Scott Angelle named as BSEE director

Scott A. Angelle, a former Louisiana state official, has been named to head the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. BSEE, part of the Department of Interior, has regulatory oversight of oil and gas operations on the U.S. outer continental shelf.

“Scott Angelle brings a wealth of experience to BSEE, having spent many years working for the safe and efficient energy production of both Louisiana’s and our country’s offshore resources,” Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said in announcing the appointment, which was effective May 23.

Angelle has held numerous positions in Louisiana state and parish governments, including interim lieutenant governor, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, and St. Martin Parish president in the aftermath of the BP oil spill. He served at the request of then Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal as liaison to the federal government and negotiated an early end of the previous administration’s drilling moratorium, BSEE said in a May 22 statement.

Angelle said he welcomed the opportunity to serve the administration, “and work with BSEE staff to meet the critical goal of energy dominance for our country. It is an exciting and challenging time for BSEE; I look forward to leading our efforts to empower the offshore oil and gas industry while ensuring safe and environmentally responsible operations.”

Angelle was secretary of Louisiana’s Department of Natural Resources for eight years, and BSEE said that under Angelle’s leadership “the state’s coastal permitting system was reformed, providing for efficient permitting while increasing drilling rig counts in Louisiana by more than 150 percent during his tenure.”

Angelle is a native of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, and a cum laude graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Land Management.

BSEE was established in 2011, and Angelle will be its fourth director. The agency is responsible for permitting, appropriate regulations, compliance monitoring and enforcement inspections, technical assessments and incident investigation. Senate confirmation is not required for the BSEE director.

- Petroleum News