Regulatory Authorities

• MMS

  • Right-of-Way Approval
  • OPA Contingency Plan/Financial Responsibility

• Other Agencies

  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  • State of Alaska Pipeline Coordinators Office (SPCO)
  • DOT/Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS)

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• If a Northern offshore pipeline route is selected, the MMS has specific authorities to grant pipeline rights-of-way and may need to approve oil spill contingency plans.

• Our right-of-way authorities are established under the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA). Under the right-of-way permit, MMS exercises approval and oversight responsibility for the installation, operation, maintenance, metering and abandonment of the pipeline.

• An oil spill contingency plan may also be required if the pipeline would carry naturally occurring condensate, or condensate is injected into the pipeline. MMS contingency plan authorities are established by the OCSLA and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) and would apply to all segments of an offshore pipeline, whether on the federal OCS or state submerged lands. In the event there is potential for a spill, additional demonstration of financial responsibility would be required under the Oil Pollution Act.

• The MMS will share management responsibilities for this pipeline with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety, and the State of Alaska’s Pipeline Coordinators Office.