Regulatory Identifier Number: 1010-AD47
Federal Register Cite: Vol. 74, No. 146 74 FR 38147 (07/31/2009)

Summary: This proposed rule would establish regulations to address sustained casing pressure in oil and gas wells completed on the Outer Continental Shelf. Sustained casing pressure is a problem that, if left untreated, could cause serious harm to human life or the environment. The proposed rule would establish criteria for monitoring and testing of wells with sustained casing pressure, and would also incorporate the American Petroleum Institute’s Recommended Practice for managing annular casing pressure. New regulations are needed because the current regulations do not adequately address requirements for wells that have sustained casing pressure. This rule would promote human safety and environmental protection, and require Outer Continental Shelf lessees to follow best industry practices for wells with sustained casing pressure.

Public Comments

Date: Comment period closes September 29, 2009.
 

Federal Register Cite: Vol. 74, No. 12, FR 3635 (01/21/2009)

Summary: MMS is announcing the availability of a final EIS for the proposed Cape Wind Energy Project. Cape Wind Associates, LLC (CWA) has requested a lease, easement or right-of way, pursuant to section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) (43 U.S.C. 1337) as amended, and proposes to construct and operate a wind energy facility on the OCS off Massachusetts, in Nantucket Sound. The final EIS is intended to inform the public of the proposed action and reasonable alternatives, including the ‘‘no action’’ alternative; analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects of the proposed action and each of the reasonable alternatives; address public comment received on the draft EIS that was released in January 2008; and provide information to support decision-making.
 

Request for Comments on the Draft Proposed 5-Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2010–2015 and Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed 5-Year Program (71 KB PDF)

Federal Register Cite: Vol. 74, No. 12, FR 3631 (01/21/2009)

Summary: MMS requests comments on the Draft Proposed 5-year OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2010–2015 (DPP). This draft proposal is for a new oil and gas program to succeed the current program that is currently set to expire on June 30, 2012, and forms the basis for conducting the studies and analyses the Secretary will consider in making future decisions on what areas of the OCS to include in the program.

Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) specifies a multi-step process of consultation and analysis that must be completed before the Secretary of the Interior may approve a new 5-year program. The required steps following this notice include the development of a proposed program, a proposed final program, and Secretarial approval. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), MMS  also will prepare an EIS for the new 5-year program.
 

Regulatory Identifier Number: 1010-AD52
Federal Register Cite: Vol. 74, No. 176, FR 46904 (09/14/09)

Summary: This document makes technical changes to regulations that were published in various Federal Register documents and are codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, as well as announcing the approval by the Office of Management and Budget of information collection requirements contained in two previously published regulations.

Effective Date: September 14, 2009
 

Regulatory Identifier Number: 1010-AD41
Federal Register Cite: Vol. 74, No. 155, FR 40726 (08/13/09)

Summary: This final rule extends the proprietary term of certain reprocessed geophysical information submitted to MMS under a permit. The rule gives up to 5 years of additional protection to reprocessed vintage geophysical information that MMS retains and, without an extension, is subject to release by MMS 25 years after issuing the permit. The extension provides incentives to permittees and third parties to reprocess, market, or in other ways use geophysical information that may not otherwise be reprocessed without the term extension. The extension does not apply to geological data or information.

Effective Date: September 14, 2009
 

Regulatory Identifier Number: 1010-AD55 (formerly AD50)
Federal Register Cite: Vol. 74, No.153, FR 74 40069 (08/11/09)

Summary: This final rule will revise the production measurement regulations to establish meter proving, meter verification/calibration, and well test requirements after hurricanes and other events beyond the control of the lessee. This rulemaking will eliminate some reporting burden on industry, and it will eliminate the need for MMS to grant waivers to the reporting requirements in certain situations. The final rule will also add new definitions providing clarity in the training regulations, which should lead to improved training of Outer Continental Shelf workers.

Effective Date: September 10, 2009.
 

Summary: MMS is publishing final regulations to establish a program to grant leases, easements, and rights-of-way (ROW) for renewable energy project activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), as well as certain previously unauthorized activities that involve the alternate use of existing facilities located on the OCS; and to establish the methods for sharing revenues generated by this program with nearby coastal States. These regulations will also ensure the orderly, safe, and environmentally responsible development of renewable energy sources on the OCS. The MMS prepared a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzing this rule. The EA incorporates by reference the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Alternative Energy Development and Production and Alternate Use of Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf, Final Environmental Impact Statement, October 2007. The EA was prepared to assess any impacts of this rule.