BOEMRE Approves Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Exploration Plan Supported by Post-Deepwater Horizon Environmental Review
NEW ORLEANS – The Bureau of
Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today
announced the approval of a deepwater Gulf of Mexico Exploration
Plan (EP) following the completion of a site-specific Environmental
Assessment (SEA) for deepwater oil and gas exploration.
Shell Offshore, Inc.’s Supplemental
EP includes five proposed exploratory wells in approximately 7,160
to 7,259 feet water depth, as well as three previously approved
wells approximately 72 miles offshore Louisiana.
"This exploration plan was reviewed
under the heightened standards we are now using to conduct
site-specific environmental assessments,” said BOEMRE Director
Michael R. Bromwich. “The standards are higher than they used to be,
and further support our goal of ensuring that deepwater exploration
is done more safely and with greater protections for the environment
than ever before."
BOEMRE prepared the SEA to examine
the plan’s proposed exploration activities in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the implementation of
departmental and bureau regulations.
The SEA included new scientific
information that had not been previously available for consideration
or analysis. Based on its review, BOEMRE found no evidence that the
proposed actions would significantly affect the quality of the human
environment. Therefore, BOEMRE determined that an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) was not required and issued the Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI), which allowed the exploration plan to be
approved.
The bureau will not issue further
news releases for the standard approval of exploration and
development plans. Information on approved plans and permits can be
found at:
http://www.gomr.boemre.gov/homepg/offshore/safety/well_permits.html.
Contact: BOEMRE
Public Affairs-Gulf