The NSTA’s Operations, New Ventures and Supply Chain & Decommissioning Directorates carry out structured, tiered stewardship reviews as part of its ‘business as usual’ operations. Where an issue arises that requires the NSTA’s attention, this will usually be dealt with initially through the stewardship process.
Where an issue may have an impact on our principal objectives, or in relation to the OGA Strategy, including regulatory compliance, and has not been resolved by stewardship, active facilitation may be required. This marks the start of the NSTA’s measured escalation process. There are three stages in the escalation process – stewardship, facilitation and enhanced facilitation
The NSTA will usually seek to steward at the lowest possible level, although it is possible to go straight to enhanced facilitation, or enforcement where appropriate. A move to enhanced facilitation will usually be announced in a letter from the relevant NSTA Director to the affected parties. Enhanced facilitation is timebound to ensure the issue receives the appropriate focus and attention from the parties involved, within a clear timeframe. Where a matter is referred to the Regulation Directorate for enforcement consideration, this will be confirmed in writing by the Disputes and Sanctions team.