The ministry, and after coordinating with regions and producing provinces, and in adherence to ARTICLE 9 of this law, is to propose to the Federal oil and gas Council the best methods to develop the discovered but yet not developed fields.

C - The ministry prepares model exploration and production contracts to be approved by the Federal Oil and Gas Council and to be appended to this law. These model contracts must guarantee the best levels of coordination between the oil ministry, INOC, and the regions each according to their specific responsibility in relation to both this law and the international oil companies.

D - The utmost efforts must be put into insuring speedy and efficient development of the fields discovered but partially or entirely not yet developed when this law is enacted, and it is permissible to develop these fields in collaboration with reputable oil companies that have the efficient financial, administrative, technical, operational capabilities according to the contracting terms and the regulations issued by the Federal Oil and Gas Council.

E - The Federal oil and gas Council, the oil ministry, INOC, and the regional entities have to carry out an exploratory program in Iraq to asses the oil and gas assists, compensate production, and add new reserves.

F - The ministry must provide the federal oil and gas council with a comprehensive proposal for oil and gas exploration throughout the Republic of Iraq in coordination with the regions and the producing provinces, sorting out the areas according to their oil and gas potentials, implemented within a short time table in order to guarantee increasing reserves and continuing and developing production.

ARTICLE 9 : GRANT OF RIGHTS

A - The rights for conducting Petroleum Operations shall be granted on the basis of an Exploration and Production contract. The contract shall be entered between the Ministry (or the regional entity) and an Iraqi or Foreign Person, natural or legal, which has demonstrated to the Ministry the technical competence and financial capability that are adequate for the efficient conduct of Petroleum Operations according to what the Federal oil and gas Council and mentioned in ARTICLE 5/C/Fifth, and in accordance to the mechanisms of negotiations and contracting mentioned in ARTICLE 10 of this law. shall not be granted to Foreign Persons, singular or plural whose countries of Origin do not allow Iraqi entities to seek reciprocal opportunities. The contracts shall be approved by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Iraq.

B - The licensing process shall be based on transparent and accountable tendering and shall take into account recognised practices by the international petroleum industry. It shall adhere to the following principles and procedures:

First: Competitive licensing rounds based on clearly defined terms and terms of application as well as the criteria to be used in the selection of successful candidates.

Second: The contractual terms offered to applicants shall be specified in model contracts accompanying the letter of invitation.

Third: The form and terms of the model contract shall take account of the specific characteristics and requirements of the individual area, field or prospect being offered, including whether the resources are discovered or not, the risks and potential rewards associated with the investments under consideration, and the technological and operational challenges presented.

Fourth: All model contracts shall be formulated to honour the following objectives and criteria:
1 - National control,
2 - Ownership of the resources,
3 - Optimum economic rent to the country,
4 - An appropriate return on investment to the Investor,
5 - Reasonable incentives to the investor for ensuring solutions which are optimal to the country in the long-term related to:
a - Improved and enhanced recovery,
b - Technology transfer.
c - Training and development of Iraqi personnel,
d - Optimal utilisation of the Infrastructure,
e - Environmentally friendly solutions and plans.

Fifth: The Model Contracts may be based upon Service Contract, exploration risk contract, or exploration and production contract Buy-back Contract and Production Sharing Contract (PSC) provided they are adapted to best meet the objectives and criteria under 9/b above which serve the best interest of the Republic of Iraq.

Sixth: Only pre-qualified companies by the ministry or the regional entity shall be considered in any licensing round. The criteria for prequalification shall be specified in the Invitation to bidding according to the regulation and instructions put by the Federal oil and gas Council.

Seventh: Evaluation of pre-qualified applicants shall aim at establishing a short list of successful candidates for negotiations.

Eighth: The selection and ranking of successful applicants shall be on the basis of the quality and relevance of the proposed work plan and the anticipated economic rent to the nation.

Ninth: The overall allocation of Exploration and Production rights throughout the Republic of Iraq shall aim at achieving variety among oil companies and operators with different background, expertise, experience and approach so as to enhance efficiency through positive competition, benchmarking of performance and transparency. The possibility of using consortia of selected companies, particularly in large fields, should be considered.

Tenth: Not later than two months after the endorsement of approval of Exploration and Production contracts by the Council of Ministers the text of the contract shall be made public.

C - The granting of rights for the activities referred to in ARTICLE 1/6 shall always respect national interests, including but not restricted to those related to defence, navigation, research and development, conservation, health and safety and a high level of environmental protection.

D - The Ministry is to regulate the form and manner in which rights are granted under this ARTICLE in a manner consistent with this law and the regulations of the Federal Oil and Gas Counicl.

ARTICLE 10 : Mechanisms of Negotiations and contracting

A - The Ministry, the INOC, or the regional entity, based on their respective specialties and responsibilities, and after completing initial procedures for granting rights as indicated in ARTICLE 9, there will be an initial signing of exploration and production contracts with the selected contractor

B - The exploration and production contracts mentioned in ARTICLE 10/A must include the following: “the contract is valid unless it is rejected by the federal oil and gas council”

C - The initial contract mentioned in ARTICLE 10-B must be submitted to the federal oil and gas council within thirty days from the day of the initial signing or it will be considered cancelled

D - The federal oil and gas council must adhere to the following steps when deciding on the contracts submitted to it by Ministry, INOC, or the regions:

First: Submitting the initial contract mentioned in ARTICLE 10/C, if the Federal Oil and Gas Council finds it advisable, to the independent consultants bureau for analysis who will provide their opinion and assess whether the contract adheres to the model contracts approved by the Federal Oil and Law Council and to its regulations pertaining to exploration and production rights in accordance to ARTICLE 9

Second: In case the initial contract has serious discrepancies as compared to the model contracts and regulations approved by the Federal Oil and Gas Council, the Federal Oil and Gas Council will make a decision on the contract based on the recommendations of the independent consultants bureau; the decision requires a 2/3 majority of the members in attendance

Third: The Ministry, INOC, or the regional entity must be informed of the rejections of the initial contract in accordance to the legal reasons within (60) sixty days of receipt of the initial contract by the Federal oil and gas Council, and the contract is to be considered approved in case no decision was made by the Federal Oil and Gas Council within the mentioned period. In case the Federal Oil and Gas Council could not hold a meeting within 60 days of receiving the initial contract due to extraordinary reasons, the council must take a decision regarding the contract within the second (60) sixty days using all the possible means, and the contract will be considered approved in case no decision was made by the Federal Oil and Gas Council within the mentioned period.

C - The Ministry, INOC, or the regional entity must fix the reasons behind the rejection of the Federal Oil and Gas Council trough changing the initial contract in the necessary way to get approved and submit it again according to the regulations mentioned in this ARTICLE.

ARTICLE 11 : Petroleum revenue

A - According to the constitution (articles 106, 111, 112, 121 third) regarding the ownership of the oil and gas resources, the distribution of its revenues, and monitoring the federal revenue distribution, the ministers council must submit a federal law draft to the representatives council regulating these matters in adherence to the sections of this article.

B - The oil revenues include all the government revenues from oil and gas, royalties, signing rewards and production rewards of petroleum contracts with foreign or local companies.

C - The revenues mentioned in article 11/A must be deposited in an account called “the oil revenue treasury” opened under the name of the Iraqi Central Bank specifically for this reason, and managed by the Council of Ministers and the ministry of treasury. The oil revenue treasury must be administrated by an independent entity headed by an employee whose rank is a minister. This entity must include representatives from the federal government, regions’ governments, provinces, and a number of independent consultants, and the entity must be associated with the Council of Ministers and must be formed directly after issuing this law. This entity must create its own bylaw, and must periodically publish all the financial data related to the oil revenue treasury.

D - The government’s revenue, including the oil revenue, must be distributed in through the federal budget in a fair and just way in adherence to the constitution.

E - Another treasury must be created under the name “The Future Treasury”, and a certain ratio of oil revenue must be deposited in this treasury regulated by the law.

ARTICLE 12 : PARTICIPATION OF THE STATE

A - The Republic of Iraq shall aim at achieving substantial national participation in the management and Development of its Petroleum resources in adherence to Article 111 of the constitution.

B - The Exploration and Production rights with regard to existing producing fields are hereby given to the INOC. The formal granting of additional Exploration and Production rights to INOC regarding not yet developed Fields shall be affected by the Ministry Federal Oil and Gas Council in accordance to article 6 and appendix 2 of this law.

C - The Main Pipeline network inside Iraqi territories is hereby assigned INOC or any specialized companies created by the ministry. The formal procedure for this assignment and necessary approvals shall be affected by the Ministry Federal Oil and Gas Council in accordance with article 21 this Law.

D - The Republic of Iraq reserves the right to participate in Petroleum Operations on in any phase of Petroleum Operations on terms and conditions that are established by contract.

E - The Ministry Federal Oil and Gas Council is authorised to designate INOC to exercise the Republic of Iraq's participation share in accordance with Article 12/4 of this law.

CHAPTER III: FIELDS EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVATES

ARTICLE 13: EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION CONTRACT

A - An Exploration and Production Contract shall give the holder an exclusive right to conduct Petroleum Exploration and Production in the Contract Area. In addition, the contract shall give the holder the right of transportation in accordance with ARTICLE 21/A of this law.

B - Except if additional time is needed to complete the operations to assess a Discovery, the exclusive Exploration and Production right shall be granted as follows:
1 - A First Period shall be a maximum of four years.
2 - Subject to having fulfilled all commitments by the holder, the Ministry specialized entity may grant a Second Period of two years provided however that a substantial work programme is committed to under this period.

C - A Third Period of Exploration can for special considerations of continuity be granted by the Ministry specialized entity provided however that such extension is justified by the quality and substance of the work programme and does not exceed two years.

D - All extensions shall be subject to the provisions concerning the relinquishment of Contract Areas in adherent to the petroleum regulations.

E - In the event of a Discovery, the exclusive Exploration and Production right may be retained by the holder for the purposes of completing the operations initiated within a specified area to assess or determine the commercial value of a Discovery for an additional period of two years or, in the case of a non-associated Natural Gas Discovery, for an additional period not to exceed four years.

H - On the basis of a Field Development Plan prepared and approved in accordance with this law and the relevant contract, INOC and other holders of an Exploration and Production right may retain the exclusive right to develop and produce Petroleum within the limits of a Development and Production Area for a period to be determined by the Ministry Federal Oil and Gas Council varying from 15 to 20 years not exceeding 20 years dating from the date of approval of the Field Development Plan, depending on considerations related to optimal oil recovery and utilisation of existing infrastructure. In cases which for technical and economic considerations warrant longer Production period, the Council of Ministers, on newly negotiated terms, has the authority to grant an extension not exceeding 5 years. The remaining acreage outside the Development and Production Area shall be relinquished at the end of the Exploration and Production right.

I - The appointment of an Operator shall be approved by the Ministry Federal Oil and Gas Council (the specialized entity) and the procedures for such appointment are contained in the Contract.

ARTICLE 14: OBLIGATIONS OF THE HOLDERS OF EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION RIGHT

A holder of Exploration and Production right is obliged, mutatis mutandis, to:

A - Conduct Petroleum Operations in accordance with the terms of this law, the Regulations for Petroleum Operations as well as other applicable legislation and Good Oil Field Practices;

B - Promptly report any Discovery within the Contract Area to the Ministry;

C - Conduct the necessary delineation and evaluation of the Discovery with a view to determining its commercial potential and keep the Ministry fully informed of progress and results;

D - In the event of a Commercial Discovery, prepare and submit to the Ministry specialized entity, in accordance with the Regulations for Petroleum Operations, a Field Development Plan for the Discovery:

E - Prepare and submit a revised Field Development Plan for any material amendment to the original Plan for approval by the Ministry specialized entity

F - Implement the Field Development Plan or the revisions thereto once these have been approved by the Ministry specialized entity;

G - Submit a Decommissioning Plan to the Ministry, not later than two years before the planned termination of Production;

H - Compensate the Injured parties for any losses or damages resulting from the conduct of the Petroleum Operations as provided by law;

I - When the national Interest so requires, give preference to the Ministry in the acquisition of Petroleum produced in the Contract Area, and access to pipeline transportation, in accordance with terms and conditions to be agreed upon with the Ministry;

J - Provide the greatest possible support for required research and development activities in connection with Petroleum Operations and endeavour to carry out as much of these activities by Iraqi institutions;

K - Collect, organise and maintain in good condition usable data from all phases and on all aspects of Petroleum Operations in accordance with this Law and with Petroleum regulations, and

L - At no cost, supply the Ministry and affiliated companies, with, all data collected and assembled from Petroleum Operations, in accordance with ARTICLE 19 of this Law.

ARTICLE 15: COMPETENCE BUILDING AND LOCAL CONTENT

A - The Republic of Iraq aims at the development of a competent and effective Iraqi private sector capable of substantial participation in Petroleum Operations including the acquisition, alone or together with international companies, of Exploration and Production rights. Such development shall however adhere to the objectives of professional competence in accordance with this law. Towards this end holders of Exploration rights are encouraged to pursue cooperation and association with serious and qualified Iraqi private Initiatives.

B - INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production rights shall give preference to the purchase of Iraqi products and services whenever they are competitive in terms of price, comparable in terms of quality and available on a timely basis in the quantity required.

C - INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production rights shall to the maximum reasonable extent undertake to employ Iraqi citizens having appropriate qualifications and shall undertake to train and prepare potential candidates towards this objective.

D - INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production rights shall maximise to the greatest reasonable extent, training and technology transfer opportunities for Iraqi nationals, at all levels of Petroleum Operations including management.

E - INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production rights are required to diligently seek and develop associations, affiliations, joint ventures and other forms of partnership and or co-operation in order to promote the rapid growth of an Iraqi private sector capable of assisting and enhancing Petroleum Operations to the mutual benefit of the said holders and the nation.

ARTICLE 16: UNITISATION

A - A Petroleum Discovery which is located partly in one Contract Area and partly in another Contract Area shall be developed and operated jointly pursuant to a unitization agreement which shall be submitted for approval by the Ministry Federal Oil and Gas Council to be approved. Should the right-holders fail to reach agreement on the modalities of unitisation, the Ministry Federal Oil and Gas Council has the right to decide on the terms six months after serving notice to the parties to this effect.

B - A Petroleum Discovery which extends from areas authorized for Production into areas not authorized for Production shall be developed only after consultation with the Ministry Federal Oil and Gas Council about the measures necessary to protect the interests of the Republic of Iraq.

C - The Council of Ministers shall adopt the necessary measures to protect the interests of the Republic of Iraq in Petroleum Discoveries extending beyond the borders of the Republic. In such cases efforts shall be made to seek joint solutions with the said neighbouring countries.

ARTICLE 17: CONSERVATION

A - The extraction of Petroleum resources shall aim at the avoidance of waste, including preventing leakages from Pipelines, and the optimal maintenance of energy in the Reservoir in accordance with Good Oilfield Practices and Good Pipeline Practices.

B - INOC and other holders of an Exploration and Production right shall diligently apply the latest technologies and oilfield practices that lead to optimum recovery from the individual Reservoir or a group of Reservoirs that are targeted under the Field Development Plan(s).

C - The Field Development Plan shall be based on thorough investigations of alternative extraction strategies in order to select a solution that combines the highest level of Petroleum recovery with acceptably high levels of Production and as low cost as possible.

D - Subsequent to the approval of a Field Development Plan, INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production right shall continue to improve Reservoir understanding through optimal data collection and Reservoir monitoring and shall accordingly seek to identify and implement actions that would Improve Petroleum recovery.

ARTICLE 18: ACCESS TO MAIN PIPELINES AND FIELD PIPELINES

A - The Main Pipelines are the property of the federal government.

B - INOC as the Transporter with respect to Main Pipelines and the holder of Exploration and Production right under ARTICLE 17/A with respect to Field Pipelines have the obligation to transport, without any discrimination and on reasonable commercial terms, the Petroleum of third parties, provided in general that:
1 - Capacity is available in the Field Pipeline;
2 - There are no insurmountable technical problems that prevent such utilisation of the Field Pipeline.

C - Details shall be provided for the modalities of the system of access by third parties to Field Pipelines in regulations to be made by the Ministry in coordination with the regions and producing provinces.

D - Whenever there is a dispute concerning the commercially reasonable terms for the transport of Petroleum in a Main Pipeline or a Field Pipeline for Oil or for Natural Gas, the availability of uncommitted capacity in the pipeline in question or a proposed increase of its capacity, the dispute shall be first referred to the Ministry for resolution, the ministry must work in coordination with regions and producing provinces. Thereafter, resolution shall be sought according to the procedures set out in ARTICLE 30 of this Law.

ARTICLE 19: OWNERSHIP OF DATA

A - All data obtained pursuant to any Contract provided for under this Law is the property of the Iraqi Government, and shall not be published, reproduced or exported without the prior approval of the Ministry.

B - The terms and conditions for the exercise of rights in respect of primary, differentiated, processes, interpreted and analysed data related to oil and gas in Iraq including but not limited to geological and geophysical reports, engineering data, samples, logs and well surveys, shall be established in data supply obligations in the relevant contract and by regulations.

C - The Ministry submits copies of the current available petroleum data to the INOC and to the regions, and the INOC and regions must take the responsibility of supplying the Ministry with new data and updates resulted from the petroleum operations implemented by them in a continues and periodic fashion.

D - Anyone who has the information in his possession or sells, buys, transfers, receives, deals with any of the information or data mentioned in this article shall be considered in violation, unless the contract terms states otherwise, and shall be prosecuted under the Iraqi criminal and civil law. No one has the right to own such
data and information.

E - Without prejudice to section D of this article, it is allowed for someone to have a permission from the specialized entities to own, buy, sell, transfer, or receive data and information indicated in section F of this article under the condition of supplying the specialized entities with copies of the data, and his permission should not be revoked without logical reasons.

F - Old Data, for the purposes of this law, mean all primary, differentiated, processes, interpreted and analysed data and information related to oil and gas in the republic of Iraq indicated in section [B] of this article.

ARTICLE 20: RESTRICTIONS ON PRODUCTION LEVELS

In the event that, for national policy considerations, there is a need to introduce limitations on the national level of Petroleum Production, such limitations shall be applied in a fair and equitable manner and on a pro-rata basis for each Contract Area on the basis of approved Field Development Plans.

CHAPTER IV: TRANSPORTATION

ARTICLE 21: MAIN PIPELINES

A - INOC, or the specialized company created by the Ministry, shall own all Main Pipelines. Such Pipelines shall be constructed and operated by the INOC subsidiary representing Transporter for the purpose of transporting Oil or Natural Gas to specified Delivery Points for Oil and Natural Gas respectively. The Ministry in co-ordination with INOC and in consultation with Operators shall ensure that the Main Pipeline network is optimally designed, operated and maintained so as to serve the overall requirement for Petroleum transportation in the Republic of Iraq.

B - The construction and operation of Main Pipeline or any major modification thereof shall be subject to approval by the Ministry on the basis of a Main Pipeline Development Plan outlining the proposed work. If the proposed work is undertaken by the INOC subsidiary company specialized company representing Transporter in association with Iraqi or Foreign Persons, the agreement between' the parties shall accompany the Main Pipeline Development Plan. Such agreement shall outline the terms of financing, implementation, and the modalities of utilisation and operation of the new or modified Main Pipeline.

C - INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production right shall deliver Oil and Natural Gas to the Main Pipeline at appropriate Transfer Point(s) In accordance with ARTICLE 13/A. The transportation of Crude Oil or Natural Gas beyond the Transfer Point shall be carried out by the INOC subsidiary company specialized company representing Transporter on the basis of a contract.

D - All the above activities shall be carried out in accordance with Good Pipeline Practices.

E - The co-ordination of tasks related to the transport of Crude Oil through new Pipelines outside the Iraqi territories is the responsibility of the Ministry. The Follow up of operations subsequent to the approval of the necessary bilateral agreements shall be the responsibility of INOC in accordance with the said bilateral agreements and any specific instructions from the Ministry.

ARTICLE 22: RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS REGARDING PIPELINES

A - The Exploration and Production Contract shall provide a non-exclusive right to access Main Pipelines on reasonable commercial terms. It shall also confer the right to construct and operate Field Pipelines to deliver Oil or Natural Gas from the Contract Area to the Transfer Point, for further transportation through the Main Pipeline to the Delivery Point.

B - INOC and of her holders of Exploration and Production right shall Implement the Field Development Plan and construct Field Pipelines connected to the Main Pipeline or the modifications thereto following approval of such plans have been approved by
the Ministry;

C - INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production right shall prepare and submit a revised Field Pipeline Development Plan for any material amendment to the original Plan for approval by the Ministry;

D - INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production right shall negotiate with INOC or the specialized company as the Transporter for the right to use the Main Pipeline. The Ministry Is to be kept informed on the progress of these negotiations;

E - INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production right shall submit a Decommissioning Plan to the Ministry, not later than two years before the planned termination of Production;

CHAPTER V: NATURAL GAS

ARTICLE 23: GAS UTILISATION

A - Natural Gas is a valuable Petroleum resource of increasing importance in the economic development of the Republic of Iraq and the Middle East. It shall be utilised to generate additional revenues through optimal utilisation partly through improving oil recoveries by gas injection into suitable Reservoirs; through utilisation for power generation, utilisation in petrochemical and chemical industries, utilisation for domestic purposes, utilisation in Industrial processes, utilisation for export and/or through the replacement of fluid fuels. The latter will have the additional benefit of reducing the impact on the environment while at the same time maximising revenue by freeing more crude and fuel oil for export.

B - INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production rights shall diligently pursue all alternatives for optimal utilisation of surplus volumes of produced gases in accordance with the objectives of ARTICLE 23/B above. Should they fail to identify commercial utilisation, the volumes of surplus Natural Gas shall be offered after treatment to Government at no cost at the Field's outlet. The cost incurred by the holder of Exploration and Production rights shall be recoverable under the respective contract.

ARTICLE 24: ASSOCIATED GAS

A - INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production right are entitled to use, free of charge, the quantity of Associated Natural Gas necessary for Petroleum Operations.

B - INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production right shall in the Field Development Plan propose optimal plans for the utilization or disposal of Associated Natural Gas.

C - All Associated Natural Gas produced from a Reservoir which is neither used in Petroleum Operations, utilised or re-injected in the Field, shall be offered for delivery free of charge to the Ministry in accordance with ARTICLE 23/B above.

ARTICLE 25: FLARING OF NATURAL GAS

A - Flaring of Natural Gas is only permitted for the purposes of commissioning, testing of installations, safety precautions or while awaiting the completion of transportation facilities provided the flared volumes are strictly kept to a minimum and the Ministry is promptly notified.

B - The flaring of Associated Natural Gas shall be kept to a minimum. It shall not be permitted beyond a maximum period of one year during which measures shall be completed to utilise the gas or deliver it to a nominated government entity in accordance with ARTICLE 23/B above

ARTICLE 26: NON-ASSOCIATED GAS

A - The Development and Production of Natural Gas or liquid components thereof from a Non-associated Natural Gas Discovery shall be subject to the approval of the Ministry of a Field Development Plan supported by signed agreement(s) for the sale of Natural Gas from the Discovery and approved by the Council of Ministers. In the event that only liquid Petroleum is to be produced, a scheme for the re-injection of Natural Gas or other acceptable schemes for its disposal shall be presented in the Field Development Plan.

B - The flaring of Non-associated Natural Gas may only be permitted in accordance with ARTICLE 25/B.

CHAPTER VI: REGULATORY MATTERS

ARTICLE 27: REGULATIONS FOR PETROLEUM OPERATIONS

The Ministry, in coordination and collaboration with the INOC, regions, and producing provinces, shall approve regulations for Petroleum Operations and submit it to the Federal Oil and Gas Council to be Approved.

1 - Such regulations shall include among other matters, the following:
a) Modality, terms and conditions of Contracts;
b) Petroleum Operations practices including resource management, safety, health and environmental protection;
c) Submission of plans, reports, data, samples, information and accounts by INOC and other holders of rights as provided for In the respective contracts;
d) Utilisation of pipeline systems for Oil and Natural Gas;
e) The procurement of equipment, goods and services for Petroleum Operations.
f) The utilisation of local goods and services in Petroleum Operations.
g) Guidelines and conditions related to reciprocity of granting of rights with the country of origin of applicants to rights.

2- The Ministry shall prepare and submit regulations for Petroleum Operations under his Law as required, to be approved by the Council of Ministers.

3- The Ministry may by means of such regulations designate some of its obligations to its associated companies, organisations and Ministerial departments.

ARTICLE 28: USE AND BENEFIT OF LAND AND RIGHTS OF WAY

A - Land use and benefit for the purpose of conducting Petroleum Operations is regulated by the legislation on land use and benefit, without prejudice to the following provisions.

B - For the purpose of conducting Petroleum Operations, the duration of the right of use and benefit of the land shall be the same as the duration of the Contract.

C - The land where installations are located, and a strip of land, to be defined by regulation, surrounding those Installations, are considered to be a zone of partial protection in accordance with the legislation on land use and benefit.

D - INOC and other holders of a right to conduct Petroleum Operations who, by virtue of the exercise of Petroleum Operation rights in the Contract Area, causes damage to crops, soils, building and improvements or requires the relocation of the legal users or occupants of the land within the respective Contract Area, has the obligation to compensate the holders of title to the assets and the persons relocated.

E - Subject to the payment of the compensation that are due, the holder of the right to conduct Petroleum Operations may require the right of way in accordance with the legislation in force, in order to have access to the locations where Petroleum Operations are conducted.

F - In cases where lands and rights of way are owned by an Iraqi Person, the land shall be either rented or bought by the relevant state owned company, according to the applicable laws and regulations.

ARTICLE 29: ACCESS TO ZONES SUBJECT TO MARITIME JURISDICTION

The access to Petroleum Operations sites located in interior waters, the territorial waters, and other zones subject to maritime jurisdiction is regulated by law, and any relevant international agreements.

ARTICLE 30: INSPECTION

A - The Ministry Specialized entity, or its authorized representatives, has the right to inspect sites, including buildings and installations, where Petroleum Operations are being conducted, as well as all assets, records and data kept by INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production right relating to Petroleum Operations.

B - The Ministry Specialized Entity may designate an independent entity or a commission created for this purpose, to any out the inspection.

C - The terms and conditions pursuant to which the Inspection is carried out shall be established by regulations.

D - In carrying out its inspections, the Ministry Specialized Entity shall not unreasonably interfere with the Petroleum Operations.

ARTICLE 31: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND SAFETY

In addition to carrying out their Operations in accordance with Good Oil Field Practices, INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production rights shall conduct Petroleum Operations in accordance with environmental and other applicable legislation of the Republic of Iraq to prevent pollution of air, lands and waters. They shall also conduct Petroleum Operations so as to comply with the environmental management standards of the ISO 14000 series, as amended. In general, they shall carry out Petroleum Operations in order to:

1 - Ensure that there is no ecological damage or destruction caused by Petroleum Operations, but where unavoidable, ensure that measures for protection of the environment are in accordance with internationally acceptable standards. For this purpose, INOC and other holders of a right shall prepare and submit to the relevant authorities for approval an environmental impact assessment, including environmental impact mitigation measures, for each major operation in the Contract Area;

2 - Notify the Ministry and other specified authorities immediately in the event of an emergency or accident affecting the environment;

3 - Control the flow and prevent the escape or loss of Petroleum discovered or produced within the Contract Area;

4 - Avoid damage to Petroleum Reservoirs;

5 - Avoid destruction to land, the water table, trees, crops, buildings or other Infrastructure and goods;

6 - Clean up the sites after the closure of Petroleum Operations and comply with the environmental resolution requirements;

7 - Ensure the health and safety of personnel in the planning and conduct of Petroleum Operations, and take preventive measures if their physical safety would be at risk;

8 - Report to the competent entity within the government on the amounts of operational and accidental discharge, leakage and waste resulting from Petroleum Operations, and

9 - Provide compensation for damages to State and private property in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.

B - INOC and other holders of a right under this Law shall act in a secure and effective manner when conducting Petroleum Operations in order to guarantee the disposal of polluted water and waste oil in accordance with approved methods, as well as the safe plugging of all boreholes and wells before these are abandoned.

ARTICLE 32: TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP AND DECOMMISSIONING

A - On completion of the Exploration and Production Contract or Main Pipeline Contract the ownership of all works and facilities shall be transferred to Ministry Specialized Entity. The properties shall be transferred to the relevant federal state enterprise or to the Ministry in actual operating condition and in a satisfactory state of work at the time of the transfer.

B - All site relinquishment and related costs that become due at the time of transfer with regards to any works and facilities shall be payable by INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production right according to a Decommissioning Plan, submitted in accordance with ARTICLE 9/F [sic] of this Law.

C - An outline Decommissioning Plan shall be included In the Field Development Plan submitted by the Contractor to the Council of Ministers.

CHAPTER VII: FISCAL REGIME

ARTICLE 33: GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF TAXATION

A - INOC and its subsidiary companies as well as other Individual and collective persons who are holders of a right to conduct Petroleum Operations are, subject to the payment of the following fiscal impositions:
1 - Royalty;
2 - Property Contribution and the Property Transfer Tax (SISA) as established in accordance with the law;
3 - Municipal and local taxes due;
4 - The taxes provided for in the Income Tax Code;

B - The Council of Ministers is authorised to establish a law regulating methods of taxation, the rates, tax exemptions applicable to Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production activities.

C - The Commission of Financial Audit has the authority to audit the income derived from Petroleum Operations and to publish it periodically.

D - A Foreign Person may repatriate its exports proceeds in accordance with the foreign exchange regulations in force at the time. It may freely transfer shares pertaining to any non-Iraqi partners in accordance to article 5/c/seventh.

ARTICLE 34: ROYALTY

A - INOC and other holders of an Exploration and Production right shall pay a royalty on Petroleum produced from the Development and Production Area, at the rate of 12.5% of Gross Production measured at the entry flange to the Main Pipeline.

B - The collection of Royalty shall be in kind or in cash at the option of the Ministry.

C - Where the royalty is paid in cash, it shall be calculated according to the prevailing Market Price in accordance with Petroleum Regulations.

ARTICLE 35: OTHER TAXATION ISSUES

A - Holders of Exploration and Production right can transfer any net profits from petroleum operations to outside Iraq after paying taxes and fees owed.

B - INOC and other holders of Exploration and Production right shall maintain proper records and books in both Arabic and English of accounts in accordance with the provisions of the Contract enabling the relevant calculations to be performed, and in compliance with the requirements of the laws relevant to the taxes referred to in
ARTICLE 33. INOC and other holders shall prepare and submit to the specialised entity annually, or quarterly, a statement of accounts.

CHAPTER VIII: MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

ARTICLE 36: Transparency

A - All activities related to oil and gas, while occurring, have to be transparent and responsible. To ensure this transparency and give the Iraqi people the chance to hold governmental entities responsible for their activities and actions, different sorts of information must be published. This information includes but is not limited to the following:

1 - All the revenues, payments and receipts that are delivered to any governmental unit, or entity run by the government, from activities related to oil or gas. This includes but is not limited to the income of selling oil, gas and their products, signing and production rewards, royalties, revenue of selling assets, taxes, fees, customs and taxes, public services fees, share of profits from oil and gas cartels, commercial activates related to oil and gas (and their products) contracts, oil and gas revenue investment yield, and any other payments resulted from or related to commercial production of hydrocarbons.

2 - The revenues of oil and gas usage and distribution, including distribution among governmental entities.

3 - All of the financially significant contracts related to exploration, development, processing and marketing of oil and gas resources in Iraq

4 - All of the financially significant contracts related to importing or exporting services and goods for the oil and gas industry or by any governmental unit or entity controlled by the government

5 - The annual report of the Federal Oil and Gas Council

6 - The annual and quarterly reports of the INOC, the subsidiary companies, and the entities controlled by the government including the budgets audited according to international accounting standards

7 - All other information necessary for understanding the operations and activities carried out by any governmental unit or entities controlled by the government related to oil and gas

8 - Any information that must be declared in accordance to laws and regulations

9 - Any condition or secret agreement aimed at blocking or trying to block access to documents and information that must be made public in accordance to this article in considered in violation of the law and is considered void

B - Publicizing the information stated in Section A of this article does not extend to and has no effect on the oil and gas industry royalties that must be kept secret in accordance to the national or international laws except for financial information

C - Any person or governmental entity obligated to publish information mentioned in section A of this article shall publish it in publicly accessible media

D - The Ministry shall issue the regulations needed for implementing the laws of this section including the legal basis covering what should be included and an exempted as mentioned in Section B of this article

ARTICLE 37: Implementing Anti-Corruption laws

A - Any rights’ contract shall be considered void if it is in violation of any of the laws of the Republic of Iraq, particularly the Iraqi anti-corruption laws

B - The authorized person’s violation of the Iraqi anti-corruption may lead to the cancellation of his rights contract, in whole or in part. Each rights contract shall include terms indicating these conditions

C - Any person who violates the Iraqi Anti-corruption laws may be prosecuted under the criminal law active in Iraq

ARTICLE 38: Competitive Public Bidding

A - All oil companies working in the Republic of Iraq shall submit public bids on a competitive basis in order to offer any goods or services, and this should occur in accordance to the general bidding laws and the Federal Oil and Gas Council shall determine the maximum amount that can be excluded from the bidding process

B - Bidding by the holders of petroleum operations rights stated in this law shall be competitive and in accordance with the petroleum laws and with the special terms of the related contracts

C - All public bidding must be allowed to the public within a reasonable timeframe, must declare thereafter the reasons for selecting the chosen bid, the complete results of the bidding call must also be published, and competitors must be given the opportunity for raising objections

D - Any contract that is signed in violation of the regulations set by this article shall be considered void and inactive

E - In emergency cases or in case bidding is unsuccessful, the specialized entities shall decide exceptions to the requirements set by this article provided that these exceptions are declared and made public

ARTICLE 39: EXISTING CONTRACTS

The Ministry and regions have to review all the existing Exploration and Production contracts signed with any entity before this law was in place to ensure harmony with the goals and general regulations of this law. This review must be submitted to the Federal Oil and Gas Council, to ensure the maximum financial benefit for the Iraqi
people, in a period not exceeding three months from the time the Federal Oil and Gas Council issues model contracts and related regulations.

Any contract made under existing law concerning Exploration and Production of Petroleum in the territory of Iraq shall remain valid provided that it is revised to be in full agreement with the provisions of the Constitution and this law and shall be regulated by this Law.

ARTICLE 40: Changes in Administrative borders

In the case of changes in borders of regions or producing provinces, or in the case of establishing new provinces, the new effected places shall be dealt with in accordance to this law regarding to granting rights and petroleum operations.

ARTICLE 41: RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES

A - Any disputes arising from the interpretation and application of this Law, the Regulations for Petroleum Operations and the terms and conditions of contracts shall in the first instance be attempted to be resolved in good faith by means of negotiation among the parties.

B - If the dispute cannot be resolved by agreement, the matter shall be referred to the Minister to resolve through discussions with senior officers of the holders of rights concerned. Failing resolution through these discussions the matter of dispute may be submitted to arbitration or to the competent judicial authority.

C - If the dispute relates to a technical, engineering, operational or accounting matter relative to Petroleum Operations and is of a kind that is readily subject to resolution by an expert in the relevant field, the parties may refer the dispute to an independent technical expert for a recommendation as to the resolution of the dispute. If a party does not accept the recommendation of the expert, it may initiate arbitration proceedings according to ARTICLE 41/D below.

D - Arbitration between the State of Iraq and foreign investors shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Procedure for Arbitration Proceedings of Paris or Geneva Chamber of Commerce for the Settlement of Disputes between States and Nationals of other States or pursuant to the Convention on the Settlement of Disputes
between States and Nationals of other States and based on the Iraqi Law.

The rules of such other international instances of recognised standing as agreed by the parties to the contracts referred to in this law, provided that the parties have expressly defined in the contract the conditions for Implementation including the method for the designation of the arbitrators and the time limit within which the decision must be made.

FOR CONSIDERATION, SOME COUNTRIES DO NOT ACCEPT ARBITRATION BETWEEN A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE AND THEMSELVES ON THE BASIS OF SOVEREIGNTY OF THE STATE.

ARTICLE 42: RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING LEGISLATION

Any article in prejudice to this law shall cease to be effective on adoption of this Law.

ARTICLE 43: ENTRY IN FORCE

This Law enters into force 30 days after publication in the Official Gazette.