ICRARD contact in the United States:
Sharon Buffington
Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
Chief, Research & Standards Branch (RSB)
E-mail: Sharon.Buffington@bsee.gov
About the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
BSEE works to promote safety, protect the environment, and conserve resources offshore through vigorous regulatory oversight and enforcement.
Key Functions of BSEE
The Offshore Regulatory Program develops standards and regulations to enhance operational safety and environmental protection for the exploration and development of offshore oil and natural gas on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
The Oil Spill Response division is responsible for developing standards and guidelines for offshore operators’ Oil Spill Response Plans (OSRP) through internal and external reviews of industry OSRPs to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and coordination of oil spill drill activities. It also plays a critical role in the review and creation of policy, guidance, direction and oversight of activities related to the agency’s oil spill response. The division oversees the Unannounced Oil Spill Drill program and works closely with sister agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency to continually enhance response technologies and capabilities.
The Environmental Compliance Division is a first in the federal offshore energy regulatory program. This Division provides sustained regulatory oversight that is focused on compliance by operators with all applicable environmental regulations, as well as making sure that operators keep the promises they make at the time they obtain their leases, submit their plans and apply for their permits.
BSEE is supported by three regional offices: New Orleans, La., Camarillo, Calif. and Anchorage, Alaska. The regional offices are responsible for reviewing Applications for Permit to Drill to ensure all of the recently implemented enhanced safety requirements are met and for conducting inspections of drilling rigs and production platforms using multi-person, multi-discipline inspection teams. BSEE’s inspectors issue Incidents of Non-Compliance and have the authority to fine companies through Civil Penalties for regulatory infractions. Regional and field operations personnel also investigate accidents and incidents
BSEE operates the National Training Center with specially developed curriculum focusing on keeping our experienced inspectors current on new technologies and processes and ensuring that our new inspectors are given the proper foundation for carrying out their duties rigorously and effectively. The bureau also operates Ohmsett, The National Oil Spill Response Research and Renewable Energy Test Facility in Leonardo, N.J.
