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The
NewsRoom
Release: #3508
Date: May 22, 2006
MMS Seeks Comments on OCS
Safety and Environmental Management Systems
Agency issues Advanced Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking
WASHINGTON – The Minerals Management Service (MMS)
is seeking comments to improve the regulatory approach to Safety and
Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) for energy operations
conducted in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). SEMS is a
nontraditional, performance-focused tool for integrating and
managing offshore operations. The purpose of SEMS is to enhance the
safety and cleanliness of operations by reducing the frequency and
severity of accidents. The MMS has asked industry to voluntarily
adopt SEMS.
“We believe the
effective use of SEMS would improve the safety and environmental
performance of oil and gas operations on the OCS,” said MMS Director
Johnnie Burton. “We are considering a range of options for ensuring
industry compliance with the regulations."
In an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(ANPR) published in today’s
Federal Register, MMS is seeking to improve the current
voluntary regulatory approach to SEMS in order to minimize injuries,
fatalities, accidents, fires, explosions, collisions, pollution
incidents, or damage to the marine environment on the OCS. MMS also
requests comments on a regulatory scheme that would allow companies
with outstanding performance records to operate under an alternative
compliance program, and on improving the efficiency of the current
regulatory system by making it more responsive to innovative
approaches and technological and environmental changes.
MMS is accepting comments for the next 90 days.
All comments must be identified with 1010-AD15, and can be submitted
electronically through MMS’s Public Connect on-line commenting
system, by email, by fax at 703-787-1546; or via mail to:
Minerals Management Service
Attention: Rules Processing Team (RPT)
381 Elden Street, MS-4024
Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817
Relevant Web
Site:
MMS Main Website
Media Contact:
Nicolette Nye 703/787-1011
MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for
America
U.S. Department of the Interior
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