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Oil Spill Response Plans

MMS requires that every OCS owner or operator prepare and submit for approval an Oil-Spill Response Plan for each of their offshore facilities which describes in detail what actions their spill management team will take should an oil spill occur. Included in the response plan is a “worst case” discharge response scenario. This scenario must include the identification of any onshore areas that could be affected by an accidental spill from an operator’s facility. The lessee is also required to identify their contracted spill response equipment and materials, the necessary trained personnel, and the time needed to deploy those resources in the event of a “worstcase” spill. The plan must also outline responses to less severe spills or emergencies. As part of the MMS review of this document, MMS verifies whether the operator has a contract with an approved Oil-Spill Removal Organization (OSRO) that is capable of providing qualified personnel and sufficient equipment to respond to their worst case discharge spill volume.