More time for Arctic drilling reg comments

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management have extended by 30 days the public comment period for proposed new safety regulations for exploration drilling on the Arctic outer continental shelf. Comments on the proposed regulations are now due by May 27.

The proposed regulations, which include features such as the mandated in-region availability of a well capping stack and oil containment dome, were developed specifically for the Arctic in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Other than saying that the extended comment period will allow the public more time to provide input to the regulation development process, the agencies have provided no explanation for the new deadline.

There is considerable interest in the regulations, given the possibility of developing the large oil and gas resources thought to exist under the Arctic continental shelf coupled with concerns about the need to protect the Arctic environment and the interests of subsistence hunters in the region.

- Alan Bailey