(1) A licensee or contractor who operates a petroleum faci1ity shall submit a decommissioning plan to the minister and the minister Shall seek the advice of the Commission.

(2) Except where the Minister determines otherwise, the decommissioning plan shall be submitted not more than five years and not later than two years before the date on which

(a) the use of the petroleum facility to which the decommissioning plan relates is expected to permanently cease operation, or

(b) the licence or the petroleum agreement to which the decommissioning plan relates will expire.

(3) Where the licence or the petroleum agreement is terminated earlier than its expiration date, the decommissioning plan shall be submitted by the licensee or contractor concerned in accordance with this section as soon as is practicable and in any event not later than ninety days after the termination.

(4) The licensee or contractor shall immediately give notice to the Minister if the use of the petroleum facility is expected to cease before the expiry of the licence or the petroleum agreement.

(5) The decommissioning plan shall contain a detailed proposal for

(a) a shutdown of operations and disposal of petroleum facilities; or

(b) further use in petroleum activities of the facilities in place.

(6) A disposal under subsection 5 (a) may include

(a) removal of petroleum facilities for use elsewhere;

(b) uses other than for petroleum activities; or

(7) The plan shall contain information and evaluations necessary for the Minister to make a decision relating to disposal as provided in subsections (5) and (6) and an assessment of the environmental la social impact of the disposal.

(8) This section applies to the Corporation where it undertakes petroleum activities under section 11 (1).