BOEMRE Oil Spill Program

Through authorities vested by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) and Executive Order 12777, the Bureau's Offshore Energy & Minerals Management (OEMM) program is responsible for oil spill planning, preparedness, and select response activities for facilities located seaward of the coastline (175.60 KB PDF). Covered are fixed and floating facilities engaged in exploration, development, and production activities that involve any form of liquid hydrocarbon. Pipelines that transport oil to or between platforms, or to onshore locations are also under Bureau jurisdiction. Deepwater ports are regulated by the Maritime Administration under the Deepwater Ports Act, as amended.

The Oil Spill Program was established to oversee planning and preparedness activities of operators of regulated facilities in offshore waters. The goal of the program is to ensure that, during a response, those who will operate oil spill response equipment or serve on management teams are prepared to do so in a manner that prevents or minimizes safety hazards to responders and the public, and negative impacts to the natural or built environments. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Bureau has developed enforcement actions called potential incidents of non-compliance (PINCs) that are assessed when oil spill prevention, planning, preparedness and response practices are found to be deficient. In cases where infractions are minor and pose no immediate threat or hazard, warnings are issued. In more severe cases, however, PINCs can lead to the shut-in of facilities and civil and/or criminal penalties.

The links below contain more details on the program or links to oil spill prevention, planning, preparedness, response, and recovery resources. Reports of oil spills should be directed to district and/or regional offices in keeping with current BOEMRE emergency reporting requirements.

Planning – Requirements for and information on Oil Spill Response Plans and oil spill financial responsibility for covered facilities in both State and Federal offshore waters.

Preparedness – Information on the Bureau unannounced oil spill drills, unannounced equipment inspections, training, and exercises for response personnel and equipment.

Response – Roles of the operator, the federal on-scene coordinator (FOSC), and the Bureau throughout a spill response from a regulated facility.

Resources – Laws, regulations, policies, organizations, and data related to oil spill prevention, planning, preparedness, response, and recovery in the U.S. and its territorial waters.