Oil Spill Response Inspections and Drills

Ensuring Safe Operations in the Pacific OCS Region

The Pacific OCS Region conducts inspections and drills covering oil spill response including an annual unannounced drill at each offshore facility; these drills require the operator to deploy their primary response equipment. Annually, the Region also inspects the dedicated secondary equipment stored onshore by an Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO) including all booms and skimmers and the OSRO’s spill response vessels, if moored locally, to ensure the equipment is properly stored, maintained, and in optimal working condition. The Region annually conducts a major unannounced oil spill response drill with a selected operator, requiring the operator to deploy primary response equipment and mobilize their spill-response management team and Command Center. The BOEMRE and other government agencies, including the USCG, evaluate the spill response, and the Region requires the operator to perform all identified corrective actions.