File:BSEE and California OSPR Strengthen Collaboration to Improve Oil Spill Prevention and Response (51984375044).jpg

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04/04/2022

WASHINGTON – To strengthen collaboration and oil spill prevention and response offshore California, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement recently renewed an agreement with California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Spill Prevention and Response to protect California’s coast from oil spills. Ratification of the new memorandum terminates a 1995 agreement between the two agencies. Similar agreements are to be signed with other coastal states in the coming months.

The goal of the updated memorandum is to promote oil spill response planning and preparedness, maximize oil spill response efficiency, and promote protection of human health and the environment by:

Fostering communication and cooperation between the parties. Promoting compliance with applicable regulations. Optimizing use of expertise and resources. Coordinating efforts with respect to oil spill planning, preparedness, and response. Coordinating oversight and regulatory enforcement actions. “After multiple years of work on this new agreement, the renewed MOU between BSEE and California OSPR will bolster collaboration between our agencies to ensure that offshore lessees and operators are prepared to respond to any discharge from their facilities,” said BSEE Preparedness Verification Branch Chief Bryan Rogers. “The agreement will improve coordination and consistency in our oversight of spill preparedness for facilities seaward of the coastline that process, store, or transport oil, or other energy production-related fluids.”

“We remain committed to continuing our solid working relationship with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement,” said Yvonne Addassi, Chief of Preparedness for CDFW’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response. “Such a cohesive partnership with our federal partners reduces redundancy concerning drills and exercises, facility oversight and response – and ultimately facilitates our joint mission to protect California’s coast from oil spills.”

The MOU calls for BSEE and California OSPR to cooperate in carrying out their respective regulatory responsibilities, and to identify opportunities for innovative and effective implementation of oil spill planning, preparedness, and response oversight. Each must exercise its own rulemaking responsibilities independently and in accordance with applicable laws and procedures, but the two may coordinate to the extent practicable on rulemaking initiatives.

The agreement specifically strengthens spill preparedness and response coordination between BSEE and OSPR for the offshore platforms and pipelines located in California state waters. Approximately 809,172 barrels of oil were produced in California state waters from October 2020 – September 2021, and an additional 4,421,869 barrels of oil were transported from OCS production platforms through California state waters from August 2020 – July 2021.

For additional details or to review the memorandum visit: <a href="url" rel="noreferrer nofollow">https://www.bsee.gov/about-bsee/interagency</a> BSEE is the lead federal agency charged with improving safety and ensuring environmental protection related to the offshore energy industry on the Outer Continental Shelf.