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Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

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Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Agency overview
FormedOctober 1, 2011 (2011-10-01)
Preceding agency
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Employees881 FTE (2016)
Annual budget$204.6 million USD (2016)
Agency executive
  • Margaret Schneider, Director (Acting)
Parent agencyDepartment of the Interior
Websitewww.bsee.gov

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is an agency under the United States Department of the Interior.[1] Established in 2011, BSSE is the lead agency in charge of improving safety and ensuring environmental protection relating to the offshore energy industry, mainly natural gas and oil, on the United States Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).[2] The agency exercises the safety and environmental enforcement functions formerly under the Minerals Management Service including the authority to inspect, investigate, summon witnesses and produce evidence, levy penalties, cancel or suspend activities, and oversee safety, response, and removal preparedness.[1]

History

The BSEE was established in 2011 in response to the regulatory failure of Minerals Management Service (MMS) in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Secretarial Order 3299 signed by then Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, created the agency. Order 3299 also created the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR).[1]

The creation of the three independent entities was designed to carry out three missions:[3]

  • Ensuring the balance and responsible development of energy resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
  • Ensuring safe and environmentally responsible exploration and production and enforcing applicable rules and regulations
  • Ensuring a fair return to the taxpayer from offshore royalty and revenue collection and disbursement activities

In 2013, the BSEE and the U.S. Department of Transportation Statistics (BTS) signed an Interagency Agreement (IAA) to create SafeOCS, for voluntary confidential reporting of ‘near misses’ happening on Outer Continental Shelf. It was later expanded to include mandatory reporting of equipment failure data as required in 30 CFR 250.730 and 30 CFR 250.803.[4]

In 2016, the BSEE finalized Well Control Rule. Phased in over time (starting on July 28, 2016), the reform will establish regulations to prevent another Deepwater Horizon tragedy and other well control incidents. In addition, it will implement new and revised industry standards as well as codification of decades worth of BSEE polices.[5]

Key points of Well Control Rule:[6]

  • Incorporate industry standards as baseline
  • Establish criteria for maintenance and repair of blowout preventers (BOP) 
  • Safe drilling practices and procedures
  • Real time monitoring requirements
  • Third party certification programs

In 2016, NASA and the BSEE entered into a five-year interagency agreement (IAA). Under the agreement, NASA will assist BSEE in further developing risk management using NASA’s probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) technique.[7]

Divisions

Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs (OORP)

OORP manages rules, standards and compliance programs in charge of oil, gas and mineral operations on the Outer Continental Shelf. Branches under the OORP are responsible for regulations and associated policy documents of the OCS. Additionally, programs cover safety management, pollution prevention research, technology assessments, inspection policies and development of BSEE’s technical training.[8]

Oil Spill Preparedness Division (OPSD)

The BSEE oversees oil spill planning and preparedness for oil and gas production facilities in U.S. waters (see 30 CFR part 254). Some of the main functions of its Oil Spill Preparedness Division (OSPD) division include the approval of oil spill response plans; inspection of oil spill response equipment; conducting oil spill response research, auditing responder and management team training and exercises. OSPD currently manages the Ohmsett National Spill Response Test Facility, located in Leonardo, New Jersey.[9]

Environmental Compliance Division (ECD)

The ECD monitors, verifies and enforces the offshore industry’s compliance with environmental standards in operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). ECD is responsible for compliancy with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in regards to BSEE’s OCS operations. Other responsibilities include coordination with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and other Federal, State and local agencies; and public outreach regarding environmental compliance. Engineers and scientists working under the ECD, are BSEE’s national coordinators for various environmental programs including Air Quality, Archaeological and Cultural Resources; Marine Ecology, Marine Trash and Debris Oversight; and the Rigs-to-Reefs (R2R) Artificial Reef Program[10]

Safety & Incident Investigation Division (SIID)

Budget

As of 2016, the BSEE has a $204.6 million budget and 881 full-time employees (FTE), requesting $204.8 million and no increase in FTE for fiscal year 2017.[11]

Offices

Regional offices are in Anchorage, Alaska, Camarillo, California, New Orleans, and district offices along the Gulf of Mexico coast.[12]

Publications

BSEE Annual Reports

Annual reports from The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) have been issued since 2014. This report highlights the achievements of the agency, its plans for the future and statistics of safety incidences.

BSEE FY Greenbook

The BSEE Greenbook is The United State’s Department of the Interior’s (DOI) budget justifications for the upcoming fiscal year.

Notice to Lessees (NTLs) & Letter to Lessees (LTLs)

NTLs and LTLs are formal documents that clarify, describe and interpret BSEE regulations or Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) standards. They give guidelines in implementation of lease stipulations or regional requirements and explain the scope and meaning of a regulation. NTLs also may communicate administrative information including current telephone numbers and changes in addresses of BSEE offices or personnel.  NTLs and LTLs are currently archived on the BSEE’s website.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Salazar, Ken (May 19, 2010), Secretarial Order Nº 3299 (PDF), retrieved May 21, 2010
  2. ^ "About Us | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement". www.bsee.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-22.
  3. ^ "Reorganization | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement". www.bsee.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-22.
  4. ^ "Near-Miss Reporting System". www.safeocs.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-22.
  5. ^ "Well Control Rule | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement". www.bsee.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-22.
  6. ^ "Well Control Rule Interpretation Workshop Presentation" (PDF). BSEE. August 17, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  7. ^ Canales, Christina (March 17, 2016). "NASA, BSEE Announce Agreement to Examine Risk Offshore". NASA. Retrieved April 21, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  8. ^ "Offshore Regulatory Programs | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement". www.bsee.gov. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  9. ^ "Oil Spill Preparedness | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement". www.bsee.gov. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  10. ^ "Environmental Focuses | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement". www.bsee.gov. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  11. ^ BSEE (July 28, 2016). "Budget Justifications and Performance Information FY 2017 BSEE" (PDF). Department of Interior. Retrieved 16 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  12. ^ "Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement History". Department of Interior. n.d. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  13. ^ "Notice to Lessees (NTLs) | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement". www.bsee.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-22.

Further reading

  • Committee on the Effectiveness of Safety and Environmental Management Systems for Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas (2012). Evaluating the effectiveness of offshore safety and environmental management systems. Washington, D.C: Transportation Research Board. ISBN 9780309223089.
  • Hogue, Henry (2010). "Reorganization of the Minerals Management Service in the Aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill" (PDF). Federation of American Scientists Website. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  • National Academy of Engineering; National Research Council; Marine Board; Committee on Options for Implementing the Requirement of Best Available and Safest Technologies for Offshore Oil and Gas Operations (2013). Best available and safest technologies for offshore oil and gas operations : options for implementation. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. ISBN 9780309294270.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Study Team of the National Academy of Public Administration. "Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement: Strategic Organizational Assessment" (PDF). National Academy of Public Administration. Retrieved 23 April 2017.


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