[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 239 (Friday, December 11, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80149-80150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27237]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

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Leaders in Advancing Safety and Environmental Stewardship

AGENCY: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) 
developed objective, qualitative and quantifiable criteria to create a 
``Leaders in Advancing Safety and Environmental Stewardship'' 
Recognition Program to recognize operators who demonstrate exemplary 
operating performance or sustained safety and environmental stewardship 
improvements on their Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas 
facilities, including support vessels, and leadership within the 
industry regarding operational safety and environmental performance. 
BSEE's process for identifying ``Leaders in Advancing Safety and 
Environmental Stewardship'' is consistent with BSEE's inspection 
programs, regulations, and Notice to Operators and Lessees (NTL) No. 
2008-N02, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Inspection Program. The 
``Leaders in Advancing Safety and Environmental Stewardship'' 
Recognition Program will recognize OCS operators demonstrating high 
levels of operational safety, sustained safety improvement, or industry 
leadership on operational safety issues. The primary objective of the 
Recognition Program is to drive OCS operators to significantly improve 
safety and environmental prioritization, culture, and performance on 
OCS facilities and to encourage them to become leaders in industry 
regarding operational safety and environmental issues. Another 
objective is to create a platform through which BSEE can educate the 
public regarding the fact that OCS operators can conduct complex and 
high-risk operations on OCS oil and gas facilities in a way that is 
safe for personnel, the public, and the environment.

DATES: This notice will become effective on December 11, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Mathews, Bureau of Safety and 
Environmental Enforcement, Chief, Safety Improvement Branch, (504) 731-
1496, or by email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Each year, BSEE Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Regions conduct Annual 
Performance Reviews (APRs) of OCS operators. The APRs consist of a 
review of the following:
     The operator's compliance history, as reflected in 
findings from the BSEE Inspection Program;
     The operator's safety record as it relates to incidents;
     Any action that BSEE has forwarded to the BSEE Safety 
Enforcement Division (SED) for review for potential assessment of a 
civil penalty; and,
     The results of the most recent internal and regulatory 
audits of the operator's Safety and Environmental Management System 
(SEMS) program.
    BSEE will use the information gathered during the APRs to provide 
factual bases for determining eligibility for operator recognition.
    For an OCS operator to qualify for consideration as a Leader in 
Advancing Safety and Environmental Stewardship, the operator must have 
either:
    1. An Injury/Illness Combined Rate (total recordables) less than 
the OCS average for the prior reporting year, or
    2. Demonstrate two or more consecutive years of improvement of its 
Injury/Illness Combined Rate.
    In addition, the OCS operator's operations for the reporting must 
not have included any of the following:
     Fatality;
     Incident with >= 3 injuries;
     Major pollution incidents;
     Major Fire/Explosion;
     >= 3 Incidents of Noncompliance (INCs) forwarded for civil 
penalty cases or $1 million in cumulative proposed fines;
     Loss of Well Control; (not to include shallow water flow)
     >= 3 Facilities on Increased Oversight List;
     Order to perform an additional Directed SEMS Audit; or,
     A sustained environmental compliance record <90 percent 
with assigned environmental mitigation measures and similar regulatory 
requirements; or,
     Placement on a Performance Improvement Plan.
    If an OCS operator is disqualified by any of the factors above, 
BSEE may reconsider the operator for potential recognition if the 
issue(s) is satisfied prior to March 31st of the following year.
    For OCS operators that meet the requirements above, BSEE will also 
look at how those operators are providing leadership within the 
industry regarding operational safety. BSEE will consider whether the 
OCS operator is offering

[[Page 80150]]

industry advice and details on steps it has taken that have resulted in 
significant improvement to its safety performance, and leadership 
positions it has taken within industry organizations, such as the 
American Petroleum Institute (API), the Offshore Operators Committee 
(OOC), or The Center for Offshore Safety (COS), with a focus on 
advancing safety. Similarly, BSEE will also assess how operators are 
providing guidance and supporting environmental research, mitigation 
assessments, and project validation of pollution prevention, spill 
preparedness/response, and environmental compliance efforts, which not 
only benefit their operations and stewardship culture, but every 
partner in the OCS energy program.
    Environmental stewardship components that BSEE will consider 
include:
     A sustained compliance record (>90-percent) with assigned 
environmental mitigation measures and similar regulatory requirements, 
as confirmed by office and field verification;
     Participation and leadership with critical Joint Industry 
Project (JIP) efforts and within environmental and/or pollution 
prevention-focused workgroups and teams;
     Response preparedness and planning assessments;
     Non-compulsory enhancements and innovation above and 
beyond standard pollution prevention requirements; and
     Repeated (100-percent) appropriate and constructive 
response on corrective/remedial actions associated with all 
noncompliance issues.
    For information on the ``Leaders in Advancing Safety and 
Environmental Stewardship'' Recognition Program or the submission of 
comments, the public should contact Mr. Jason Mathews, Chief, Safety 
Improvement Branch, Regional Field Operations (GE 1073E), BSEE, Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 
70123-2394, (504) 731-1496.
    BSEE will implement this program in 2021, with qualifying OCS 
operators recognized in 2022 for their 2020 and 2021 calendar year 
performance. BSEE will initiate performance reviews beginning in 
January 2021 and January 2022, and all OCS operators who meet the 
minimum requirements and are selected by BSEE for recognition, will be 
identified by April-May 2022.

Casey Hammond,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2020-27237 Filed 12-10-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P