UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE

NTL No. 98-12N
Effective Date: July 1, 1998

NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR
LEASES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF

Determination of Pollution Inspection Frequencies
for Unmanned Facilities

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 96-1N, dated January 1, 1996, and is being issued to update the regulatory citation and to include a statement regarding the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The provisions of 30 CFR 250.301(a) require that lessees inspect drilling and production facilities daily for the occurrence of pollution. Alternatively, lessees may conduct these required inspections at intervals approved or prescribed by the District Supervisor.

In determining the pollution inspection frequency, the District Supervisor takes into account the facility's performance history, the type and volume of production, operating pressures, processing systems, the potential for hydrogen sulphide gas releases, the effectiveness of the operator's safety management program, and other risk and performance information.

For unmanned facilities, the inspection frequency may be less for those facilities with continuous monitoring capabilities or effective safety and environmental management programs. Lessees requesting to reduce the number of inspections required at their unmanned facilities should provide information on continuous monitoring capabilities and safeguards that mitigate against the risk of leaks or other equipment failures.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Statement: The information collection provisions referred to in this notice are intended to provide clarification, description, or interpretation of requirements in 30CFR 250, subpart C. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the information collection requirements in these regulations and assigned OMB control number 1010-0057. This notice does not impose additional information collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Carolita U. Kallaur
Associate Director for Offshore
Minerals Management

This NTL can also be found at the MMS worldwide website at http://www.mms.gov

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