[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 154 (Thursday, August 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41422-41423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20231]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces plans for MMS to followup on 
recommendations from the International Platform and Pipeline 
Decommissioning Workshop and related studies.

DATES: MMS is inviting the public to comment on the decommissioning 
plans listed in this notice. MMS will consider all comments received by 
September 9, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Please mail or hand-carry your comments on this notice to 
the Department of the Interior; Minerals Management Service, Mail Stop 
4700; 381 Elden Street; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817; Attention: Chief, 
Engineering and Standards Branch.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Buffington, Engineering and 
Standards Branch, telephone (703) 787-1600 or FAX (703) 787-1555.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 15-17, 1996, MMS jointly sponsored 
an International Platform and Pipeline Decommissioning Workshop in New 
Orleans, Louisiana.
    The International Workshop drew over 475 attendees to discuss and 
make recommendations pertaining to policies, regulations, and related 
issues concerning:
     Decommissioning wells, platforms, and pipelines;
     Planning, managing, and maintaining habitats; and
     Removing facilities and clearing sites.
    Working groups discussed current decommissioning practices and the 
recent National Research Council report entitled ``An Assessment of 
Techniques

[[Page 41423]]

for Removing Offshore Structures'' (Marine Board Study). Each working 
group made specific recommendations to improve offshore 
decommissioning. The proceedings of the International Workshop will be 
published in the fall of 1996.
    The April 1996 International Workshop primarily focused on 
decommissioning activities in the Gulf of Mexico. However, MMS is also 
investigating opportunities to solicit views and recommendations 
concerning other offshore areas, including California.
    MMS is discussing sponsoring an additional decommissioning workshop 
in California (the first California workshop was held in March 1994).
    On a national level, MMS is working on an action plan to respond to 
recommendations made by the Marine Board Study and the general comments 
from the International Workshop.
    Our general plan is to:
    1. Improve our partnering and consultations on lease 
decommissioning issues--MMS is continuing to meet with the National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), fishing interests, the oil and gas 
industry, and other concerned members of the public. For example, we 
are discussing survey requirements for turtles and marine mammals, 
limitations of charge sizes and the number of detonations, and loss of 
nursery habitats. Recently, MMS met with NMFS and the oil and gas 
industry to discuss the impact of structure removals on endangered 
species.
    MMS also plans to participate on relevant committees concerning 
international decommissioning policies of offshore oil and gas 
installations. One of the committees will develop guidelines for 
disposing of platforms.
    2. Analyze our policies and regulations--
    MMS is working with other agencies and sponsoring scientific 
studies to help us analyze our policies and regulations on 
decommissioning. In 1997, MMS plans to publish a Notice to Lessee and/
or regulations to clarify MMS's policy on structure severing depths, 
partial facility removals, deep-water decommissioning, and site 
clearance requirements (including liability).
    3. Conduct research and environmental studies--
    MMS is conducting or will initiate research on the following topics 
in 1996 and early 1997:
     Turtle detection techniques,
     Fish and turtle scare devices,
     The effects of removal depths on soil transport,
     Improved well abandonment techniques,
     Ecological role of natural reefs and oil and gas 
production platforms on rocky reef fishes,
     Ecology of invertebrate communities on platform 
structures,
     Casing removal depths and removal methods,
     The effects of explosives on cement plugs,
     Deep-water pipeline abandonment procedures,
     Advanced explosive and nonexplosive removal techniques,
     Deep-water artificial reefs,
     Attraction vs. production in cold-water environments with 
ample hard-bottom,
     Habitat and water depth profile for fish kill from 
explosives,
     The effects of platform size on various fish,
     Forecasts of Federal platform removals,
     Offshore and onshore facility disposal methods, and
     An environmental and safety risk assessment for platform 
and pipeline decommissioning and removals.
    MMS is also issuing a request for research proposals in the 
``Commerce Business Daily'' concerning decommissioning research.
    Our goal is to decommission wells, platforms, pipelines, and other 
structures to prevent or minimize environmental impacts and to ensure 
that a location is cleared of obstructions to other uses of the Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS). MMS will achieve its goal by enhancing its 
partnerships with the other OCS stakeholders and by using science to 
evaluate the techniques, policies, and regulations associated with 
decommissioning.

    Dated: July 29, 1996.
Lucy R. Querques,
Acting Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 96-20231 Filed 8-7-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M