BSEE & Coast Guard sign MOU

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, or BSEE, and the U.S. Coast Guard have signed a memorandum of understanding for coordinating their responsibilities on the U.S. outer continental shelf, the two agencies announced Nov. 29. The memorandum encourages the agencies to jointly promote regulatory compliance; to use each other’s expertise and resources in research projects; collaborate in the drafting of regulations and policies; adopt similar codes and standards; and provide appropriate offshore activity oversight and regulatory enforcement.

“This MOU ensures a lasting and mutually beneficial partnership between BSEE and the Coast Guard, highlighting the benefits that can be created when federal agencies acknowledge a shared commitment and join forces to work toward a common goal,” said BSEE Director Jim Watson when announcing the agreement. “As offshore operations continue to move into deeper and more complex environments, it’s important for us to further develop a collaborative relationship with our partners at the Coast Guard to improve offshore safety and environmental protection.”

In April BSEE and the Coast Guard signed a memorandum of agreement that specifically dealt with the agencies’ roles in oil spill response. The new memorandum of understanding is broader in scope and is the first document of its type to be signed by the two agencies since the formation of BSEE in October 2011, in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

—Alan Bailey