Working with Partner Agencies on Offshore Inspection

Ensuring Safe Operations in the Pacific OCS Region

The BOEMRE interacts with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in inspection areas beyond those related to oil discharge planning, preparedness, and response. The BOEMRE is authorized to perform inspections on behalf of the USCG on fixed OCS facilities and enforce USCG regulations applicable to those facilities, as detailed in a 2002 Final Rule. To address the USCG-regulated items, BOEMRE, in conjunction with the USCG, developed “Z” (Personal Safety) PINC’s. The USCG safety program had been largely a self-inspection program; review of the facilities and operations by BOEMRE during inspections was designed to increase compliance in critical safety areas. Where possible, these inspections are conducted in conjunction with annual and partial production inspections conducted by the Pacific OCS Region.

In addition, the Bureau works with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on inspections. Pursuant to a 1989 Memorandum of Agreement with the EPA’s Region 9, BOEMRE Pacific OCS Region personnel inspect facility compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System(NPDES) permits. These inspections consist of records checks, compliance sampling, visual inspections of water treatment systems on the offshore facilities, and visual inspections of the sea surface for discharge-related pollution. Records of inspections are provided to the EPA, which is responsible for pursuing compliance on these issues