| Country: |
United States |
| Organisation: |
Minerals Management Service |
| Regime Scope: |
Federal government: the Minerals Management Service is a bureau within the US Department of the Interior. |
| Administering Agency /Arrangements: |
The OCS Lands Act (OCSLA-1953) is the primary statute governing offshore oil and gas, and marine mineral activities.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 amended OCSLA to add new authority for alternative energy projects in Federal offshore waters.
Regulations governing OCS oil and gas, mineral, and alternative energy activities can be found in Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations. |
| Legislation Type: |
- Permits for geological and geophysical operations on unleased lands.
- Lease issuance, exploration and development/production plan approvals, well and structural Permits, pipeline rights-of-way, decommissioning plans |
| Extent Of Government Approval: |
- Permits for geological and geophysical operations on unleased lands.
- Lease issuance, exploration and development/production plan approvals, well and structural permits, pipeline rights-of-way, decommissioning plans |
| Nature Of Duties Imposed: |
Hybrid regulatory approach; prescriptive regulations including 96 industry standards; performance objectives can be achieved by alternate means with MMS approval. |
| Physical Objects In The Regime: |
- Oil and gas exploration and production in the Gulf of Mexico (4000 platforms, 120 MODUs, 33,000 miles of pipeline, subsea production systems, wide range of support equipment), offshore California (23 production platforms, 188 miles of pipeline, exploration from existing facilities, record extended reach wells), and the Beaufort Sea (production from artificial island, second production plan under review, ongoing exploration). Planning for oil and gas exploration in the Chukchi Sea is underway.
- 2 offshore wind farm proposals (Nantucket Sound and offshore Long Island) are under review.
- MMS assists the US Coast Guard on the review of offshore LNG gasification ports. 15 applications have been received and 2 have been approved. One facility is now operating.
-MMS authorizes the use of offshore sand for beach nourishment and coastal protection projects. |
| Assurance Mechanisms: |
- MMS inspectors and investigators are based in 7 district offices (5 in the GOM, 1 in California, 1 in Alaska), and fly offshore regularly.
- Industry self-inspections and records are required by regulation.
- Drills (spill response, BOPE, H2S, evacuation, etc) are required and may be initiated by MMS without notice.
- 3rd party reviews (design, fabrication, and installation) are required for deepwater or novel structures.
|
| Financial Basis: |
Approximately 50% of the funding for MMS’s offshore program are from rental fees on OCS leases and cost recovery assessments. The remainder of the funding is from annual congressional appropriations. |
| Profile Author: |
Elmer P. Danenberger III
Chief, Offshore Regulatory Programs
Minerals Management Service |
| Profile Date: |
13 January 2007 |
