This website contains information on Management, Regulation and Enforcement of offshore Arctic Oil and Gas. This site contains links to information and documents stored by Arctic governments on their oil and gas regulatory, legal regimes, research, reports and statistics.
This will allow easy access for regulators, industry and all stakeholders to a centralized information resource, including information on Health Safety and Environmental Management Systems employed in the Arctic offshore.
The site is intended to:
- Demonstrate and profile Arctic States' stewardship efforts related to offshore oil and gas activities.
- Facilitate the sharing of current information on best practices from different states and allow better communication in the management, regulation and enforcement of Arctic offshore oil and gas operations and allow all stakeholders easy access to this information.
- Be a systematic way to outreach to Arctic Council Working Groups, Permanent Participants, observers and other stakeholders.
USA
General
In the United States, there are Federal and State jurisdictions, each regulated by similar Federal and State laws. Different laws and agencies are involved in the regulatory process depending on where the activity is taking place: onshore or marine areas, State, Federal, Native or private lands, wilderness, parks or forests, or under rivers and wetlands. In the U.S. Arctic, lands and subsurface rights belong to various individuals, entities, and governments. Oil and gas resources under State lands, including marine areas out to 5 km from shore, and privately owned lands belong to and are regulated by the State of Alaska. Marine areas beyond 5 km from shore are regulated by the Federal Government. Some oil and gas activities, such as drilling, conducted on Federal lands located within the boundaries of the State are regulated concurrently by both State and Federal agencies. Resources beneath Native lands are owned by the Native Corporation, or local government, and are regulated by the State of Alaska and also possibly by the Federal Government. There are many agencies involved in regulating oil and gas activities in the U.S. Arctic.
National Arctic Policy Documents
- Arctic Region Policy (2009)
- This directive establishes the policy of the United States with respect to the Arctic region and directs related implementation actions.
- Committee on the Marine Transportation System
- Managing for the Future in a Rapidly Changing Arctic: A Report to the President (2013)
- This report calls for an integrated management strategy to help Arctic residents who are dealing with rapid impacts on their resources and traditional ways of life, at the same time that new economic activity and opportunities are emerging.
- National Strategy for the Arctic Region (2013)
- 0Through the National Strategy for the Arctic Region, USA articulates its strategic priorities to position the United States to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. It will seek to prioritize and effectively integrate the work of Federal departments and agencies with activities that are already underway in the State of Alaska and at the international level. And it will partner with the State of Alaska and Alaska Natives, as well as the international community and the private sector, to develop innovative solutions and new ways of operating.
- U S Arctic Marine Transportation System: Overview and Priorities for Action Report (2013)
- The U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony R. Foxx submitted to President Obama the CMTS report on the U.S. Arctic marine transportation system (MTS). The report calls for near- and long-term priority actions to improve the U.S. Arctic MTS to safeguard anticipated increases in vessel traffic in the U.S. Arctic.
- The U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony R. Foxx submitted to President Obama the CMTS report on the U.S. Arctic marine transportation system (MTS). The report calls for near- and long-term priority actions to improve the U.S. Arctic MTS to safeguard anticipated increases in vessel traffic in the U.S. Arctic.
- A 10-year Projection Study of Maritime Activity in the U.S. Arctic (2015)
- Provides estimates on vessel traffic in the U.S. Arctic (numbers of vessels and transits) based on modeling of current baseline traffic data and growth potential as defined by various progression scenarios.
- Ten-Year Prioritization of Infrastructure Needs in the U.S. Arctic report 2016
- Presents a framework to address Arctic infrastructure gaps. It identifies critical requirements for a safe and secure U.S. Arctic Marine Transportation System (MTS) to be implemented over the next decade.
- Recommendations and Criteria for Using Federal Public-Private Partnerships to Support Critical U.S. Arctic Maritime Infrastructure (2017)
- Puts forward 19 recommendations for the implementation of public-private partnerships (P3s) in developing, improving, and maintaining infrastructure in support of Federal maritime activities, national security, navigation safety, and stewardship of natural resources in the U.S. Arctic.
- Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC).
- Arctic Research Plan FY2017-2021
- National Ocean Policy (2010)
- National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan (2013)
- National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan Appendix
- National Strategy for the Arctic Region (2013)
- New National Strategy for the Arctic Region Implementation Plan (2014)
- New National Strategy for the Arctic Region Implementation Report (2015)
- New Appendix A 2016 Implementation Framework for the National Strategy for the Arctic Region (2015)
Federal Agencies
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
- BOEM is responsible for offshore leasing, resource evaluation, review and administration of oil and gas exploration and development plans, renewable energy development, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis and environmental studies.
See also Alaska Region: https://www.boem.gov/alaska-ocs-region
- BOEM is responsible for offshore leasing, resource evaluation, review and administration of oil and gas exploration and development plans, renewable energy development, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis and environmental studies.
- Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
- BSEE is responsible development and enforcement of safety and environmental regulations, permitting offshore exploration, development and production, inspections, offshore regulatory programs, oil spill response and newly formed training and environmental compliance programs, and Arctic technology and oil spill research.
- See also Alaska Region: https://www.bsee.gov/stats-facts/ocs-regions/alaska
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Oversees regulation and enforcement of waste, oil and hazardous discharges and air emissions and monitoring.
- See also: Regional EPA website in Alaska.
- US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
- Administers the Endangered Species Act (ESA) which provides protection measures for America’s native fish, wildlife and plants.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- NOAA provides science, service, and stewardship to the rapidly changing Arctic region, its inhabitants, and the Nation.
- NOAA's Arctic Program
- NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/alaska-regional-officex
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- Offshore dredging and dumping permits. Wetlands protection.
- See also:
- U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
- Offshore oil and hazardous spill response and coordination. Also search and rescue, security and law enforcement.
- U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Regulates aspects of offshore pipelines and production platforms.
- See also:
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- OSHA's mission is to assure safe and healthful workplaces by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.
- Interagency Working Group on Coordination of Domestic Energy Development and Permitting in Alaska
- A federal, interagency working group established by Executive Order 13580 for coordinating the safe, responsible, and efficient development of conventional and renewable energy resources in Alaska
State of Alaska Agencies
These agencies are responsible for marine areas to 5 kilometers from shore. Departments responsible for offshore leasing, permits, research, spill response, revenue management, economic resource analysis, environmental protection, safety, inspections and enforcement:
- Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
- Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC)
- Department of Natural Resources
- Department of Fish and Game
- Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
- Department of Public Safety
- Department of Revenue
Norway
The Petroleum Safety Authority
The most central regulations offshore and onshore:
- The framework regulations
- The management regulations
- The facilities regulations
- The activities regulations
- Technical and operational regulations
- CO2 safety regulation
- The Working Environment Regulations
Regulations on Svalbard
Other regulations - applicable in full or in parts offshore
- Act relating to petroleum activities (the petroleum regulations)
- The safety delegate's role in practice
Norwegian Petroleum Directorate
- News
- Topics
- Publications
- NPD FactMaps
- RegulationsActs
- Regulations
- Guidelines
- Standards
- Reporting
- About us
Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency
Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services
Science and Technical Reports
- OG21 – Oil and Gas in the 21st century--Ministry of Petroleum and Energy
- PETROMAKS research program
- DEMO 200 research program
- PROOF
- CLIMIT
Research Monitoring
Russia
- Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation — Минприроды России (mnr.gov.ru)x
- The Federal Subsoil Resources Management Agency — Минприроды России (mnr.gov.ru)
- The Federal Supervisory Natural Resources Management Service is a federal executive body performing control and supervision functions in the sphere of nature management. The Federal Supervisory Natural Resources Management Service is under the authority of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation. The Federal Supervisory Natural Resources Management Service exercises State management in the sphere of organization and functioning of specially protected natural areas of federal importance.
- The Federal Water Resources Agency — Минприроды России (mnr.gov.ru)
- The Federal Water Resources Agency is a federal executive body performing the functions related to rendering State services and federal property management in the sphere of water resources. The Federal Water Resources Agency is under the authority of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation.
- Federal Agency for Subsoil Use : Main page (rosnedra.gov.ru)
- http://www.rosnedra.com/ (Russian)
- Федеральное агентство по недропользованию : Главная страница (Rosnedra: Federal Agency on Subsoil Resources)
- The Federal Agency on Mineral Resources is a federal body of executive authority responsible for providing state services, managing state property, and for legal regulation in the sphere of subsoil use. The Federal Agency on Mineral Resources has the following functions:
- to organise regeneration and rational use of the mineral and raw material base;
- to study the geological subsoil on the territory of the Russian Federation and on the continental shelf of the Russian Federation;
- to maintain a federal and a territorial data bank on geological information on subsoil, as well as a data bank on subsoil use;
- to manage, within its sphere of competence, federal property in the sphere of subsoil use, including managing the State Subsoil Fund;
- to implement, within the limits and procedures established by federal laws and acts of the President of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Russian Federation, ownership rights in relation to federal property required for ensuring the function of federal bodies of authority, including property transferred to federal state unitary enterprises, federal Treasury enterprises, and state institutions subordinate to the Agency;
- to maintain a state cadastre of deposits and occurrences of minerals, to keep a state inventory of works involved in the geological exploration of subsoil and its sections made available for the extraction of minerals and for purposes unrelated to their production, and their inclusion in a state register, as well as to compile a state balance sheet of mineral resources and to monitor the condition of subsoil;
- to provide the right to use subsoil in an established manner;
- to render state services connected with: a geological, economic, and cost-based assessment of mineral deposits and subsoil sections in accordance with the established procedure; a state examination of mineral reserves and geological and economic information on subsoil sections made available for exploitation, and the provision of design and estimates documentation on the geological exploration of subsoil.
Federal Agency for Subsoil Use : List of regulatory legal acts in the field of subsoil use (rosnedra.gov.ru) Федеральное агентство по недропользованию : Перечень нормативных правовых актов в сфере недропользования (rosnedra.gov.ru)
- The Situation about the Agency
- THE STRUCTURE OF THE AGENCY
- The Property Management Department
- Department of Geology & G, Pv
- OFFICE OF FEO
- REGULATIONS on the Department of Geological Foundations, Science and Informaticsx
- Federal Agency for Subsoil Use : Territorial bodies of the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use (rosnedra.gov.ru)
- Licensing Management The Office of Licensing Approved by the Decree of the Federal Agency subsoil use from 19.09.2005 No. 959 http://www.rosnedra.com/page/52.html
INFORMATION RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS - LISTS OF SITES OF SUBSOIL
- FORECAST LISTS (HYDROCARBONS)
- GEOLOGICAL BULLETIN
- CITIZENS' APPEALS
- EVENTS, EVENTS, EXHIBITIONS
- CONTENTS
- ALL-RUSSIAN OPEN FIELD OLYMPIADS OF YOUNG GEOLOGISTS
- YOUNG GEOLOGISTS OF RUSSIA
- GEOLOGICAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Management (mchs.gov.ru) (Министерство - МЧС России (mchs.gov.ru))
- Main tasks of the Ministry
- formulation and implementation of State policy in the field of civil protection, protection of the population and territories from emergencies, fire safety and the safety of people on the water bodies within the competence of the Ministry;
- the preparation and approval in the prescribed manner of draft normative legal acts in the field of civil protection, protection of the population and territories from emergencies, fire safety and security people on water objects;
- management in the field of civil protection, protection of the population and territories from emergencies, fire safety, safety on water objects, as well as the management of the federal bodies of executive power in the unified State system of prevention and liquidation of emergency situations;
- implementation of the regulatory framework with a view to preventing, predicting and mitigating the effects of emergencies and fires, as well as the implementation of special, licensing, supervisory and monitoring functions on issues within the competence of the Ministry;
- operate on the Organization and conduct of civil defence emergency response in emergency situations, the protection of the population and territories from emergencies and fires, human security at water objects, as well as measures for emergency humanitarian response, including outside the Russian Federation.
- Structure - Ministry - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- Competencies, tasks and functions - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- Main tasks of the Emergencies Ministry of Russia - Competencies, tasks and functions - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- Main functions of the Emergencies Ministry of Russia - Competencies, tasks and functions - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- Competencies of Emergencies Ministry of Russia - Competencies, tasks and functions - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- Territorial bodies - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru) Territorial bodies - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- Regional Main Offices - Territorial bodies - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- Tasks and functions of territorial bodies - Territorial bodies - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- Institutions and Organizations - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- Forces and Facilities - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- Fire Department - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- The Centrospas State Central Airmobile Rescue Unit of Russian Emergencies MinistrySearch and Rescue Service - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- Arctic Research Training and Rescue Center Vytegra - Search and Rescue Service - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- Aircraft - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- Paramilitary Rescue Units - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
- National Crisis Management Centre - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
Regional Search and Rescue Units - Search and Rescue Service - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
Search-and-rescue formation Ministry (federal budget)
The search and rescue service (SAR) of the EMERCOM of Russia today is composed of 7 regional search-and-rescue teams (RIPA), 28 branches (11 search and rescue on the water bodies), Baikal PSYOPS, FGU "Centrospas" (Tuapse Branch), «Gosakvaspas» (branches in Gelendzhik and Baltiysk, Arkhangelsk).
Number of search-and-rescue units of the EMERCOM is 4151, 1821-certified lifeguards (55% of the staffing level of PSF).
General provisions
Search-and-rescue service of Emercom agency subordinate to the Ministry of the Russian Federation for civil defence, emergencies and elimination of consequences of natural disasters (Emercom) and is intended for conducting search-and-rescue operations in emergency situations of natural and technogenic character.
The PSS consists of government services, search-and-rescue squads (PRS) and units. The service, which is composed of regional urban search and rescue squad (RIPA) is the base for the region, its dislocation.
The CAP is guided by the laws and normative legal acts of the Russian Federation constituent entities of the Russian Federation, the regulations of the Ministry, the regional centres for civil defence, emergencies and elimination of consequences of natural disasters, emergency situations (DC ST es) and the Charter Cap.
ASAT runs its day-to-day operations under the direct supervision of the EC on EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, as well as in cooperation with the permanent bodies of the administration under the executive bodies of constituent entities of the Russian Federation and bodies of local self-government, specially authorized to address challenges in the field of protection of the population and territories, and is a member of the functional subsystem of the unified State system of prevention and liquidation of emergency situations (IDEAS).
The MSS is a legal entity, has a bank account in banks, independent balance, a seal with its name and can conduct transactions permitted by law and consistent with the objectives of Cap.
The main objectives of the UNION are:
• maintenance management ogranov in constant readiness and capabilities of search and rescue units to the task;
monitor the readiness of objects and territories in their works on liquidation of emergencies;
Organization and conducting search-and-rescue operations in emergency situations of natural and man-caused haraktrera.
In order to solve the tasks entrusted to the formation of the SAR search and rescue emergency measures of Russia:
-provide the necessary material and technical base;
razrabyvaût-operational documents on organization and carrying out of rescue works poskovo in accordance with the intended use;
-provide training, retraining, improvement of professional skill of staff search-and-rescue units of the CAP Ministry;
-prepare a rescue and search-and-rescue formation for certification to conduct rescue operations;
-carry out rehabilitation activities, social and legal protection of search-and-rescue units of the CAP Ministry workers and members of their families;
-Exchange experience with others, including international spatel′nymi services and groups;
-participate in elaboration of executive authorities of the constituent entities of the RUSSIAN oganami plans for prevention and elimination of emergency situations;
-participate in the preparation of public rescue emergency rescue units (lifeguards editorialists);
-participate in the preparation of the population to act in emergency situations.
For a complete list of the tasks and functions assigned to the specific search-and-rescue units is determined by the regional centres, the Office of civil defense and EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, in agreement with EMERCOM of Russia, in accordance with their powers and enshrined in the charters of the (s) specified.
News - For Mass Media - EMERCOM of Russia (mchs.gov.ru)
Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (gosnadzor.ru) Ros Tecknadzor
Rostekhnadzor (http://www.gosnadzor.ru/) (the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision; Russian: Федеральная служба по экологическому, технологическому и атомному надзору (Ростехнадзор)) is the supervisory body of Russia on ecological, technological and nuclear issues. Its functions include the passage of regulatory legal acts, supervision and oversight in the field of environmental protection with the aim of limiting harmful technogenic impact (including the handling of industrial and consumer waste), safety when working with the sub-soil (e.g. mining), protection of the sub-soil, industrial safety, atomic energy safety (but not including the development, preparation, testing, operation and use of nuclear weapons and military atomic facilities), the safety of electrical and thermal facilities and networks (except for household facilities and networks), the safety of hydraulic structures at industrial and energy sites; the safety of manufacturing, storage, and use of industrial explosives, and also special state security functions in these areas.
Russian Government Resolution No. 404 of 29 May 2008 transferred Rostekhnadzor to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment; previously, the service had been directly subordinate to the government. However, this was reversed by President Dmitry Medvedev on 23 June 2010, when he brought it back under the direct control of the government.[1] In accordance with RF Government Resolution No. 54 of 1 February 2006, Rostekhnadzor was entrusted with oversight of the construction industry (Wikipedia accessed 8-31-2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rostekhnadzor) .
The main activities of the service
http://www.gosnadzor.ru/osnovnaya_deyatelnost_slujby/ (Russian)
Main functions and special powers
Federal service for ecological, technological and Atomic supervision shall carry out the functions of control and supervision in the sphere of:
- the safe conduct of work connected with subsoil use
• industrial safety
• safety in the use of Atomic Energy
• safety electrical and thermal installations and networks
• safety of hydraulic installations
• safety production, storage and use of explosives for industrial use
• environmental protection restrictions concerning the negative impact
Federal service for ecological, technological and Atomic inspection carries out functions of the Organization and conduct of the State ecological examination of the federal level.
Federal service for ecological, technological and Atomic supervision operates directly and through its territorial bodies in collaboration with other federal bodies of executive power, bodies of executive power of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, local government bodies, public associations and other organizations.
Selected principal powers of the Service
Federal service for ecological, technological and Atomic supervision control and supervision:
- for nuclear, radiation, technical and fire safety (nuclear installations);
• for compliance with industrial safety in the design, construction, operation, maintenance and elimination of hazardous production facilities, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, maintenance and repair of technical equipment used in hazardous industrial facilities, transportation of hazardous substances at hazardous production facilities;
• for the safe performance of work connected with subsoil use;
• the owners of hydraulic installations and operating organizations, norms and rules of safety of hydraulic installations (except shipping hydrotechnical constructions and hydrotechnical structures, oversight powers are transferred to the local self-government bodies);
• enforcement within the limits of its competence, the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of radioactive waste management;
• the mountain-rescue regarding status and readiness of the units of the paramilitary mining and rescue parts to eliminate accidents on client enterprises;
• for completeness and quality of the implementation of the State authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation referred to the powers of the State ecological examination with the right direction regulations on Elimination of revealed violations, and to prosecute officials, acting on the exercise of delegated powers
- Chief
- Deputy Heads
- Departments of the central office
- Territorial bodies
- Subordinate organizations
- Coordination and advisory bodies of Rostekhnadzor
- Collegial bodies
- Normative legal and legal acts
- Technical regulations
- Contacts
- Statements on rostekhnadzor policy
- Press service
- Information
- State programs of the Russian Federation
- Prevention of violations of mandatory requirements
- Information for payers
- Procedure for involvement of public inspectors in the field of industrial safety
- Informatization of the Service
- Analysis of the state of equipment for power, drilling and heavy engineering in fuel and energy organizations
- Receiving Production Control Reports
- Public Council
- Anti-corruption
- Open Rostekhnadzor
- Fundamentals of state policy in the field of industrial safety
- Implementation of the principles and mechanisms of the Open Government system in Rostekhnadzor
- List of reference groups of Rostekhnadzor
- Implementation of the project "Reform of control and supervisory activities" in Rostekhnadzor
- Annual reports on the activities of Rostekhnadzor
- Annual Activity Plans of Rostekhnadzor
- Reporting forms on the implementation of the Rostekhnadzor Activity Plan
- Reports on the law enforcement practice of control and supervisory activities in the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision
- Experiment on the introduction of a remote control system
- Industrial safety
- Normative legal and legal acts
- Main functions and tasks
- Consideration of plans and schemes for the development of mining operations on hydrocarbon raw materials
- Lessons learned from accidents
- Contacts
- Open data
- Public services of Rostekhnadzor
- List of public services provided
- List of normative legal acts (their separate provisions) containing mandatory requirements, the assessment of compliance with which is carried out within the framework of granting licenses and other permits, accreditation
- Reception of complaints against decisions and actions (inaction) of the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision and its officials in the provision of public services
Arctic Council Documents
Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME)
- Arctic Offshore Oil and Gas Guidelines
- Meaningful Engagement of Indigenous Peoples and Communities in Marine Activities MEMA Part I Report
- Status of Offshore Oil and Gas Activities and Regulatory Frameworks in the Arctic (May 2021)
Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP)
- Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), 2004
- Arctic Oil and Gas 2007
- Assessment 2007: Oil and Gas Activities in the Arctic—Effects and Potential Effects, 2010
Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Pollution Response (EPPR)
- A Field Guide to Oil Spill Response in Arctic Waters, 1998
- Environmental Risk Analysis of Arctic Activities, 1998
- Arctic Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Technique (SCAT) Manual, 2004.
- Guidelines and Strategies for Oil Spill Waste Management in Arctic Regions. 2009
- Behaviour of Oil and Other Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) Spilled in Arctic Waters (BoHaSA) 2011
- Summary Report and Recommendations on the Prevention of Marine Oil Pollution in the Arctic 2013
- Recommended Practices for Arctic Oil Spill Prevention 2013
- Summary: Guide to Oil Spill Response in Snow and Ice Conditions in the Arctic. 2015
- Guide to Oil Spill Response in Snow and Ice Conditions 2015
- Arctic Environmental Response Management Application 2015
- Field Guide for Oil Spill Response in Arctic Waters: Second Edition 2017
- Arctic Spill Response Database Query Tool User Guide (Version 1.03) 2017
- Circumpolar Oil Spill Response Viability Analysis; Technical Report 2017
- Oil Spill Preparedness in Small Communities 2017
- Final Report; Standardization as a Tool for Prevention of Oil Spills in the Arctic 2017
- Arctic Marine Risk Assessment Guideline Fact Sheet 2020
- AGREEMENT on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic
Laws, Regulations, Notices, Rules, and Guidance and Management System Documents
USA
National Legal Regimes
Federal Statutes and Executive Orders
-
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CE RCLA)
-
Executive Order 13175 on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments
-
Executive Order 13580: Arctic Interagency Working Group on Resource Permitting
-
National Ocean Policy (NOP)
Federal Regulations and Standards
Bureau of Ocean Energy and Management (BOEM)
BOEM's Alaska Region Office is responsible for managing the development of oil, natural gas, renewable energy and mineral resources on Alaska's Outer Continental Shelf in an environmentally and economically responsible way. It manages programs relating to lease management, exploration plans, environmental science, environmental analysis and resource evaluation.
- Regulatory Framework and Guidelines
- Leasing
- Resource Evaluation
- Current and Historical Permits- A list of the currently open G&G permits in the Alaska Region, together with data regarding past permitting activities.
- Resource Assessment Reports- Resource Evaluation prepares reports that describe the geology and petroleum potential of specific areas within the Alaska OCS. These geologic reports form part of the public information base for decision-making with regard to lease offerings. The reports cover a wide range of topics, including regional geology, petroleum geology and environmental geology.
- Data
- Alaska OCS Wells Drilled by Year- This chart shows the number of wells drilled each year (1975-present) in the Alaska OCS Region.
- Alaska OCS Wells by Planning Area- This table breaks down the number of wells drilled in each of Alaska's nine planning areas.
- Detailed Breakdown of Wells by Planning Area
- Beaufort Sea
- Chukchi Sea
- Navarin Basin
- Norton Sound
- George Basin
- Deep Stratigraphic Test Wells(A DST Well is a well that is not intended to explore for or produce oil or gas. It is intended to gain a better understanding of the structure and composition of the sea floor and underlying layers of sediment.)
- Air Quality Jurisdiction
- Office of the Environment
Environmental Studies
- Environmental Studies Program Information System (ESPIS): BOEM provides information on ongoing and completed environmental studies on the Environmental Studies Program Information System (ESPIS), hosted by MarineCadastre.gov.
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
The Alaska Region works to promote safety, protect the environment and conserve resources offshore through vigorous regulatory oversight and enforcement.
- Regulations and Guidelines
- BSEE Federal Regulations Code of Federal Regulations Title 30
- Standards
- Recently Finalized Rules
- The Secretary of the Interior will review four rules and regulations put in place last year that could reduce exploration and development in the OCS. These include:
- Notice to Lessees and Operators of Federal Oil and Gas, and Sulfur Leases, and Holders of Pipeline Right-of-Way and Right-of-Use and Easement Grants in the Outer Continental Shelf https://www.bsee.gov/sites/bsee.gov/files/notices-to-lessees-ntl/notices-to-lessees/10-g05.pdf
- Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-04-29/pdf/2016-08921.pdf
- Air Quality Control, Reporting, and Compliance https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-04-05/pdf/2016-06310.pdf
- Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf—Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-07-15/pdf/2016-15699.pdf
- Enforcement Tools
- Inspection Policy Branch
- The Secretary of the Interior will review four rules and regulations put in place last year that could reduce exploration and development in the OCS. These include:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Alaska Water Quality Standards Program: Includes a table with changes to Alaska Water Quality Standards that are currently under EPA review, are expected to be submitted to EPA for review in the near future, or were recently reviewed by EPA.
- EPA Outer Continental Shelf Permits for Oil and Gas Exploration:Reissuance of the NPDES General Permits for Oil and Gas Exploration Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf and Contiguous State Waters in the Beaufort Sea and on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Chukchi Sea, AK: EPA issued the final Beaufort and Chukchi general permits for wastewater discharges from oil and gas exploration on the Beaufort Sea outer continental shelf and contiguous state waters and on the Chukchi Sea outer continental shelf.
- EPA Region 10 NPDES Permits:information on draft and final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits, Fact Sheets, and Response to Comments
Department of Labor
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for harassment and impact on marine mammals: provides permits, conservation plans, and enforcement procedures for the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office Alaska Regional Office
- Protected Resources Division: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska#protected-marine-lifePermits and authorizations are required under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to conduct activities that may result in the "taking" of a protected species.
- Marine Mammal Authorization Programhttps://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-authorization-program or incidental take of marine mammals. The Marine Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP) provides an annual exemption for the accidental injury or mortality of marine mammals.
Marine Protected Areas: Alaska Marine or coastal environments that are afforded some degree of legal protection for natural and/or cultural resources.
Fisheries Regulations https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska#fisheries
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
Regulatory: Delivers vital public and military engineering services; partnering in peace and war to strengthen the United States’ security, energize the economy and reduce risks from disasters. The mission in the Alaska District is to serve the public interest in the state, providing responsive, quality service by balancing protection and reasonable use of aquatic resources through professional administration of the Regulatory Program.
- Alaska_District_Regulatory_Program_Overview
- Laws and Regulations
- Violations and Enforcement
- Permitting Section Homepage
Any entity planning to place structures or conduct work in navigable waters of the United States, or dump, place or deposit dredged or fill material in waters of the United States must first obtain a permit from the Corps of Engineers.
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
- District 17 (Alaska) Conducts offshore oil and hazardous spill response and coordination in addition search and rescue, security and law enforcement.
- OCS National Center of Expertise
- Mobile-Offshore-Drilling-Units
- Regulations, Policy and Guidance
- Office of Standards Evaluation and Development
- Navigation & Vessel Inspection Circulars (NVIC)
- Dynamic Positioning Systems Overview
- American Bureau of Shipping Rules for Building and Classing Mobile Offshore Drilling Units and the 1989 International Maritime Organization(IMO) MODU CodePDF
- Aids to Navigation Team Kodiak
- S. Coast Guard Office of Search and Rescue (CG-SAR)
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- Protect people and the environment from the risks of hazardous materials transportation. To do this, we establish national policy, set and enforce standards, educate, and conduct research to prevent incidents. We also prepare the public and first responders to reduce consequences if an incident does occur.
- Regulations
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
The Alaska Office is responsible for enacting the Endangered Species Act (ESA) which provides a critical safety net for America’s native fish, wildlife and plants.
State of Alaska
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
- Air Permit Program (alaska.gov)
- Division of Water (alaska.gov)
- Spill Prevention and Response (alaska.gov)
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (DGGS) generates, analyzes and interprets data on geologic resources and natural conditions; maps and inventories mineral and energy resources on state land for use by government, private industry, scientists, educators and the public.
Division of Oil and Gas develops and manages the state's oil and gas leasing programs and houses the State Pipeline Coordinator's Section, part of a joint federal-state program to oversee the 800-mile Trans-Alaska Pipeline System and other common-carrier pipelines. The Oil & Gas division staff identifies prospective lease areas; performs geologic, economic, environmental and social analyses, develops a five-year leasing schedule, and conducts public review of proposed sales. The division conducts competitive oil and gas lease sales and monitors collection of all funds resulting from its programs. It is also responsible for the development of the state's geothermal and coalbed methane resources.
Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC)
- Habitat Regulations
Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Labor Standards and Safety
- Occupational Safety and Health Standards-Petroleum Drilling and Production Standards
- Alaska Occupational Safety and Health Administrative Code (ACC) - Title 8, Part 4, Occupational Safety and Health Division
Alaska Resources Library & Information Services
Alaska Resources Library and Information Services provides universal access to natural and cultural resources information.
Oil Spill Preparedness, Prevention and Response
BOEM Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
- Oil Spill Modeling Program | BOEM– assesses oil-spill risks associated with energy activities off the U.S. continental coast and Alaska, calculating spill trajectories and contact probabilities
- Worst Case Discharge Determination
- Worst Case Discharge (WCD) for exploratory and development drilling operations is the daily rate of an uncontrolled flow of natural gas and oil from all producible reservoirs into the open wellbore.
- Exploration Plans
- An Exploration Plan describes all exploration activities planned by an operator for a specific lease(s), the timing of these activities, information concerning drilling vessels, the location of each well, and an analysis of both offshore and onshore impacts that may occur as a result of the plan's implementation.
- Development/Production Plans
- Environmental Analysis Section.
- The Environment Program Office's two Environmental Analysis sections conduct environmental impact assessments of proposed OCS activities, such as lease sales, exploration plans, and applications to conduct seismic surveys. Analysts review proposals for compliance with relevant Federal regulations and laws and consult with other Federal, state, and local governments, and with federally recognized tribes.
- Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
- National Offshore Training and Learning Center
- OHMSETT National Oil Spill Response and Renewable Energy Test Facility
- Technology Assessment and Research
- Oil Spill Response Research
- OSRR to improve the methods and technologies used for oil spill detection, containment, treatment, recovery and cleanup. The OSRR program is a cooperative effort bringing together funding and expertise from research partners in government agencies, industry and the international community. The Response Research Unit (RRU) manages the National Oil Spill Response Research and Renewable Energy Test Facility (Ohmsett).
- Arctic ERMA
- NOAA and BSEE developed the Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA) AS an online mapping tool that integrates both static and real-time data, such as Environmental Sensitivity Index maps, ship locations, weather, and ocean currents, in a centralized, easy-to-use format for environmental responders and decision makers.
- Worst Case Discharge Determination
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Office of Response and Restoration
- NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) protects coastal and marine resources, mitigates threats, reduces harm, and restores ecological function.
- Activities in the Arctic
- OR&R has initiated the Arctic JAT and assisted the Arctic Council, Canada, and Norway in developing Arctic spill response techniques and planning for spills in Arctic waters.
- Spill Response and Training Support
- OR&R is the lead science adviser to the U.S. Coast Guard during oil spill response operations in Alaska and maintains a role on the Alaska Regional Response Team.
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
District-17/Offices/District-Response-Advisory-Team/ - with expertise in spill management, response equipment, and response techniques, DRAT's main responsibility is to provide support to the Federal On Scene Commander during oil spills and HAZMAT releases in the 17th District.
- Alaska Regional Response Team(ARRT): As an advisory board to the Federal On Scene Coordinator, the ARRT provides federal, state, and local governmental agencies with means to participate in response to pollution incidents.
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) PHMSA provides technical expertise to industry and works closely with the response community to ensure the transportation system remains safe.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
- Environmental Response and Restoration: Service Environmental Contaminant Specialists identify sensitive areas that provide important habitat for fish and wildlife, help guide protection and cleanup efforts to ensure that impacts to natural resources are minimized, and oversee rehabilitation of affected wildlife.
State of Alaska
- Department of Environmental Conservation
- Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission(AOGCC)
- Department of Fish and Game
- Habitat Regulations
Health Safety and Environmental Management
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
- BSEE Safety and Environment al Management Systems
- The SEMS is a nontraditional, performance-focused tool for integrating and managing offshore operations. The purpose of SEMS is to enhance the safety of operations by reducing the frequency and severity of accidents..
- Workplace Safety Rule
- The Workplace Safety Rule covers all offshore oil and gas operations in federal waters and makes mandatory the previously voluntary practices in the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) Recommended Practice 75 (RP 75).
- The Safety and Environmental Management Systems II (SEMS II) final rule
- The Safety and Environmental Management Systems II (SEMS II) final rule enhances the original SEMS rule, also known as the Workplace Safety Rule, that was issued in October 2010, providing greater protection by supplementing operators' SEMS programs with employee training, empowering field level personnel with safety management decisions and strengthening auditing procedures by requiring them to be completed by independent third parties.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA
- Mission is to assure safe and healthful workplaces by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC)
- Collaboration Teams: Collaborations with scientists from Federal, State, academic, NGO, and industry organizations collectively advance the research areas outlined in the IARPC 5-year plan.
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
- Marine environmental protection: The Marine Environmental Protection program develops and enforces regulations to avert the introduction of invasive species into the maritime environment, stop unauthorized ocean dumping, and prevent oil and chemical spills. This program is complemented by the Marine Safety program’s pollution prevention activities.
- USCG and BSEE Memorandum of Agreement on SEMS and SMS
- USCG Marine safety:
The Coast Guard is in the midst of implementing the Marine Safety Enhancement Plan (MSEP). The MSEP is a multi-layered, several-year comprehensive program to enhance Marine Safety systems, knowledge, and processes in order to be more effective and efficient in promoting safe, secure, and environmentally sound maritime commerce. Specific tasks include bolstering inspector and investigator capacity, improving technical competencies, reinvigorating industry partnerships, improving mariner credentialing services, and expanding rulemaking capability to meet current and future needs of the maritime public and industry.
Science and Technical Reports
USA
BOEM Alaska Environmental Studies Program (ESP)
Link
The Alaska Environmental Studies Program was initiated by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1974 in response to the Federal Government’s decision to propose areas of Alaska for offshore gas and oil development. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act requires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct environmental studies to obtain information pertinent to sound leasing decisions as well as to monitor the human, marine and coastal environments.
Alaska Annual Studies Plan
The Plan contains brief profiles of ongoing and proposed studies. The Plan also describes background, strategic overview, projected Outer Continental Shelf activities, examples of affected decisions, information sorted by discipline, and information needs.
- 2021 Alaska Studies Plan
- Previous Years' Studies Plans
- Ongoing studies table
- Alaska Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies Program Information System (ESPIS)
ESPIS is a searchable database of all completed Environmental Studies Program reports. It includes technical summaries of more than 700 BOEM-sponsored environmental research projects, and more than 2,000 full research reports. The information is grouped geographically by BOEM region -- Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, Pacific, or Alaska. A "national" study is research that pertains to more than one geographic region (for example, the effects of wind on oil spill spreading).
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
BSEE Research
BSEE actively researches and evaluates current and emerging technologies for operations ranging from the drilling of oil and gas exploration wells to the removal of platforms and related infrastructure in an ongoing effort to reduce risks across all offshore operations.
Technology Assessment Program
Operational Safety and Engineering Research (OSER)
- Air Quality
- Arctic Research
- Decommissioning
- Deepwater
- Drilling
- Geotechnical
- Human Factors
- Hydrates
- Materials
- Moorings and Anchors
- Offshore Technology Research Center (OTRC)
- Pipelines
- Production
- Production Measurement
- Seismic Research
- Structures
Other
- Renewable Energy and Alternate Use
- International Activities
- Oil Spill Response Research (OSRR)
- Arctic Oil Spill Response
- Chemical Treating Agents
- In Situ Burning of Oil
- Ohmsett Oil Spill Test Tank Facility
- Behavior of Oil
- Decision-Making Support Tools
- Mechanical Containment
- Remote Sensing
North Slope Science Initiative (NSSI)
The North Slope Science Initiative (NSSI) was developed by federal, state and local governments with trust responsibilities for land and ocean management, to facilitate and improve collection and dissemination of ecosystem information pertaining to the Alaskan North Slope region, including coastal and offshore regions. The mission of the NSSI is to improve scientific and regulatory understanding of terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems for consideration in the context of resource development activities and climate change.
Reports:
- NSSI Scenarios Final Reports: Prioritizing Science Needs Through Participatory Scenarios for Energy and Resource Development on the North Slope and Adjacent Seas.
http://catalog.northslope.org/catalog/entries/8302 - NSSI Scenarios GIS Data: Prioritizing Science Needs Through Participatory Scenarios for Energy and Resource Development on the North Slope and Adjacent Seas. This record contains the data used by the North Slope Science Initiative (NSSI) scenario process. These data sets are listed in the Alaska DataCatalog. The data sets are...
- Subsistence Foods Study Monitoring Report 2014-2015
- Best management practices (BMPs) were established to balance oil and gas development with the protection of surface resources, including subsistence use resources. As part of...
- Subsistence Harvest for Villages on the North Slope of Alaska, 1994-2003
http://catalog.northslope.org/catalog/entries/4790-estimates-of-subsistence-harvest-for-villages-o - Conduct of Traditional Knowledge Research - A Reference Guide
http://catalog.northslope.org/catalog/entries/4802-conduct-of-traditional-knowledge-research-a-r - Long Term Monitoring - Data Summary Reports
http://catalog.northslope.org/catalog/entries/3839-long-term-monitoring-data-summaries - Long-Term Ecological Monitoring in BP's North Slope Oil Fields (through 2013)
http://catalog.northslope.org/catalog/entries/3868-long-term-ecological-monitoring-in-bp-s-north-s
University of Alaska Fairbanks Coastal Marine Institute
- Coastal Marine Institute | College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (uaf.edu)
- Research Overview | College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (uaf.edu)
- Publications
Alaska Resources Library & Information Services
Alaska Resources Library and Information Services provides universal access to natural and cultural resources information.
U.S. Geological Survey
USGS Alaska
- Real-Time Water Data Real-time water information
- WaterWatch—Current Streamflow Conditions Real-time tracking of changes to rivers and streams within this location
- Floods & High Water Flows Real-time tracking of flood conditions within the State
- Drought Watch Real-time tracking of drought information within this location
- USGS -- Groundwater Watch Real-time monitoring of the effects of droughts and other climate variability on ground-water levels.
- Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) (usgs.gov) Current volcanic activity from the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
- Latest Earthquakes (usgs.gov) Real-time and historical earthquake information
Other links:
- Alaska Science Center: A source of diverse information about Alaska’s natural resources issues and hazards assessments, including circumpolar regions.
- Alaska Science Portal: Search for USGS science in Alaska
- Biological Resource Information: Activities to support the sound management and conservation of our Nation’s biological resources
- Ecosystems (usgs.gov) The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area provides science to help America achieve sustainable management and conservation of biological resources in wild and urban spaces, and places in between.
-
Latest Earthquakes (usgs.gov): The latest information on earthquake related activity
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Mineral Information: Statistics and information on the worldwide supply of, demand for, and flow of minerals and materials essential to the U.S. economy and national security.
-
https://www.usgs.gov/science-explorer-results?es=National+Geospatial+Program+Partnerships: A network that cultivates and maintains long-term relationships with partners and develops agreements which advance the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) and support USGS science.
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Water Resources Information: Timely information essential to understanding the Nation’s water resources
Strategic Environmental Assessments
USA
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2018-050 Final Environmental Impact Statement for Hilcorp Liberty Project Development & Production Plan - Volume 1| Volume 2
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2016-010 Liberty Development Project, Development and Production Plan, In the Beaufort Sea, Alaska, Draft Environmental Impact Statement - Volume 1 | Volume 2
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2017-047 Eni 2017 Beaufort Sea Exploration Plan - Environmental Assessment | Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2015-020 Shell 2015 Revised Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan. Environmental Assessment | Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-1004 Proposed Rule for Oil and Gas Exploration Drilling Activities on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf for 30 CFR Parts 250, 254, and 550. Draft Environmental Assessment
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-669 Chukchi Sea Oil & Gas Lease Sale 193 Final Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Volume 1 | Volume 2
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-653 Chukchi Sea Oil & Gas Lease Sale 193 Draft Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Volume 1 | Volume 2
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-605 SAExploration Inc. Colville River Delta 2014 3D Geophysical Seismic Survey, Beaufort Sea, Alaska. Environmental Assessment | Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-056 BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. 2014 Liberty Ancillary Activities Shallow Geohazard Seismic Survey, Beaufort Sea, Alaska. Environmental Assessment | Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-054 BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., North Prudhoe Bay 2014 OBS Geophysical Seismic Survey, Beaufort Sea, Alaska. Environmental Assessment | Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-007 SAExploration 2014 Geophysical Seismic Survey, Beaufort Sea, Alaska. Environmental Assessment | Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2013-01161 Shell 2013 Ancillary Activities Survey, Chukchi Sea, Alaska. Environmental Assessment | Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2013-01153 TGS 2013 Geophysical Seismic Survey, Chukchi Sea, Alaska. Environmental Assessment | Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2012-081 ION Geophysical 2012 Seismic Survey, Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea, Alaska. Environmental Assessment | Finding of No Significant Impact
- UPDATE Draft Programmatic EIS concerning Effects of Oil and Gas Activities in the Arctic Ocean.
- OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2011-061 Shell Gulf of Mexico, Inc., 2012 Revised Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan (Burger Prospect). Environmental Assessment | Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA BOEMRE 2011-041 Chukchi Sea Planning Area, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193. Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
- OCS EIS/EABOEMRE 2011-039 Shell Offshore, Inc., 2012 Revised Outer Continental Shelf Lease Exploration Plan, Camden Bay, Beaufort Sea, Alaska, Flaxman Island Blocks 6559, 6610 & 6658, Beaufort Sea Lease Sales 195 & 202. Environmental Assessment | Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA BOEMRE 2011-036 Statoil USA E&P Inc., Chukchi Sea 2011 Ancillary Activities. Environmental Assessment | Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA BOEMRE 2010-034 Revised Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement - Chukchi Sea Planning Area, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193
- OCS EIS/EA BOEMRE 2010-034 Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement - Chukchi Sea Planning Area, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193
- OCS EIS/EA BOEMRE 2010-027 Environmental Assessment - ION Geophysical, Inc., Beaufort and Chukchi Seas Seismic Surveys, and Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA BOEMRE 2010-020 Environmental Assessment - Statoil USA E&P Inc., Chukchi Sea Seismic Survey, and Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2010-022 Environmental Assessment - Shell Exploration & Production, Ancillary Activities, Marine Surveys, Beaufort Sea, Alaska, and Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2009-061 Environmental Assessment - Shell Gulf of Mexico, Inc., 2010 Exploration Drilling Program, Burger, Crackerjack, and SW Shoebill Prospects, Chukchi Sea Outer Continental Shelf, Alaska, and Finding of No Significant Impacts
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2009-052 Environmental Assessment - Shell Offshore Inc. 2010 Outer Continental Shelf Lease Exploration Plan for Camden Bay, Alaska, Beaufort Sea Leases OCS-Y 1805 and 1941, and Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2008-055 Draft Environmental Impact Statement - Beaufort and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas - Oil and Gas Lease Sales 209, 212, 217, and 221
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007-054 Draft Environmental Impact Statement - Beaufort and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas - Oil and Gas Lease Sales 209, 212, 217, and 221
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007-026 Final Environmental Impact Statement - Volume I, Volume II and Volume III - Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193 and Seismic Surveying Activities in the Chukchi Sea
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007-009 Environmental Assessment - Shell Offshore, Beaufort Sea Exploration Plan, Appendices
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007-001 Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement - Seismic Surveys in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, Alaska
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2006-001 Environmental Assessment - Proposed Oil & Gas Lease Sale 202, Beaufort Sea Planning Area, and Finding of No New Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2006-038 Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Arctic Ocean Outer Continental Shelf Seismic Surveys-2006
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2005-045 Environmental Assessment - Proposed Geophysical Survey Cosmopolitan Unit, Cook Inlet, and Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2004-028 Environmental Assessment - Proposed Oil & Gas Lease Sale 195, Beaufort Sea Planning Area, and Finding of No Significant Impact
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2003-001 Beaufort Sea Planning Area Oil and Gas - Lease Sales 186, 195, and 202 Final Environmental Impact Statement
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2002-019 Liberty Development & Production Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement - Executive Summary
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2002-020 Liberty Development & Production Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement - Volume I, Volume II, Volume III, and Volume IV
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2001-002 Liberty Development & Production Plan, Draft Environmental Impact Statement - Executive Summary
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 2001-001 Liberty Development & Production Plan, Draft Environmental Impact Statement - Volume I, Volume II, Volume III, and Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 98-0007 Beaufort Sea Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 170, Final Environmental Impact Statement - Sections 1 & 2, Section 3, Section 4, Section 4 continued, Section 5, Section 5 continued, Section 6, Appendices
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 96-0012 Beaufort Sea Planning Area, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 144, Final Environmental Impact Statement - Volume I, Volume II
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 90-0095 Chukchi Sea Oil and Gas Lease Sale 126, Final Environmental Impact Statement - Volume I, Volume II
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 90-0063 Beaufort Sea Oil and Gas Lease Sale 124, Final Environmental Impact Statement
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 90-0009 OCS Mining Program, Norton Sound Lease Sale, Final Environmental Impact Statement
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 87-0110 Chukchi Sea Oil and Gas Lease Sale 109, Final Environmental Impact Statement - Volume I, Volume II
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 87-0069 Beaufort Sea Sale 97, Final Environmental Impact Statement - Volume I, Volume II
- OCS EIS/EA MMS 85-0052 North Aleutian Basin Oil and Gas Lease Sale 92, Final Environmental Impact Statement - Volume I, Volume II & Appendices
Monitoring Methods and Results
USA
EPA Region 10 (Pacific Northwest)
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement https://www.bsee.gov/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency Alaska | NOAA Fisheries
US Fish and Wildlife Service Alaska Region
Bureau of Land Management Alaska
State of Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Alaska Environmental Studies
- Ongoing Studies Table
- Environmental Studies Program Information System (ESPIS)
- Alaska Scientific and Technical Publications
NOAA Arctic
United States Arctic Observing Network: The United States Arctic Observing Network (U.S. AON) is an initiative to promote sustained and well-defined networks of Arctic observations through collaborative development across U.S. Federal agencies and other partners.Distributed Biological Observatory: The Distributed Biological Observatory (DBO) is a multidisciplinary Arctic ocean sampling program supported by the NOAA’s Arctic Research Program. ARP supports an annual scientific cruise to the Pacific Arctic region during which U.S. scientists take a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological samplings.
International Arctic Systems for Observing the Atmosphere: The International Arctic Systems for Observing the Atmosphere (IASOA) coordinates the activities of individual Arctic observatories to provide a collaborative international network for Arctic atmospheric research and operations.
USGS Alaska Science Center
Alaska Science Center - Science
AK Science Portal: The portal is a searchable, web map-based tool to facilitate public and partner access to information on over 200 subjects under USGS study in the Nation's largest State.
North Slope Science Initiative – Fostering Science Collaboration on Alaska's North Slope
The mission of the North Slope Science Initiative (NSSI) is to improve the scientific and regulatory understanding of Alaska’s North Slope in the context of resource development and environmental change and to identify data and information products that management agencies and governments will need in the future.
The North Slope Borough Wildlife Management
The Department of Wildlife Management facilitates sustainable harvest and monitors populations of fish and wildlife species through scientific research, indigenous ecological knowledge, leadership, and advocacy from local to international levels.
US COMPLIANCE MONITORING
EPA Region 10 (Pacific Northwest)
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Monitoring Program: The Environmental Compliance Monitoring Program was developed to ensure environmentally safe and sound operations. Monitoring Program | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (bsee.gov)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency Alaska | NOAA Fisheries
US Fish and Wildlife Service Alaska Region
Bureau of Land Management Alaska
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources for essential and critical habitats
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Coast Guard District Seventeen
INSPECTION/ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES AND RESULTS
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- Inspection
- Enforcement (PHMSA)
- Enforcement (States)
- Incident & Mileage Reports
- Operator Search
- Alaska State page
- Pipeline Incident 20 Year Trends
- Regulatory fact sheet
US Army Corps of Engineers Alaska District
Regulatory Overview
Permits
Violations and Enforcement
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT between US Army and EPA on Clean Water Act
Modification to January 1989 Army Corps of Engineers and EPA MOA Letter - Feb 1994
Guidance Regarding Clean Water Act Document
ENFORCEMENT 33 CFR PART 326
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement BSEE
Civil Penalties Program
https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/safety-enforcement/enforcement-tools/civil-penalties The goal of the OCS Civil Penalties Program is to assure safe and clean operations on the OCS. Through the pursuit, assessment, and collection of civil penalties and referrals for the consideration of criminal penalties, the program is designed to encourage compliance with OCS statutes and regulations.
Civil Penalties Assessments and Appeals https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/safety-enforcement/civil-penalties/civil-penalties-assessments-and-appeals
If BSEE determines that a violation occurred and a civil penalty is appropriate, it will develop a case file and forward it to a Reviewing Officer pursuant to 30 C.F.R. part 250, subpart N.
Program Status (Updated through December 31, 2008)
Historical Civil Penalties & Notices
https://www.bsee.gov/newsroom/library/archives/historical-civil-penalties
Historical Civil Penalties Summary of Historical Civil Penalties Paid Calendar Year 2009 Calendar Year 2008 Calendar Year 2007 Calendar Year 2006 Calendar Year 2005 Calendar Year 2004 Calendar Year 2003 Calendar Year 2002 Calendar Year 2001 Calendar Year 2000
Chronology of OCS Civil Penalties Program
Chronology of the Civil Penalties - The goal of the OCS Civil Penalties Program is to assure safe and clean operations on the OCS. Through the pursuit, assessment, and collection of civil penalties, the program is designed to encourage compliance with OCS statutes and regulations.
Safety & Incident Investigations https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/safety-and-incident-investigations
Incident Reporting https://www.bsee.gov/resources-tools/incident-reporting
Listing and Status of Incident Investigations https://www.data.bsee.gov/Other/DataTables/IncidentInvestigations.aspx
Offshore Incident Investigations https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/incident-investigations/offshore-incident-investigations
Safety Enforcement https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/safety-enforcement
Enforcement Tools https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/safety-enforcement/enforcement-tools
Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) https://www.bsee.gov/reporting-and-prevention/safety-and-environmental-management-systems
SEMS successes, challenges and recommendations based on analysis of 3rd round SEMS audit results and SEMS corrective actions https://www.bsee.gov/sites/bsee.gov/files/analysis-of-sems-audit-reports-october-20-2020.pdf
https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/oil-spill-preparedness/preparedness-verification
Preparedness Verification is one of the three essential roles of BSEE’s Oil Spill Preparedness Program. BSEE must ensure that owners and operators of offshore oil facilities are trained and equipped to respond to oil spills from the time they drill their first well until the last platform is removed. The Oil Spill Preparedness Division (OSPD) administers the Bureau’s oil spill preparedness regulatory requirements for offshore facilities discussed in 30 CFR Part 254.
Seafloor Compliance, Assessment, and Monitoring Program (SCAMP)
Environmental Compliance | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (bsee.gov)
Exercise and Training Compliance | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (bsee.gov)
Safety Enforcement | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (bsee.gov)
Potential Incident of Noncompliance
- Air Quality Compliance and Enforcement
- Archaeological Cultural Resources
- Marine Ecology
- Marine Trash and Debris
- NEPA Compliance
- Protected Species
- Rigs-to-Reefs
- Seafloor Compliance, Assessment, and Monitoring Program (SCAMP)
Fish and Wildlife Service
US Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement | Alaska Region
Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard
Inspections & Compliance (CG-5PC)
Office of Investigations & Casualty Analysis
2692 Reporting Forms & NVIC 01-15
Marine Casualty Reports (uscg.mil)
Marine Casualty and Pollution Data for Researchers
EPA Region 10 (Pacific Northwest)
State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
Reports and ChartsEnforcement Actions 2011-2020
State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
ACCIDENT AND INCIDENT REPORTING
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement BSEE
Inspection Policy Branch https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/offshore-regulatory-programs/offshore-safety-improvement/inspection-policy-branch
Civil Penalties Program
https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/safety-enforcement/enforcement-tools/civil-penalties The goal of the OCS Civil Penalties Program is to assure safe and clean operations on the OCS. Through the pursuit, assessment, and collection of civil penalties and referrals for the consideration of criminal penalties, the program is designed to encourage compliance with OCS statutes and regulations.
Civil Penalties Assessments and Appeals https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/safety-enforcement/civil-penalties/civil-penalties-assessments-and-appeals
If BSEE determines that a violation occurred and a civil penalty is appropriate, it will develop a case file and forward it to a Reviewing Officer pursuant to 30 C.F.R. part 250, subpart N.
Historical Civil Penalties & Notices
https://www.bsee.gov/newsroom/library/archives/historical-civil-penalties
Historical Civil Penalties Summary of Historical Civil Penalties Paid Calendar Year 2009 Calendar Year 2008 Calendar Year 2007 Calendar Year 2006 Calendar Year 2005 Calendar Year 2004 Calendar Year 2003 Calendar Year 2002 Calendar Year 2001 Calendar Year 2000
Chronology of OCS Civil Penalties Program
Chronology of the Civil Penalties - The goal of the OCS Civil Penalties Program is to assure safe and clean operations on the OCS. Through the pursuit, assessment, and collection of civil penalties, the program is designed to encourage compliance with OCS statutes and regulations.
Safety & Incident Investigations https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/safety-and-incident-investigations
Incident Reporting https://www.bsee.gov/resources-tools/incident-reporting
Listing and Status of Incident Investigations https://www.data.bsee.gov/Other/DataTables/IncidentInvestigations.aspx
Offshore Incident Investigations https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/incident-investigations/offshore-incident-investigations
Safety Enforcement https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/safety-enforcementEnforcement Tools https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/safety-enforcement/enforcement-tools
Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) https://www.bsee.gov/reporting-and-prevention/safety-and-environmental-management-systems
SEMS successes, challenges and recommendations based on analysis of 3rd round SEMS audit results and SEMS corrective actions https://www.bsee.gov/sites/bsee.gov/files/analysis-of-sems-audit-reports-october-20-2020.pdf
https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/oil-spill-preparedness/preparedness-verification
Preparedness Verification is one of the three essential roles of BSEE’s Oil Spill Preparedness Program. BSEE must ensure that owners and operators of offshore oil facilities are trained and equipped to respond to oil spills from the time they drill their first well until the last platform is removed. The Oil Spill Preparedness Division (OSPD) administers the Bureau’s oil spill preparedness regulatory requirements for offshore facilities discussed in 30 CFR Part 254.
Seafloor Compliance, Assessment, and Monitoring Program (SCAMP)
Exercise and Training Compliance
Potential Incident of Noncompliance
US Coast Guard District 17
Inspections & Compliance (CG-5PC)
Office of Investigations & Casualty Analysis
- Safety Alerts
- 2692 Reporting Forms & NVIC 01-15
- Marine Casualty Reports
- Drug and Alcohol Program
- Marine Casualty and Pollution Data for Researchers
OSHA Data and Statistics and Inspections
http://www.osha.gov/oshstats/index.html
Bureau of Labor Statistics
BLS Safety and Health Statistics Home Page
Occupational Injuries and Illnesses and Fatal Injuries Profiles
Keyword Search of Available BLS Injury/Illness and Fatality Data, and Publications
State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Oil and Hazardous Substance Spills Data
US STATISTICS FOR DISCHARGE TYPES AND AMOUNTS, WASTE HANDLING, ETC.
EPA Envirofacts Data Warehouse
Overview
A single point of access to select U.S. EPA environmental data. This website provides access to several EPA databases to provide you with information about environmental activities that may affect air, water, and land anywhere in the United States. With Envirofacts, you can learn more about these environmental activities in your area or you can generate maps of environmental information.
EPA Toxic Releases
2020 Toxic Release Inentory Preliminary Dataset
EPA
Water Quality Assessment (303d list)
EPA Underground Injection Control Program
Protecting Underground Sources of Drinking Water from Underground Injection (UIC)
UIC – Underground Injection Control Program NEPIS
Discharge Permits
EPA Region 10 (including Alaska) Discharge Permits for oil and gas operations (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permits)
Other Fora
Arctic Offshore Regulators Forum
The AORF is a cooperative forum comprising the safety agencies of the USA, Canada, Russia, Iceland, Greenland, Finland, Sweden and Norway.The purpose of the AORF is to discuss and evaluate safety-related threats and opportunities, in order to promote a high level of safety in petroleum activities in the Arctic.
The forum had its official kick-off meeting in April/May 2015 in Washington D.C., USA. The first ordinary meeting took place during the Arctic Safety Summit in Tromsø, Norway in October 2015, and further meetings will be held twice a year.
Norway has been a driving force behind the cooperation, notably through an initiative taken in connection with the Arctic Safety conference in Stavanger in October 2013.
- Terms of Reference (PDF)
- AORF Fall 2016 summary (PDF)
- Related content:
AORF Fall meeting 2019 in Oslo Published: 31 October 2019
The International Regulators Forum
The IRF formed in 1993 to provide international leadership on safety and safety-related regulatory matters for offshore oil and gas activities, continue to strengthen sharing of regulatory practice and experience, and provide a sounding board for key initiatives of members.The IRF hosts an Offshore Safety Conference every two to three years that brings together regulators, industry, researchers, non-profits and others to examine issues related to risks offshore and increase safety and environmental performance.
Members include:
- Australia – National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority
- Brazil– National Agency of Oil, Gas and Biofuels
- Canada–
- Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
- Canada - Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board
- National Energy Board
- Denmark – Danish Working Environment Authority
- Ireland- Commission for Regulation of Utilities
- Mexico– National Agency for Safety, Energy and Environment of Mexico
- The Netherlands– State Supervision of Mines
- New Zealand – WorkSafe New Zealand
- Norway – The Petroleum Safety Authority
- United Kingdom – Health and Safety Executive and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
- United States – Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Objectives
The objectives of the IRF are:
- To promote best sustainable safety performance globally.
- To enable an exchange of information among regulators on:
- Offshore health and safety trends;
- Industry health and safety performance;
- Lessons from incidents;
- Industry practices;
- Regulatory practice; and
- Measuring the effectiveness of regulatory activities.
- To provide a network of offshore petroleum health and safety regulators for mutual support and advise when required.
These objectives are achieved through annual general meetings, continuous communication among members between annual meetings, and an IRF hosted conference every two to three years.
Working Groups
The IRF has four working groups:
- Asset Integrity – The purpose is to identify how companies are managing the maintenance of safety-critical equipment.
- Culture – The purpose is to find a management number of elements/indicators of culture that impact process safety performance within the IRF member countries to prevent major hazard incidents.
- Performance Measures – The purpose is to better identify risks and thereby focus IRF engagement with industry.
- Standards – The purpose is to identify priorities for the development and / or revision of global standards applicable to the offshore oil and gas industry.
IRF Charter
The IRF Charter is available here. https://irfoffshoresafety.com/