inal Rule on Oil Spill Financial Responsibility for Offshore Facilities
Oil Spill Financial Responsibility for Offshore Facilities, Federal Register Notice, Vol. 63, No. 154, August 11, 1998 
For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) amends
part 250 and adds a new part 253 to Chapter II of Title 30 of the CFR as follows:
PART 250--OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF
1. The authority citation for part 250 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1334.
Subpart N--Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Civil
Penalties
2. In Section 250.1404, paragraph (d) is added to read as follows:
Section 250.1404 Which violations will MMS review for
potential civil penalties?
(d) Violations of the oil spill financial responsibility requirements at 30 CFR part 253.
3. Part 253 is added to read as follows:
To go a particular section of the Rule, click on the desired
section
PART 253--OIL SPILL FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OFFSHORE FACILITIES
Subpart A--General
253.1 What is the purpose of
this part?
253.3 How are the terms
used in this regulation defined?
253.5 What is the authority for
collecting Oil Spill Financial Responsibility (OSFR) information?
Subpart B--Applicability and Amount
of OSFR
253.10 What facilities does
this part cover?
253.11 Who must demonstrate
OSFR?
253.12 May I ask MMS for a
determination of whether I must demonstrate OSFR?
253.13 How much OSFR must I
demonstrate?
253.14 How do I determine the
worst case oil-spill discharge volume?
253.15 What are my general OSFR
compliance responsibilities?
Subpart C--Methods for
Demonstrating OSFR
253.20 What methods may I use
to demonstrate OSFR?
253.21 How can I use
self-insurance as OSFR evidence?
253.22 How do I apply to use
self-insurance as OSFR evidence?
253.23 What information must I
submit to support my net worth demonstration?
253.24 When I submit audited
annual financial statements to verify my net worth, what standards must they meet?
253.25 What financial test
procedures must I use to determine the amount of self-insurance allowed as
OSFR evidence based on net worth?
253.26 What information must I
submit to support my unencumbered net assets demonstration?
253.27 When I submit audited
annual financial statements to verify my unencumbered assets, what
standards must they meet?
253.28 What financial test
procedures must I use to evaluate the amount of self-insurance allowed as
OSFR evidence based on unencumbered assets?
253.29 How can I use insurance
as OSFR evidence?
253.30 How can I use an
indemnity as OSFR evidence?
253.31 How can I use a
surety bond as OSFR evidence?
253.32 Are there alternative
methods to demonstrate OSFR?
Subpart D--Requirements for
Submitting OSFR Information
253.40 What OSFR evidence must
I submit to MMS?
253.41 What terms must I
include in my OSFR evidence?
253.42 How can I amend my list
of COFs?
253.43 When is my OSFR
demonstration or the amendment to my OSFR demonstration effective?
253.44 When must I comply with
this subpart?
253.45 Where do I send my OSFR
evidence?
Subpart E--Revocation and Penalties
253.50 How can MMS refuse or
invalidate my OSFR evidence?
253.51 What are the penalties
for not complying with this part?
Subpart F--Claims for Oil-Spill
Removal Costs and Damages
253.60 To whom may I present a
claim?
253.61 When is a guarantor
subject to direct action for claims?
253.62 What are the designated
applicant's notification obligations regarding a claim?
Appendix--List of U.S. Geological
Survey Topographic Maps
Authority:
33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.
SUBPART A--GENERAL
Section 253.1 What is the
purpose of this part?
This part establishes the requirements for demonstrating OSFR
for covered offshore facilities (COFs) under Title I
of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), as amended, 33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.
Section 253.3 How are the terms
used in this regulation defined?
Terms used in this part have the following meaning:
Advertise means publication
of the notice of designation of the source of the incident
and the procedures by which the claims may be presented, according to 33 CFR part 136,
subpart D.
Bay means a body of water
included in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
bay feature class. A GNIS bay includes an arm, bay, bight, cove, estuary, gulf, inlet, or
sound.
Claim means a written request,
for a specific sum, for compensation for damages or removal costs resulting from an
oil-spill discharge or a substantial threat of the discharge of oil.
Claimant means any person or
government who presents a claim for compensation under OPA.
Coastline means the line of
ordinary low water along that portion of the coast that is in direct contact with the open
sea which marksthe seaward limit of inland waters.
Covered offshore facility (COF)
means a facility:
- That includes any structure and all its components
(including wells completed at the structure and the associated pipelines), equipment, pipeline, or device (other than
a vessel or other than a pipeline or deepwater port licensed under the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33
U.S.C. 1501 et seq.)) used for exploring for, drilling for, or producing oil or for transporting oil from
such facilities. This includes a well drilled from a mobile offshore drilling unit
(MODU) and the associated riser and well control equipment from the moment a drill shaft or other device first touches the seabed for
purposes of exploring for, drilling for, or producing oil, but it does not include the MODU; and
- That is located:
- Seaward
of the coastline; or
- In any portion of a bay that is:
- Connected to the sea, either directly or through one or
more other bays; and
- Depicted in whole or in part on any USGS map listed in
the Appendix to this part, or on any map published by the USGS that is a successor to and covers all or part of the
same area as a listed map. Where any portion of a bay is included on a listed map,this
rule applies to the entire bay; and
- That has a worst case oil-spill discharge potential of
more than 1,000 bbls of oil, or a lesser volume if the Director determines in writing that the oil-spill discharge risk
justifies the requirement to demonstrate OSFR.
Designated applicant means a
person the responsible parties designate to
demonstrate OSFR for a COF on a lease, permit, or right-of-use and easement.
Director means the Director of
the Minerals Management Service.
Fund means the Oil Spill
Liability Trust Fund established by section 9509 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as
amended (26 U.S.C. 9509).
Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
means the database developed by the USGS in cooperation with the U.S. Board of Geographic
Names which contains the federally-recognized geographic names for all known places,
features, and areas in the United States that are identified by a proper name. Each
feature is located by state, county, and geographic coordinates and is referenced to the
appropriate 1:24,000-scale or 1:63,360-scale USGS
topographic map on which it is shown.
Guarantor means a person other
than a responsible party who provides OSFR evidence for a designated
applicant.
Guaranty means any
acceptable form of OSFR evidence provided by a guarantor including an indemnity,
insurance, or surety bond.
Incident means any
occurrence or series of occurrences having the same origin that results in the discharge
or substantial threat of the discharge of oil.
Indemnity means an
agreement to indemnify a designated applicant upon its
satisfaction of a claim.
Indemnitor means a person
providing an indemnity for a designated applicant.
Independent accountant
means a certified public accountant who is certified by a state, or a chartered accountant
certified by the government of jurisdiction within the country of incorporation of the
company proposing to use one of the self-insurance evidence methods specified in this
subpart.
Insolvent has the meaning
set forth in 11 U.S.C. 101, and generally refers to a financial condition in which the sum
of a person's debts is greater than the value of the person's assets.
Lease means any form of
authorization issued under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act or state law which allows
oil and gas exploration and production in the area covered by the authorization.
Lessee means a person holding
a leasehold interest in an oil or gas lease including an
owner of record title or a holder of operating rights (working interest owner).
Oil means oil of any kind or in any
form, except as excluded by paragraph (2) of this definition.
- Oil includes:
- Petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil;
- Hydrocarbons produced at the wellhead in liquid form;
- Gas condensate that has been separated from gas before pipeline injection.
- Oil does not include petroleum, including crude oil or
any fraction thereof, which is specifically listed or
designated as a hazardous substance under subparagraphs (A)
through (F) of section 101(14) of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA) (42 U.S.C. 9601).
Oil Spill Financial Responsibility (OSFR)
means the capability and means by which a responsible party for a covered offshore facility will meet removal costs and
damages for which it is liable under Title I of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, as amended
(33 CFR 2701 et seq.), with respect to both oil-spill discharges and substantial threats
of the discharge of oil.
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) has
the same meaning as the term ``Outer Continental Shelf'' defined in section 2(a) of the
OCS Lands Act (OCSLA) (43 U.S.C. 1331(a)).
Permit means an authorization,
license, or permit for geological exploration issued under section 11 of the OCSLA (43
U.S.C. 1340) or applicable state law.
Person means an individual,
corporation, partnership, association (including a trust or limited liability company),
state, municipality, commission or political subdivision of a state, or any interstate
body.
Pipeline means the pipeline
segments and any associated equipment or appurtenances used or intended for use in the
transportation of oil or natural gas.
Responsible party has the
following meanings:
- For a COF that is a pipeline, responsible party means any person owning or operating the pipeline;
- For a COF that is not a pipeline, responsible party means
either the lessee or permittee of the area in which
the COF is located, or the holder of a right-of-use and
easement granted under applicable state law or the
OCSLA (43 U.S.C. 1301-1356) for the area in which the COF
is located (if the holder is a different person
than the lessee or permittee). A Federal agency, State,
municipality, commission, or political subdivision of a
state, or any interstate body that as owner transfers
possession and right to use the property to another
person by lease,
assignment, or permit is not a responsible party; and
- For an abandoned COF, responsible party means any person
who would have been a responsible party for
the COF immediately before abandonment.
Right-of-use and easement (RUE)
means any authorization to use the OCS or
submerged land for purposes other than those authorized by a lease
or permit, as defined herein. It includes pipeline rights-of-way.
Source of the incident means the
facility from which oil was discharged or which poses a
substantial threat of discharging oil, as designated by the Director, National Pollution Funds Center, according
to 33 CFR part 136, subpart D.
State means the several States
of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam,
American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern
Marianas, and any other territory or possession of the United States.
Section 253.5 What is the
authority for collecting Oil Spill Financial Responsibility (OSFR) information?
- The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements in this
part 253 under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. and assigned OMB
control number 1010-0106.
- MMS collects the information to ensure that the designated applicant for a COF
has the financial resources
necessary to pay for cleanup and damages that could be caused by oil discharges from the COF. MMS
uses the information to ensure compliance of offshore lessees, owners, and operators of covered facilities
with OPA; to establish eligibility of designated applicants for OSFR certification (OSFRC); and to establish a
reference source of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of responsible parties for covered facilities
and their designated agents, guarantors,
and U.S. agents for service of process for claims associated
with oil pollution from designated covered facilities. The
requirement to provide the information is mandatory.
No information submitted for OSFRC is confidential or
proprietary.
- An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
- Send comments regarding any aspect of the collection of information
under this part, including suggestions
for reducing the burden, to the Information Collection Clearance
Officer, Minerals Management Service, Mail
Stop 4230, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240; and to the
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer
for the Department of the Interior
(1010-0106), 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503.
SUBPART B--APPLICABILITY AND AMOUNT OF OSFR
Section 253.10 What facilities
does this part cover?
- This part applies to any COF on
any lease or permit
issued or on any RUE granted under the OCSLA or applicable state law.
- For a pipeline COF that extends
onto land, this part applies to that portion of the pipeline lying seaward of the first accessible flow shut-off device on land.
Section 253.11 Who must
demonstrate OSFR?
- A designated applicant must
demonstrate OSFR. A designated applicant may be a responsible party or another person authorized
under this section. Each COF must have a single
designated applicant.
- If there is more than one responsible party, those
responsible parties must use Form MMS-1017 to select a designated applicant. The designated
applicant must submit Form MMS-1016 and agree to
demonstrate OSFR on behalf of all the
responsible parties.
- If you are a designated applicant who is not a
responsible party, you must agree to be liable for claims made under OPA jointlyand severally with the
responsible parties.
- The designated applicant for a COF on a lease must be either:
- A lessee; or
- The designated operator for the OCS lease under 30 CFR 250.108 or the unit
operator designated under a Federally approved unit including the
OCS lease. For a lease or unit not in the OCS, the operator
designated under the lease or unit operating
agreement for the lease may be the designated applicant only
if the operator has agreed to be responsible
for compliance with all the laws and regulations applicable to
the lease or unit.
- The designated applicant for a COF on a permit must be the permittee.
- The designated applicant for a COF on a RUE must be the holder of the RUE or, if there is a pipeline on the
RUE, the owner or operator of the pipeline.
- MMS may require the designated applicant for a lease, permit, or RUE
to be a person other than a person
identified in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section if MMS
determines that a person identified in
paragraphs (b) through (d) cannot adequately demonstrate OSFR.
- If you are a responsible party and you fail to designate an
applicant, then you must demonstrate OSFR under
the requirements of this part.
Section 253.12 May I ask MMS for a
determination of whether I must demonstrate OSFR?
You may submit to MMS a request for a determination of OSFR
applicability. Address the request to the office identified in Section 253.45. You must include in your request any
information that will assist MMS in making the determination. MMS may require you to
submit other information before making a determination of OSFR applicability.
Section 253.13 How much OSFR must
I demonstrate?
- The following general parameters apply to the amount of OSFR that you must demonstrate:
If you are the designated applicant for:
Only one COF........................................
More than one COF................................
|
Then you must demonstrate:
The amount of OSFR that appliesto the COF.
The highest amount of OSFR that applies to any one of the COFs. |
- You must demonstrate OSFR in the amounts
specified in this section:
- For a COF located wholly or partially in the OCS you must demonstrate OSFR in accordance
with the following table:
COF worst case oil-spill discharge volume amount of OSFR |
Over 1,000 bbls but not more than 35,000 bbls...............
Over 35,000 but not more than 70,000 bbls....................
Over 70,000 but not more than 105,000 bbls..................
Over 105,000 bbls.......................................................... |
$35,000,000
70,000,000
105,000,000
150,000,000 |
- For a COF not located in the OCS you must demonstrate OSFR in accordance
with the following table:
COF worst case oil-spill discharge volume amount of OSFR |
Over 1,000 bbls but not more than 10,000 bbls..............
Over 10,000 but not more than 35,000 bbls.....................
Over 35,000 but not more than 70,000 bbls.....................
Over 70,000 but not more than 105,000 bbls.................
Over 105,000 bbls....................................................... |
$10,000,000
35,000,000
70,000,000
105,000,000
150,000,000 |
- The Director
may determine that you must demonstrate an amount of OSFR greater than the amount in
paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this
section based on the relative operational, environmental, human health,
and other risks that your COF
poses. The Director may require an amount that is one or more levels
higher than the amount indicated in
paragraph (b)(1) or (2) of this section for your COF. The Director will
not require an OSFR demonstration
that exceeds $150 million.
- You must demonstrate OSFR in the lowest amount
specified in the applicable table in paragraph (b)(1)
or (b)(2) for a facility with a
potential worst case oil-spill discharge of 1,000 bbls or less if the Director
notifies you in writing that the
demonstration is justified by the risks of the potential oil-spill discharge.
Section 253.14 How do I determine the
worst case oil-spill discharge volume?
- To calculate the amount of OSFR you
must demonstrate for a facility under Section 253.13(b),
you must use the worst case oil-spill discharge volume that you determined
under whichever of the following regulations applies:
- 30 CFR Part 254--Response
Plans for Facilities Located Seaward of the Coast Line, except that the
volume of the worst case oil-spill discharge
for a well must be four times the uncontrolled flow volume that
you estimate for the first 24 hours.
- 40 CFR Part 112--Oil
Pollution Prevention; or
- 49 CFR Part 194--Response
Plans for Onshore Oil Pipelines.
- If you are a designated applicant
and you choose to demonstrate $150 million in OSFR, you are not
required to determine any worst case oil-spill discharge volumes,
since that is the maximum amount of
OSFR required under this part.
Section 253.15 What are my general
OSFR compliance responsibilities?
- You must maintain continuous OSFR
coverage for all your leases, permits, and RUEs with COFs for which
you are the designated applicant.
- You must ensure that new OSFR evidence is submitted before your
current evidence lapses or is canceled
and that coverage for your new COF is submitted before the COF
goes into operation.
- If you use self-insurance to demonstrate OSFR and find that you no
longer qualify to self-insure the required
OSFR amount based upon your latest audited annual financial
statements, then you must demonstrate OSFR
using other methods acceptable to MMS by whichever of the
following dates comes first:
- Sixty calendar days after you receive your latest
audited annual financial statement; or
- The first calendar day of the 5th month after the close
of your fiscal year.
- You may use a surety bond to demonstrate OSFR. If you find that your
bonding company has lost its state
license or has had its U.S. Treasury Department
certification revoked, then you must replace the surety
bond within 15 calendar days using a method of OSFR that is
acceptable to MMS.
- You must notify MMS in writing within 15 calendar days after a change
occurs that would prevent you from
meeting your OSFR obligations (e.g., if you or your indemnitor petition for bankruptcy under Chapters 7
or 11 of Title 11, U.S.C.). You must take any action MMS directs
to insure an acceptable OSFR
demonstration.
- If you deny payment of a claim
presented to you under Section 253.60(b) or (c)(4),
then you must give the
claimant a written explanation for
your denial.
SUBPART C--METHODS FOR DEMONSTRATING OSFR
Section 253.20 What methods may I
use to demonstrate OSFR?
As the designated applicant, you may satisfy your OSFR requirements by using one or a combination of the
following methods to demonstrate OSFR:
- Self-insurance under Sections. 253.21
through 253.28;
- Insurance under Section 253.29;
- An indemnity under Section 253.30;
- A surety bond under Section 253.31;
or
- An alternative method the Director approves under Section 253.32.
Section 253.21 How can I use
self-insurance as OSFR evidence?
- If you use self-insurance to satisfy all or part of your obligation
to demonstrate OSFR, you must annually pass either a net worth test under Section
253.25 or an unencumbered net asset test under Section 253.28.
- To establish the amount of self-insurance allowed, you must submit
evidence of your net worth under Section 253.23 or evidence of
your unencumbered assets under Section 253.26.
- You must identify a U.S. agent for
service of process.
Section 253.22 How do I apply to
use self-insurance as OSFR evidence?
- You must submit a complete Form MMS-1018
with each application to demonstrate OSFR using self-insurance.
- You must submit your application to renew OSFR using self-insurance
by the first calendar day of the 5th month after the close of your fiscal year. You may submit to MMS
your initial application to demonstrate OSFR using self-insurance at any time.
Section 253.23 What information
must I submit to support my net worth demonstration?
You must support your net worth evaluation with information contained in your previous
fiscal year's audited annual financial statement.
- Audited annual financial statements must be in the form of:
- An annual report, prepared in accordance with the
generally accepted accounting practices (GAAP) of the United States or other
international accounting practices determined to be equivalent by MMS; or
- A Form 10-K or Form 20-F, prepared in accordance with
Securities and Exchange Commission regulations.
- Audited annual financial statements must be submitted together with a
letter signed by your treasurer highlighting:
- The State or the
country of incorporation;
- The total amount of the stockholders' equity as shown on
the balance sheet;
- The net amount of the plant, property, and equipment
shown on the balance sheet; and
- The net amount of the identifiable U.S. assets and the
identifiable total assets in the auditor's notes to the financial statement (i.e., a geographic
segmented business note).
Section 253.24 When I submit
audited annual financial statements to verify my net worth, what standards must they meet?
- Your audited annual financial statements must be bound.
- Your audited annual financial statements must include the unqualified
opinion of an independent accountant that states:
- The financial statements are free from material
misstatement, and
- The audit was conducted in accordance with the generally
accepted auditing standards (GAAS) of the United States, or other
international auditing standards that MMS determines to be equivalent.
- The financial information you submit must be expressed in U.S.
dollars. If this information was originally reported in another form of currency, you must convert it to U.S.
dollars using the conversion factor that was effective on the last day of the fiscal year pertinent to your
financial statements. You also must identify the source of the currency exchange rate.
Section 253.25 What financial
test procedures must I use to determine the amount of self-insurance allowed as OSFR
evidence based on net worth?
- Divide the total amount of the stockholders'/owners' equity listed on
the balance sheet by ten.
- Divide the net amount of the identifiable U.S. assets by the net
amount of the identifiable total assets.
- Multiply the net amount of plant, property, and equipment shown on
the balance sheet by the number calculated under paragraph (b) of this section and divide the
resultant product by ten.
- The smaller of the numbers calculated under paragraphs (a) or (c) of this section is the maximum allowable amount you may use to demonstrate OSFR under this method.
Section 253.26 What information
must I submit to support my unencumbered assets demonstration?
You must support your unencumbered assets evaluation with the information required by Section 253.23(a) and a list of reserved, unencumbered,
and unimpaired U.S. assets whose value will not be affected by an oil discharge from a COF.
The assets must be plant, property, or equipment held for use. You must submit a letter
signed by your treasurer:
- Identifying which assets are reserved;
- Certifying that the assets are unencumbered, including contingent
encumbrances;
- Promising that the identified assets will not be sold, subjected to a
security interest, or otherwise encumbered throughout the specified fiscal year; and
- Specifying:
- The State or the
country of incorporation;
- The total amount of the stockholders'/owners' equity
listed on the balance sheet;
- The identification and location of the reserved U.S.
assets; and
- The value of the reserved U.S. assets less accumulated
depreciation and amortization, using the same valuation method used in your
audited annual financial statement and expressed in U.S. dollars. The net value of the reserved assets must be
at least two times the self-insurance amount requested for demonstration.
Section 253.27 When I submit
audited annual financial statements to verify my unencumbered assets, what standards must
they meet?
Any audited annual financial statements that you submit must:
- Meet the standards in Section 253.24;
and
- Include a certification by the independent accountant who audited the
financial statements that states:
- The value of the unencumbered assets is reasonable and
uses the same valuation method used in your audited annual financial statements;
- Any existing encumbrances are noted;
- The assets are long-term assets held for use; and
- The valuation method used in the audited annual
financial statements is for long-term assets held for use.
Section 253.28 What financial
test procedures must I use to evaluate the amount of self-insurance allowed as OSFR
evidence based on unencumbered assets?
- Divide the total amount of the stockholders'/owners' equity listed on
the balance sheet by 4.
- Divide the value of the unencumbered U.S. assets by 2.
- The smaller number calculated under paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section is the maximum allowable amount you may use to demonstrate OSFR under this method.
Section 253.29 How can I use
insurance as OSFR evidence?
- If you use insurance to satisfy all or part of your obligation to
demonstrate OSFR, you may use only insurance certificates issued by insurers that have achieved a
``Secure'' rating for claims paying ability in their latest review by A.M. Best's Insurance Reports, Standard
& Poor's Insurance Rating Services, or other quivalent rating made by a rating service acceptable to MMS.
- You must submit information about your insurers to MMS on a completed
and unaltered Form MMS-1019. The information you submit must:
- Include all the information required by Section 253.41 and
- Be executed on one original insurance certificate (i.e.,
Form MMS-1019) for each OSFR layer (see paragraph (c) of this section ), showing all
participating insurers and their proportion (quota share) of this risk. The certificate must bear the original
signatures of each insurer's underwriter or of their lead underwriters, underwriting managers, or
delegated brokers, depending on who is authorized to bind the underwriter.
- For each insurance company on the insurance certificate,
indicate the insurer's claims-paying-ability rating and the rating service that issued the rating.
- The insurance evidence you provide to MMS as OSFR evidence may be
divided into layers, subject to the following restrictions:
- The total amount of OSFR evidence must equal the total
amount you must demonstrate under Section 253.13;
- No more than one insurance certificate may be used to
cover each OSFR layer specified in Section 253.13(b) (i.e., four layers for an OCS COF, and five layers for a non-OCS COF);
- You may use one insurance certificate to cover any
number of consecutive OSFR layers;
- Each insurer's participation in the covered insurance
risk must be on a proportional (quota share) basis, must be expressed as a percentage of a whole
layer, and the certificate must not contain intermediate, horizontal layers;
- You may use an insurance deductible. If you use more
than one insurance certificate, the deductible amount must apply only to the certificate that
covers the base OSFR amount layer. To satisfy an insurance deductible, you may use only those methods that
are acceptable as evidence of OSFR under this part; and
- You must identify a U.S.
agent for service of process on each insurance certificate you submit to MMS. The agent may be different for each insurance
certificate.
- You may submit to MMS a temporary insurance confirmation (fax binder) for each insurance certificate you use as OSFR evidence. Submit your fax binder on
Form MMS-1019, and each form must include the signature of an underwriter for at least one of the participating
insurers. MMS will accept your fax binder as OSFR evidence during a period that ends 90 days after the date
that you need the insurance to demonstrate OSFR.
Section 253.30 How can I use an
indemnity as OSFR evidence?
- You may use only one indemnity issued by only one indemnitor to satisfy all or part of your obligation
to demonstrate OSFR.
- Your indemnitor must be your corporate parent or affiliate.
- Your indemnitor must complete a Form
MMS-1018 and provide an indemnity that:
- Includes all the information required by Section 253.41; and
- Does not exceed the amounts calculated using the net
worth or unencumbered assets tests specified under Sections
253.21 through 253.28.
- You must submit your application to renew OSFR using an indemnity by
the first calendar day of the 5th month after the close of your
indemnitor's fiscal year. You may
submit to MMS your initial application to demonstrate OSFR using an indemnity at any time.
- Your indemnitor must identify a U.S.
agent for service of process.
Section 253.31 How can I use a
surety bond as OSFR evidence?
- Each bonding company that issues a surety bond that you submit to MMS
as OSFR evidence must:
- Be licensed to do business in the State in which the surety bond is executed;
- Be certified by the U.S. Treasury Department as an acceptable
surety for Federal obligations and listed in the current Treasury Circular No. 570;
- Provide the surety bond on Form
MMS-1020; and
- Be in compliance with applicable statutes regulating
surety company participation in insurance-type risks.
- A surety bond that you submit as OSFR evidence must include all the
information required by Section 253.41.
Section 253.32 Are there
alternative methods to demonstrate OSFR?
The Director may accept other methods to demonstrate OSFR that provide equivalent assurance of timely
satisfaction of claims. This may include pooling,
letters of credit, pledges of treasury notes, or other comparable methods. Submit your
proposal, together with all the supporting documents, to the Director at the address
listed in Section 253.45. The Director's decision
whether to approve your alternative method to evidence OSFR is by this rule committed to
the Director's sole discretion and is not subject to administrative appeal under 30 CFR
part 290 or 43 CFR part 4.
SUBPART D--REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMITTING OSFR
INFORMATION
Section 253.40 What OSFR evidence
must I submit to MMS?
- You must submit to MMS:
- A single demonstration of OSFR
that covers all the COFs for which you are the designated applicant;
- A completed and unaltered Form
MMS-1016;
- MMS forms that identify your COFs (Form MMS-1021, Form MMS-1022),
and the methods you will use to demonstrate OSFR (Form MMS-1018, Form MMS-1019,
Form MMS-1020). Forms are available from
the address listed in Section 253.45;
- Any insurance certificates, indemnities, and surety
bonds used as OSFR evidence for the COFs for which you are the designated applicant;
- A completed Form MMS-1017
for each responsible party, unless you are the only
responsible party for the COFs covered by your OSFR demonstration;
and
- Other financial instruments and information the Director requires to support your OSFR demonstration
under Section
253.32.
- Each MMS form you submit to MMS as part of your OSFR demonstration
must be signed. You also must attach to
Form
MMS-1016 proof of
your authority to sign.
Section 253.41 What terms must I
include in my OSFR evidence?
- Each instrument you submit as OSFR evidence must specify:
- The effective date, and except for a surety bond, the
expiration date;
- That termination of the instrument will not affect the
liability of the instrument issuer for claims arising
from an incident
(i.e., oil-spill discharge or substantial threat of the discharge of oil) that occurred on or before
the effective date of termination;
- That the instrument will remain in force until the termination date or
until the earlier of:
- Thirty calendar days after MMS and the
designated applicant receive from the instrument issuer
a notification of intent to cancel;
or
- MMS receives from the designated
applicant other acceptable OSFR evidence; or
- All the COFs to which the instrument applies are permanently
abandoned in compliance with 30 CFR part 250 or equivalent State requirements;
- That the instrument issuer agrees to direct action for
claims made under OPA up to the guaranty amount,
subject to the defenses in paragraph (a)(6) of
this section and following the procedures in Section 253.60
of this part;
- An an agent in the
United States for service of process; and
- That the instrument issuer will not use any defenses
against a claim made under OPA except:
- The rights and defenses that would be
available to a designated applicant or responsible party
for whom the guaranty was
provided; and
- The incident (i.e., oil-spill
discharge or a substantial threat of the discharge of oil)
leading to the claim for removal costs or damages was
caused by willful misconduct of a responsible party for whom the
designated applicant
demonstrated OSFR.
- You may not change, omit, or add limitations or exceptions to the
terms and conditions in an MMS form that you submit as part of your OSFR demonstration. If you attempt to
do this, MMS will disregard the changes, omissions, additions, limitations, or exceptions and by operation
of this rule MMS will consider the form to contain all the terms and conditions included on the original MMS
form.
Section 253.42 How can I amend my
list of COFs?
- If you want to add a COF that is not identified in your current OSFR demonstration, you must submit to MMS
a completed Form MMS-1022. If
applicable, you also must submit any additional indemnities, surety bonds,
insurance certificates, or other instruments required to extend
the coverage of your original OSFR demonstration to the COFs to be added. You do not need to
resubmit previously accepted audited annual financial statements for the current fiscal year.
- If you want to drop a COF identified in your current OSFR
demonstration, you must submit to MMS a completed Form MMS-1022. You
must continue to demonstrate OSFR for the COF until MMS approves
OSFR evidence for the COF from another designated applicant, or OSFR is no longer required (e.g.,
until a well that is a COF is properly plugged and abandoned).
Section 253.43 When is my OSFR
demonstration or the amendment to my OSFR demonstration effective?
- MMS will notify you in writing when we approve
your OSFR demonstration. If we find that you have not
submitted all the information needed to demonstrate OSFR, we may
require you to provide additional information before we determine whether your OSFR evidence is
acceptable.
- Except in the case of self-insurance or an indemnity, MMS acceptance of OSFR evidence is valid
until the surety bond, insurance certificate, or other accepted OSFR
instrument expires or is canceled. In the case of self-insurance or indemnity, acceptance is valid until the first
day of the 5th month after the close of your or your indemnitor's current fiscal year.
Section 253.44 When must I comply
with this part?
If you are the designated applicant for one or more COFs covered by a Certificate of Financial Responsibility
(CFR) issued under 33 CFR part 135 that expires after October 13, 1998, you must submit to
MMS your evidence of OSFR for all your COFs no later than
the earliest date that an existing CFR for any of your COFs expires. All other designated
applicants must submit to MMS evidence of OSFR for their COFs no later than April 8, 1999.
Section 253.45 Where do I send my
OSFR evidence?
Address all correspondence and required submissions related to this part to:
U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service
Gulf of Mexico Region
Oil Spill Financial Responsibility Program
1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123.
Subpart E--REVOCATION AND PENALTIES
Section 253.50 How can MMS refuse
or invalidate my OSFR evidence?
- If MMS determines that any OSFR evidence you submit fails to comply with the
requirements of this part, we may not accept it. If we do not accept your OSFR evidence, then
we will send you a written notification stating:
- That your evidence is not acceptable;
- Why your evidence is unacceptable; and
- The amount of time you are allowed to submit acceptable
evidence without being subject to civil penalty under Section 253.51.
- MMS may immediately and without prior notice invalidate your OSFR
demonstration if you:
- Are no longer eligible to be the designated applicant for a COF
included in your demonstration; or
- Permit the cancellation or termination of the insurance
policy, surety bond, or indemnity upon which the
continued validity of the demonstration is
based.
- If MMS determines you are not complying with the requirements of this
part for any reason other than paragraph (b) of this section, we will notify you of our intent
to invalidate your OSFR demonstration and specify the corrective action needed. Unless you take the
corrective action MMS specifies within 15 calendar days from the date you receive such a notice, we will invalidate
your OSFR demonstration.
Section 253.51 What are the
penalties for not complying with this part?
- If you fail to comply with the financial
responsibility requirements of OPA at 33 U.S.C. 2716 or with the
requirements of this part, then you may be liable for a civil
penalty of up to $25,000 per COF per day of
violation (that is, each day a COF is operated without acceptable
evidence of OSFR).
- MMS will determine the date of a noncompliance. MMS will assess
penalties in accordance with an OSFR penalty schedule using the procedures found at 30 CFR part 250,
subpart N. You may obtain a copy of the penalty schedule from MMS at
the address in Section 253.45.
- MMS may assess a civil penalty against you that is greater or less
than the amount in the penalty schedule after taking into account the factors in section 4303(a) of OPA
(33 U.S.C. 2716a).
- If you fail to correct a deficiency in the OSFR evidence for a COF,
then the Director may suspend operation
of a COF in the OCS
under 30 CFR 250.110 or seek judicial relief, including an order suspending the
operation of any COF.
SUBPART F--CLAIMS FOR OIL-SPILL REMOVAL COSTS AND
DAMAGES
Section 253.60 To whom may I
present a claim?
- If you are a claimant,
you must present your claim first to the designated applicant for the COF that is the source of the incident resulting
in your claim. If, however, the designated applicant has filed a petition for
bankruptcy under 11 U.S.C. chapter 7 or 11, you may present your
claim first to any of the designated applicant's guarantors.
- If the claim you present to the designated applicant or guarantor is
denied or not paid within 90 days after you first present it or advertising
begins, whichever is later, then you may seek any of the following
remedies that apply: If the reason for denial or nonpayment is then you
may elect to: (claim procedures flowchart)

- Not an assertion of insolvency or petition in
bankruptcy under 11 U.S.C. chapter 7 or 11.
- Present your claim to any of the responsible parties for the COF; or
- Initiate a lawsuit against the designated
applicant and/or any of the responsible parties for the COF; or
- Present your claim to the Fund using the procedures at 33 CFR part 136.
- An assertion of insolvency or petition in bankruptcy under 11
U.S.C. chapter 7 or 11.
- Pursue any of the remedies in items (1)(i)
through (iii) of this table; or
- Present your claim to any of the designated
applicant's guarantors; or
- Initiate a lawsuit against any of the
designated applicant's guarantors.
- If no one has resolved your claim to your satisfaction using the
remedy that you elected under paragraph (b) of this section, then you may pursue another available remedy,
unless the Fund has denied your claim or a court of competent jurisdiction has ruled against your claim. You
may not pursue more than one remedy at a time.
- You may ask MMS to assist you in determining whether a guarantor may
be liable for your claim. Send your request for assistance to the address listed in Section 253.45. You must include any information you have
regarding the existence or identity of possible guarantors.
Section 253.61 When is a
guarantor subject to direct action for claims?
- If you are a guarantor,
then you are subject to direct action for any claim
asserted by:
- The United States for any compensation paid by the Fund under OPA, including compensation claim
processing costs; and
- A claimant other than
the United States if the designated applicant has:
- Denied or failed to pay a claim
because of being insolvent; or
- Filed a petition in bankruptcy under
11 U.S.C. chapters 7 or 11.
- If you participate in an insurance guaranty
for a COF incident
(i.e., oil-spill discharge or substantial threat of the discharge of oil) that is
subject to claims under this part, then your maximum, aggregate liability for
those claims is equal to your quota share of the insurance
guaranty.
Section 253.62 What are the
designated applicant's notification obligations regarding a claim?
If you are a designated applicant, and you receive a claim for removal costs and damages, then within 15
calendar days of receipt of a claim you must notify:
- Your guarantors; and
- The responsible parties for whom
you are acting as the designated applicant.
APPENDIX--LIST OF U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS
Alabama (1:24,000 scale): Bellefontaine; Bon Secour Bay; Bridgehead;
Coden; Daphne; Fort Morgan; Fort Morgan NW; Grand Bay; Grand Bay SW; Gulf Shores; Heron
Bay; Hollingers Island; Isle Aux Herbes; Kreole; Lillian; Little Dauphin Island; Little
Point Clear; Magnolia Springs; Mobile; Orange Beach; Perdido Beach; Petit Bois Island;
Petit Bois Pass; Pine Beach; Point Clear; Saint Andrews Bay; West Pensacola.
Alaska (1:63,360 scale): Afognak (A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-0&B-0,
B-1, B-2, B-3, C-1&2, C-2&3, C-5, C-6, D-1, D-4, D-5); Anchorage (A-1, A-2, A-3,
A-4, A-8, B-7, B-8); Barrow (A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, B-3, B-4); Baird Mts. (A-6); Barter
Island (A-3, A-4, A-5); Beechy Point (A-1, A-2, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, C-4, C-5); Bering
Glacier (A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6, A-7, A-8); Black (A-1, A-2, B-1, C-1); Blying Sound
(C-7, C-8, D-1&2, D-3, D-4, D-5, D-6, D-7, D-8); Candle (D-6); Cordova (A-1, A-2, A-3,
A-4, A-7&8, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6, B-7, B-8, C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, D-6, D-7, D-8); De
Long Mts. (D-4, D-5); Demarcation Point (C-1, C-2, D-2, D-3); Flaxman Island (A-1, A-3,
A-4, A-5, B-5); Harrison Bay (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, D-4, D-5); Icy Bay
(D1, D-2&3); Iliamna (A-2, A-3, A-4, B-2, B-3, C-1, C-2, D-1); Karluk (A-1, A-2, B-2,
B-3, C-1, C-2, C-4&5, C-6); Kenai (A-4, A-5, A-7, A-8, B-4, B-6, B-7, B-8, C-4, C-5,
C-6, C-7, D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, D-5); Kodiak (A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6, B-1&2, B-3, B-4, B-6,
C-1, C-2, C-3, C-5, C-6, D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, D-5, D-6); Kotzebue (A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, B-4,
B-6, C-1, C-4, C-5, C-6, D-1, D-2); Kwiguk (C-6, D-6); Meade River (D-1, D-3, D-4, D-5);
Middleton Island (B-7, D-1&2); Mt. Katmai (A-1, A-2, A-3; B-1); Mt. Michelson (D-1,
D-2, D-3); Mt. St. Elias (A-5); Noatak (A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, B-4, C-4, C-5, D-6, D-7); Nome
(B-1, C-1, C-2, C-3, D-3, D-4, D-7); Norton Bay (A-4, B-4, B-5, B-6, C-4, C-5, C-6, D-4,
D-5, D-6); Point Hope (A-1, A-2, B-2, B-3, C-2, C-3, D-1, D-2); Point Lay (A-3&4,
B-2&3, C-2, D-1, D-2); Selawik (A-5, A-6, B-5, B-6, C-5, C-6, D-6); Seldovia (A-3,
A-4, A-5, A-6, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, D-1, D-3, D-4, D-5,
D-8); Seward (A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6, A-7, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, C-1, C-2, C-3,
C-4, C-5, D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, D-5, D-6, D-7, D-8); Shishmaref (A-2, A-3, A-4, B-1, B-2,
B-3); Solomon (B-2, B-3, B-6, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6); St. Michael (A-2, A-3, A-4,
A-5, A-6, B-1, B-2, C-1, C-2); Teller (A-2, A-3, A-4, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6, C-6, C-7, D-4,
D-5, D-6, D-8); Teshekpuk (D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, D-5); Tyonek (A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, B-1,
B-2); Unalakleet (B-5, B-6, C-4, C-5, D-4); Valdez (A-7, A-8); Wainwright (A-5, A-6&7,
B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5&6, C-2, C-3 , D-1, D-2; Yakutat (A-1, A-2, A-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, C-4,
C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, D-3, D-4, D-5, D-6, D-8).
California (1:24,000 scale): Arroyo Grande NE; Beverly Hills;
Carpinteria; Casmalia; Dana Point; Del Mar; Dos Pueblos Canyon; Encinitas; Gaviota;
Goleta; Guadalupe; Imperial Beach; Laguna Beach; La Jolla; Las Pulgas Canyon; Lompoc
Hills; Long Beach; Los Alamitos; Malibu Beach; Morro Bay South; National City; Newport
Beach; Oceano; Oceanside; Oxnard; Pismo Beach; Pitas Point; Point Arguello; Point
Conception; Point Dune; Point Loma; Point Mugu; Point Sal; Port San Luis; Rancho Santa Fe;
Redondo Beach; Sacate; San Clemente; San Juan Capistrano; San Luis Rey; San Onofre Bluff;
San Pedro; Santa Barbara; Saticoy; Seal Beach; Surf; Tajiguas; Topanga; Torrance;
Tranquillon Mountain; Triunfo Pass; Tustin; Venice; Ventura; White Ledge Peak.
Florida (1:24,000 scale): Allanton; Alligator Bay; Anna Maria;
Apalachicola; Aripeka; Bayport; Beacon Beach; Beacon Hill; Bee Ridge; Belle Meade; Belle
Meade NW; Beverly; Big Lostmans Bay; Bird Keys; Bokeelia; Bonita Springs; Bradenton;
Bradenton Beach; Bruce; Bunker; Cape Romano; Cape Saint George; Cape San Blas; Captiva;
Carrabelle; Cedar Key; Chassahowitzka; Chassahowitzka Bay; Chiefland SW; Choctaw Beach;
Chokoloskee; Clearwater; Clive Key; Cobb Rocks; Cockroach Bay; Crawfordville East; Crooked
Island; Crooked Point; Cross City SW; Crystal River; Destin; Dog Island; Dunedin; East
Pass; Egmont Key; El Jobean; Elfers; Englewood; Englewood NW; Estero; Everglades City;
Fivay Junction; Flamingo; Fort Barrancas; Fort Myers Beach; Fort Myers SW; Fort Walton
Beach; Freeport; Gandy Bridge; Garcon Point; Gator Hook Swamp; Gibsonton; Goose Island;
Grayton Beach; Green Point; Gulf Breeze; Harney River; Harold SE; Holley; Holt SW;
Homosassa; Horseshoe Beach; Indian Pass; Jackson River; Jena; Keaton Beach; Laguna Beach;
Lake Ingraham East; Lake Ingraham West; Lake Wimico; Laurel; Lebanon Station; Lighthouse
Point; Lillian; Long Point; Lostmans River Ranger Station; Manlin Hammock; Marco Island;
Mary Esther; Matlacha; McIntyre; Milton South; Miramar Beach; Myakka River; Naples North;
Naples South; Navarre; New Inlet; Niceville; Nutall Rise; Ochopee; Okefenokee Slough;
Oldsmar; Orange Beach; Oriole Beach; Overstreet; Ozello; Pace; Palmetto; Panama City;
Panama City Beach; Panther Key; Pass-A-Grille Beach; Pavillion Key; Pensacola; Perdido
Bay; Pickett Bay; Pine Island Center; Placida; Plover Key; Point Washington; Port Boca
Grande; Port Richey; Port Richey NE; Port Saint Joe; Port Tampa; Punta Gorda; Punta Gorda
SE; Punta Gorda SW; Red Head; Red Level; Rock Islands; Royal Palm Hammock; Safety Harbor;
Saint Joseph Point; Saint Joseph Spit; Saint Marks; Saint Marks NE; Saint Petersburg;
Saint Teresa Beach; Salem SW; Sandy Key; Sanibel; Sarasota; Seahorse Key; Seminole;
Seminole Hills; Shark Point; Shark River Island; Shired Island; Snipe Island; Sopchoppy;
South of Holley; Southport; Sprague Island; Spring Creek; Springfield; Steinhatchee;
Steinhatchee SE; Steinhatchee SW; Sugar Hill; Sumner; Suwannee; Tampa; Tarpon Springs;
Valparaiso; Venice; Vista; Waccassasa Bay; Ward Basin; Warrior Swamp; Weavers Station;
Weeki Wachee Spring; West Bay; West Pass; West Pensacola; Whitewater Bay West;
Withlacoochee Bay; Wulfert; Yankeetown.
Louisiana (1:24,000 scale): Alligator Point; Barataria Pass; Bastian Bay;
Bay Batiste; Bay Coquette; Bay Courant; Bay Dosgris; Bay Ronquille; Bay Tambour; Bayou
Blanc; Bayou Lucien; Belle Isle; Belle Pass; Big Constance Lake; Black Bay North; Black
Bay South; Breton Islands; Breton Islands SE; Buras; Burrwood Bayou East; Burwood Bayou
West; Calumet Island; Cameron; Caminada Pass; Cat Island; Cat Island Pass; Central Isles
Dernieres; Chandeleur Light; Chef Mentur; Cheniere Au Tigre; Cocodrie; Coquille Point; Cow
Island; Creole; Cypremort Point; Deep Lake; Dixon Bay; Dog Lake; Door Point; East Bay
Junop; Eastern Isles; Dernieres; Ellerslie; Empire; English Lookout; False Mouth Bayou;
Fearman Lake; Floating Turf Bayou; Fourleague Bay; Franklin; Freemason Island; Garden
Island Pass; Grand Bayou; Grand Bayou du Large; Grand Chenier; Grand Gosier Islands; Grand
Isle; Hackberry Beach; Hammock Lake; Happy Jack; Hebert Lake; Hell Hole Bayou; Hog Bayou;
Holly Beach; Intercoastal City; Isle Au Pitre; Jacko Bay; Johnson Bayou; Kemper; Lake
Athanasio; Lake Cuatro Caballo; Lake Eloi; Lake Eugene; Lake Felicity; Lake La Graisse;
Lake Merchant; Lake Point; Lake Salve; Lake Tambour; Leeville; Lena Lagoon; Lost Lake;
Main Pass; Malheureux Point; Marone Point; Martello Castle; Mink Bayou; Mitchell Key;
Morgan City SW; Morgan Harbor; Mound Point; Mulberry Island East; Mulberry Island West;
New Harbor Islands; North Islands; Oak Mound Bayou; Oyster Bayou; Pass A Loutre East; Pass
A Loutre West; Pass du Bois; Pass Tante Phine; Pecan Island; Pelican Pass; Peveto Beach;
Pilottown; Plumb Bayou; Point Au Fer; Point Au Fer NE; Point Chevreuil; Point Chicot; Port
Arthur South; Port Sulphur; Pte. Aux Marchuttes; Proctor Point; Pumpkin Islands; Redfish
Point; Rollover Lake; Sabine Pass; Saint Joe Pass; Smith Bayou; South of South Pass; South
Pass; Stake Islands; Taylor Pass; Texas Point; Three Mile Bay; Tigre Lagoon;
Timbalier Island; Triumph; Venice; Weeks; West of Johnson Bayou; Western Isles Dernieres;
Wilkinson Bay; Yscloskey.
Mississippi (1:24,000 scale): Bay Saint Louis; Biloxi; Cat Island;
Chandeleur Light; Deer Island; Dog Keys Pass; English Lookout; Gautier North; Gautier
South; Grand Bay SW; Gulfport North; Gulfport NW; Gulfport South; Horn Island East; Horn
Island West; Isle Au Pitre; Kreole; Ocean Springs; Pascagoula North; Pascagoula South;
Pass Christian; Petit Bois Island; Saint Joe Pass; Ship Island; Waveland.
Texas (1:24,000 scale): Allyns Bright; Anahuac; Aransas Pass;
Austwell; Bacliff; Bayside; Big Hill Bayou; Brown Cedar Cut; Caplen; Carancahua Pass;
Cedar Lakes East; Cedar Lakes West; Cedar Lane NE; Christmas Point; Clam Lake; Corpus
Christi; Cove; Crane Islands NW; Crane Islands SW; Decros Point; Dressing Point; Estes;
Flake; Freeport; Frozen Point; Galveston; Green Island; Hawk Island; High Island;
Hitchcock; Hoskins Mound; Jones Creek; Keller Bay; Kleberg Point; La Comal; La Leona; La
Parra Ranch NE; Laguna Vista; Lake Austin; Lake Como; Lake Stephenson; Lamar; Long Island;
Los Amigos; Windmill; Maria Estella Well; Matagorda; Matagorda SW; Mesquite Bay; Mission
Bay; Morgans Point; Mosquito Point; Mouth of Rio Grande; Mud Lake; North of Port Isabel
NW; North of Port Isabel SW; Oak Island; Olivia; Oso Creek NE; Oyster Creek; Palacios;
Palacios NE; Palacios Point; Palacios SE; Panther Point; Panther Point NE; Pass Cavallo
SW; Pita Island; Point Comfort; Point of Rocks; Port Aransas; Port Arthur South; Port
Bolivar; Port Ingleside; Port Isabel; Port Isabel NW; Port Lavaca East; Port Mansfield;
Port O'Connor; Portland; Potrero Cortado; Potrero Lopeno NW; Potrero Lopeno SE; Potrero
Lopeno SW; Rockport; Sabine Pass; San Luis Pass; Sargent; Sea Isle; Seadrift; Seadrift NE;
Smith Point; South Bird Island; South Bird Island NW; South Bird Island SE; South of
Palacios Point; South of Potrero Lopeno NE; South of Potrero Lopeno NW; South of Potrero
Lopeno SE; South of Star Lake; St. Charles Bay; St. Charles Bay SE; St. Charles Bay SW;
Star Lake; Texas City; Texas Point; The Jetties; Three Islands; Tivoli SE; Turtle Bay;
Umbrella Point; Virginia Point; West of Johnson Bayou; Whites Ranch; Yarborough Pass.