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Arctic regs recommendation to BSEE
In the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico the Department of the Interior introduced new rules and regulations aimed at heightened safety for drilling operations on the U.S. outer continental shelf. But specific regulations and standards are still needed to address the particular challenges of the Arctic offshore, according to a recommendation agreed by the Ocean Energy Safety Advisory Committee on Aug.30.
The Advisory Committee, composed of a group of 15 representative experts from industry, government agencies, academia and environmental organizations, was formed in April 2011 to provide advice to the Department of the Interior on matters and actions relating to offshore energy safety, including drilling, well blowout containment and oil spill response.
Improved oil spill prevention, response The committee has been formulating a series of recommended actions, primarily directed at Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, or BSEE, for improved oil spill prevention and response. And in the course of its deliberations the committee recognized a series of potential actions that would be specific to the Arctic, given the challenges posed by factors such as sea ice in that region.
A sub-committee has formed to flesh out some specific Arctic recommendations but, meantime, the committee has agreed to send a general recommendation to BSEE, pointing out what it sees as a need to bolster the current regulations and standards to accommodate Arctic issues.
“To ensure common standards for Arctic OCS (outer continental shelf) exploration and production, the committee recommends that the Department of the Interior develop Arctic-specific regulations and/or incorporate standards for (oil spill) prevention, safety, containment and response preparedness in the Arctic outer continental shelf,” the Advisory Committee said in its recommendation.
—Alan Bailey
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