The Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today announced that
public comment is invited in connection with an Environmental
Assessment (EA) it will prepare on a revised Exploration Plan (EP)
submitted by Shell Offshore, Inc. This revised EP involves shallow
water exploratory drilling in the Beaufort Sea, and will be
completed in accordance with new safety and environmental standards
implemented since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill.
An exploration plan describes all
exploration activities planned by the operator for a specific lease
or leases, including the timing of these activities, information
concerning drilling vessels, the location of each planned well, and
other relevant information that is needed to meet important safety
standards.
The EP proposes drilling four
exploratory wells in water depths of approximately 110-125 feet,
each located 16 to 23 miles off the coast of northern Alaska.
Shell's EP was deemed submitted today. Consistent with federal
regulations, an EP is deemed "submitted" once all supporting
materials and documentation have been provided, and have met
regulatory requirements. Once a plan is deemed submitted, BOEMRE has
30 calendar days to analyze and evaluate it.
As part of its review, the bureau
will prepare an EA specific to the proposed exploration activities.
Upon completion of the technical and environmental review, BOEMRE
must decide whether to approve the plan, require modifications, or
disapprove the plan.
There are two separate opportunities
to provide comments being announced today. The 30-day time frame for
review includes a 10-day public comment period to allow an
opportunity to review and comment on the issues that should be
considered by BOEMRE in preparing the EA for the plan. The deadline
to receive these comments is July 15, 2011. BOEMRE's Alaska region
will also accept comments on the revised EP and the related Oil
Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan (ODPCP) for up to 21 days
(until July 25, 2011) as part of its government-to-government
consultations with tribal governments and the State of Alaska.
The EP and related ODPCP are
available for review at: