February 20, 2015

On February 20, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) in conjunction with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposed rules for future oil and gas drilling on 128 million acres in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas as allocated in the BOEM’s 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Plan.  The proposed rules require region-specific oil spill response plans and immediately accessible spill control and containment equipment.  Additionally, the rules mandate each Arctic drill site have a second, back-up oil rig available in case of a blow out, a requirement that was opposed by oil company representatives last fall.

Sources: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Safety and Environment Enforcement, E&E News