U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region

Today, the Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that would update decommissioning requirements for the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

According to MMS Director Walt Rosenbusch, the proposed technical changes will help ensure that lessees conduct operations and decommission facilities in a safe and effective manner.

The decommissioning regulations are in the newly designated Subpart Q of Title 30, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 250.  The new layout of the rule follows the logical sequence of plugging a well, decommissioning the platform and pipeline, and clearing the lease site.  The proposed rule also updates requirements to reflect changes in technology.  The comment period for Subpart Q will close on October 5, 2000.

The MMS is the Federal agency that manages the Nation’s oil, natural gas, and other mineral resources on the OCS; and collects, accounts for, and disburses about $4 billion in yearly revenues from offshore Federal mineral leases and from onshore mineral leases on Federal and American Indian lands.

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MMS's Website Address: http://www.mms.gov