WASHINGTON The Bureau of
Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today
issued additional guidance regarding the steps required of operators
to resume deepwater activity. This information contains no new or
additional regulatory requirements, but instead provides additional
information to assist the oil and gas industry in their efforts to
comply with recently-issued rules and prior guidance.
“As we continue to strengthen oversight and safety
and environmental protections, we must ensure that the oil and gas
industry has clear direction on what is expected,” said BOEMRE
Director Michael R. Bromwich. “Following discussions with members
of the oil and gas industry, it is clear that this information will
assist in their implementation of the stronger safety and
environmental standards we have put in place. We remain committed
to working with industry to provide additional guidance on these and
other issues.”
Since Interior Secretary Ken Salazar lifted the
deepwater drilling moratorium on October 12, 2010, BOEMRE has met
with multiple oil and gas operators and industry representatives to
help clarify and provide additional guidance about new regulations,
Notices to Lessees (NTL), and how the agency will apply National
Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) requirements with respect to
deepwater drilling operations. Today’s guidance presents a clear
path to move forward with the resumption of work in deepwater.
The issues addressed in the information document
include compliance issues relating to: the Drilling Safety Rule (or
Interim Final Rule), NTL-6 (including Worst Case Discharge
calculations), and NTL-10, as well as further information on
BOEMRE’s inspections of BOP testing, Oil Spill Response Plans (OSRP),
and the manner in which environmental assessments will be conducted
for deepwater drilling plans.
The
information document is available here.
Contact:
BOEMRE Public Affairs