and Performance Information 

Fiscal Year 2015 

BUDGET 

JUSTIFICATIONS 

The United States 

Department of the Interior 

NOTICE: These budget 

justifications are prepared 

for the Interior, Environment 

and Related Agencies 

Appropriations Subcommittees. 

Approval for release of the 

justifications prior to their 

printing in the public record of 

the Subcommittee hearings 

may be obtained through 

the Office of Budget of the 

Department of the Interior. 

BUREAU OF 

SAFETY AND 

ENVIRONMENTAL 

ENFORCEMENT 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUREAU OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT
 

FY 2015 GREENBOOK 

Table of Contents 

Bureau/Office-Level Presentation ............................................................................................................. x
 

Director’s Preface ..................................................................................................................................... 1
 

General Statement..................................................................................................................................... 3
 

Table 1: Summary of Budget Request................................................................................................. 3
 

Table 2: Analysis of Budgetary Changes........................................................................................... 12
 

Secretarial Initiatives and Agency Priority Goals................................................................................... 15
 

Performance Summary............................................................................................................................ 19
 

Table 3: Goal Performance Table...................................................................................................... 21
 

Table: Budget At A Glance.................................................................................................................... 25
 

Account-Level Presentation ....................................................................................................................... x
 

Tables: Summary of Requirements........................................................................................................ 27
 

Table: Fixed Costs and Internal Realignments ...................................................................................... 29
 

Language Citations ................................................................................................................................. 31
 

Appropriations Language ................................................................................................................... 31
 

Mandatory and Offsetting Collections Proposals ................................................................................... 33
 

Environmental Enforcement Activity-Level Presentation...................................................................... x
 

Table 4: Introductory ............................................................................................................................. 35
 

Internal Transfers .................................................................................................................................... 35
 

Operations, Safety and Regulations Activity-Level Presentation........................................................... x
 

Table 5: Introductory ............................................................................................................................. 37
 

Summary of BY Program Changes......................................................................................................... 37
 

Internal Transfers .................................................................................................................................... 37
 

Justification of BY Program Changes..................................................................................................... 38
 

Program Overview .................................................................................................................................. 38
 

Performance Overview ........................................................................................................................... 39
 

Table 6: Performance Overview ............................................................................................................ 46
 

Administrative Operations Activity-Level Presentation ......................................................................... x
 

i. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 7: Introductory ............................................................................................................................. 49
 

Summary of BY Program Changes......................................................................................................... 49
 

Justification of BY Program Changes..................................................................................................... 49
 

Program Overview .................................................................................................................................. 49
 

General Support Service Activity-Level Presentation............................................................................. x
 

Table 8: Introductory ............................................................................................................................. 53
 

Justification of BY Program Changes..................................................................................................... 53
 

Program Overview .................................................................................................................................. 53
 

Executive Direction Activity-Level Presentation ..................................................................................... x
 

Table 9: Introductory ............................................................................................................................. 55
 

Summary of BY Program Changes......................................................................................................... 55
 

Justification of BY Program Changes..................................................................................................... 55
 

Program Overview .................................................................................................................................. 55
 

Oil Spill Research Appropriation Presentation ....................................................................................... x
 

Table 10: Introductory ........................................................................................................................... 59
 

Summary of BY Program Changes......................................................................................................... 59
 

Justification of BY Program Changes..................................................................................................... 59
 

Program Overview .................................................................................................................................. 59
 

Performance Overview ........................................................................................................................... 59
 

Table 11: Performance Overview .......................................................................................................... 64
 

Appendices................................................................................................................................................... x
 

Section 404 Compliance ......................................................................................................................... 65
 

Table: PER-4 Employee Count by Grade .............................................................................................. 71
 

MAX Tables/Budget Schedules.............................................................................................................. 73
 

Authorizing Statutes................................................................................................................................ 81
 

ii. 
Director’s Preface 

FY 2015 BUDGET JUSTIFICATIONS
 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
 

Director’s Preface 

As the Administration works to expand domestic energy production through President Obama’s “All of 

the Above” strategy, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is taking the 

necessary steps to provide effective oversight of oil and gas development on the U.S. Outer Continental 

Shelf (OCS), promoting compliance with Federal regulations, and leading the offshore oil and gas 

industry toward a culture of safety and environmental protection. 

The 2015 BSEE budget fully supports the President’s strategy by ensuring development of the Nation’s 

vast offshore energy resources is conducted in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Funds 

will be used to support and recruit expert engineers, scientists, and oil spill planning, prevention and 

response specialists to support the development of strong scientific information and the timely and 

thorough review of permits. 

In 2015, we will continue to build a robust culture of safety, with a strong focus on risk reduction. Every 

decision and every action will be taken with the workers and the environment in mind. Risks to both will 

be appropriately balanced and mitigated. We will bolster our capacity for analyzing data gained through 

incident reporting requirements, near-miss reporting, and real-time monitoring. We will also work with 

industry to better understand their safety processes, so that in turn we can mitigate and enhance risk 

reduction. Through these initiatives and others, we will continue to ensure that offshore development 

occurs in a safe and environmentally responsible way. 

There are four key principles that guide the work we do for the American public: clarity, consistency, 

predictability, and accountability. These principles are what every citizen, as well as the regulated 

community, has the right to expect from their government and they provide the standard by which our 

performance will be measured. Our efforts are supported by two strategic goals: 

•	 Regulate, enforce, and respond to OCS development using the full range of authorities, policies, 

and tools to compel safety, emergency preparedness, and environmental responsibility, and 

appropriate development and conservation of the offshore oil and natural gas resources, and; 

•	 Build and sustain the organizational, technical, and intellectual capacity within and across 

BSEE’s key functions – capacity that keeps pace with OCS industry technological improvements, 

innovates in regulation and enforcement, and reduces risk through systemic assessment and 

regulatory and enforcement actions. 

These strategic goals guide our decision-making and investment strategies. The 2015 request furthers 

these goals through a program increase of $905,000 to support enhanced review of emerging technologies 

by technical experts, and expanding project funding used to validate technology, test protocols and 

analyze economic feasibility. The 2015 request will allow BSEE to continue to strengthen our regulatory 

and oversight capability on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf by increasing the capacity in multiple 

disciplines to adequately staff regulatory, safety management, structural and technical support, and oil 

spill response prevention programs. Continued outreach and dialogue with stakeholders from academia, 

industry, non-governmental organizations, and other governmental agencies will enhance the knowledge 

base of technical personnel related to innovative technologies, regulatory gaps, real-time monitoring 

capabilities, and risk-based decision making for safety and environmental enforcement. 

Director’s Preface 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 1 
 

Director’s Preface 

This page intentionally left blank. 

2 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
General Statement 

 

 

 

General Statement 

FY 2015 PERFORMANCE BUDGET REQUEST 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

General Statement 

Table 1: Summary of BSEE Budget Request 

Account/Activity 

FY 2013 

Actual 

FY 2014 

Enacted 

FY 2015 

Request 

Changes 

from FY 

2014 

Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement (OSEE) 

Environmental Enforcement1 

Operations, Safety and Regulation 

Administrative Operations 

General Support Services 

Executive Direction 

3,899 

125,388 

14,756 

11,966 

17,182 

8,314 

132,207 

15,560 

13,513 

18,121 

-

141,911 

15,676 

13,912 

18,227 

-8,314 

+9,704 

+116 

+399 

+106 

Total, OSEE 173,191 187,715 189,726 +2,011 

Offsetting Rental Receipts 

Cost Recovery 

Inspection Fees 

-49,950 

-6,168 

-58,892 

-50,568 

-8,402 

-65,000 

-50,412 

-8,167 

-65,000 

+156 

+235 

-

Total, Offsetting Collections -115,010 -123,970 -123,579 391 

Net OSEE 58,181 63,745 66,147 +2,402 

Oil Spill Research 14,120 14,899 14,899 -

Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (P.L. 113-2) 2,850 - - -

Current BSEE Funding 75,151 78,644 81,046 +2,402 

Total BSEE Funding 190,161 202,614 204,625 +2,011 

Full Time Equivalents (FTE)

 Total Direct FTE 

 Total Reimbursable FTE (Reimbursable Agreements) 

602 

120 

693 

125 

744 

125 

+51

-

Total FTE 2/ 722 818 869 +51 

1/ The FY 2015 request consolidates the Environmental Enforcement Activity into the Operations, Safety and Regulation Activity. 

2/ The total FTE request for 2015 is 2 FTE. The technical adjustment of 49 FTE aligns current staffing levels to those projected for the budget 

year base program. The FTE growth reflects current hiring trends that support measured growth, considering the challenges of filling technical 

positions across the Bureau. No additional funding is requested as a result of this adjustment. 

The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) is a major source of energy for the United States. In calendar year 

2012, OCS leases offshore California, Alaska, and in the Gulf of Mexico provided about 483 million 

barrels of oil and 1,585 billion cubic feet of natural gas, accounting for almost 20 percent of the Nation’s 

oil production and over 6 percent of domestic natural gas production1

. 

1 For additional details regarding OCS oil and gas production see: 

http://www.data.bsee.gov/homepg/data_center/production/ocsprod.asp 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 3 
 

 

 

 

General Statement 

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is responsible for the oversight of 

exploration, development, and production operations for oil and natural gas on the OCS. The BSEE’s 

regulation and oversight of Federal offshore resources ensures that energy development on the OCS is 

done in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. 

The functions of BSEE include oil and gas permitting, facility inspections, regulations and standards 

development, safety research, data collection, technology assessments, field operations, incident 

investigation, environmental compliance and enforcement, oil spill prevention and readiness, review of 

operator oil spill response plans, oversight of production and development plans, and resource 

conservation efforts. 

FY 2015 BUDGET REQUEST 

The BSEE was established on October 1, 2011, and its purpose is to protect life, property, and the 

environment to ensure the safe and responsible development of our Nation’s offshore energy resources. 

BSEE’s continued focus is on safety and goes beyond simple compliance with regulations and toward the 

adoption, by everyone, of a meaningful safety culture that permeates all offshore activities. BSEE 

advocates that every decision and every action must be taken with the workers and the environment in 

mind and risks to both must be appropriately balanced and mitigated. 

The BSEE continues to adapt its regulatory approach and oversight as offshore operations continue to 

expand and move into new environments and require new technologies. Programs have been established 

that will allow BSEE to identify, evaluate and promote emerging technologies for use on the OCS, which 

will decrease the risk of offshore oil and gas development and increase safety for offshore workers. 

BSEE has established a strategic plan that will allow the Bureau to quickly address current expanding and 

future activities on the OCS, such as inspecting proposed renewable energy projects and evaluating 

technology advances that allow for deeper drilling at higher temperatures and pressures. 

Progress through Reforms 

There are four key principles that guide the work BSEE does for the American public: clarity, 

consistency, predictability, and accountability. These principles are what every citizen, as well as the 

regulated community, has the right to expect from their government and they provide the standard by 

which BSEE’s performance will be measured. The Bureau’s efforts are supported by two strategic goals: 

•	 To regulate, enforce, and respond to OCS development using the full range of authorities, 

policies, and tools to compel safety, emergency preparedness and environmental responsibility 

and appropriate development and conservation of the offshore oil and natural gas resources. 

•	 To build and sustain the organizational, technical, and intellectual capacity within and across 

BSEE’s key functions – capacity that keeps pace with the OCS industry’s technological 

4 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
General Statement 

improvements, innovates in regulation and enforcement, and reduces risk through systemic 

assessment and regulatory and enforcement actions. 

The BSEE has already made significant progress toward achieving these goals. The Bureau enacted new 

regulations governing the safety of offshore drilling operations and implemented the Workplace Safety 

Rule incorporating, for the first time, performance-based standards through Safety and Environmental 

Management System (SEMS) requirements. The Bureau’s flexible, strategic approach toward 

compliance was demonstrated through rigorous oversight of Shell’s drilling operations in the Arctic with 

round-the-clock inspector presence while drilling activities were ongoing. In addition, BSEE participated 

in the Department’s comprehensive review of the company’s management and decisions, which has led 

BSEE to begin development of an Arctic-specific rule that reflects the unique conditions under which 

companies will work to develop the Nation’s oil and gas resources on the Arctic OCS. 

The BSEE 2012-2015 strategic plan forms a solid foundation for the Bureau and lays out a clear 

statement of its mission, vision, and values. The BSEE will continue to build upon this foundation – 

working toward its strategic goals and prioritizing specific projects that will position the Bureau for even 

greater effectiveness in its mission. Key focus areas include: 

•	 Continuing to enhance offshore safety and environmental performance by promoting a safety 

culture within the offshore oil and gas industry. 

•	 Bolstering the investigations process to provide more data to aid in trend analysis and refining the 

methodology for evaluating emerging technologies to aid BSEE in making adjustments that will 

increase the tools to make better decisions and keep pace with a dynamic, evolving industry. 

•	 Increasing the capacity for analyzing data gained through incident reporting requirements, nearmiss reporting, and real-time monitoring. 

•	 Promoting and supporting innovation through the review of emerging technologies and the 

identification and use of Best Available and Safest Technology (BAST) within the drilling, 

production and spill response stakeholder communities. 

•	 Promoting compliance through strategic enforcement by fully defining, enhancing, and utilizing 

the Bureau’s enforcement authorities with a specific focus on risk. 

•	 Investing in BSEE employees through recruiting and training. 

•	 Investing in IT modernization and electronic reporting 

The Bureau has continued to implement significant reforms that addressed several of the major 

recommendations resulting from the investigations and reports that followed the tragic explosion of the 

Deepwater Horizon and the subsequent oil spill. The Bureau issued the final drilling safety regulations 

put in place on an interim basis after the spill and also updated oil spill response planning guidance. Both 

of these reforms continue to contribute to the overall safety of the offshore oil and gas industry. The 

updated SEMS rule reinforced an ongoing effort by BSEE to emphasize that the offshore industry must 

make safety their number one priority. The SEMS rule is a nontraditional, performance-focused tool for 

managing operations on the OCS and promoting a positive safety culture within industry, with the goals 

of continuous improvement of management systems, empowering employees, and fostering a culture of 

excellence. The first round of audits required by this rule was provided by industry in November 2013. 

The Bureau received and reviewed audit plans, audit reports, and corrective action plans from 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 5 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Statement 

approximately 100 OCS operators during the last two quarters of FY 2013 and is currently tracking the 

implementation of the associated Corrective Action Plans (CAPs). 

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF FULL-SCALE DEEPWATER WELL CONTAINMENT 

EXERCISE FACTS 

•	 In 2013, BSEE, Noble Energy, Inc. and the Helix Well Containment Group (HWCG) participated 

in an exercise that tested oil spill response plans and operator preparedness. 

•	 Unannounced drill tested the HWCG capping stack system – a 20-foot tall, 146,000-pound piece 

of equipment similar to the 

one that stopped the flow of 

oil from the Macondo well 

following the Deepwater 

Horizon explosion and oil spill 

in 2010. 

•	 Capping stack was deployed
 

in more than 5,000 feet of
 

water in the Gulf of Mexico.
 

•	 System was lowered to a 

simulated well head (a pre-set
 

parking pile) on the ocean 

floor, connected to the well
 

head, and pressurized to 8,400 

pounds per square inch.
 

These achievements represent important steps to promote offshore safety, protect the environment, and 

conserve resources. As planned, the Bureau continues to define and implement reforms and to hire the 

personnel needed to enforce them. These continued reforms and addition of highly qualified staff are 

essential to establishing a culture of safety and achieving the efficiency and effectiveness envisioned. 

The BSEE is implementing an execution plan for FY 2014 and FY 2015 that will enable the Bureau to 

aggressively pursue hiring critical personnel and implementing system improvements. The BSEE has 

already made great strides in FY 2014 by applying existing resources to projects and activities that will 

further enforce the Bureau’s strategic goals. In 2014, BSEE will also continue to modernize the 

permitting and inspection processes through the planned development of ePermits and eInspections. 

Once these systems are fully implemented, they will improve the availability and reliability of 

information needed to make government decisions that ensure compliance with safety and environmental 

regulations. At the same time, these systems will enhance government efficiency and streamline 

industry’s ability to comply with these rules. 

The BSEE continues to fund projects that will enhance the systems and protocols necessary to implement 

real-time monitoring capabilities, risk-based inspections, and advanced inspection technologies. For 

example, BSEE established the Ocean Energy Safety Institute (OESI) in December, 2013. The OESI was 

a recommendation by the Ocean Energy Safety Advisory Committee, which was chartered after the 

Deepwater Horizon incident. The OESI will provide a forum for dialogue, shared learning and 

cooperative research among academia, government, industry and other non-government organizations in 

6 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
General Statement 

offshore-related technologies and activities that help ensure environmentally safe and responsible 

offshore operations. The BSEE will also work with the OESI to develop a process defining how BAST 

issues will be tested and evaluated by OESI. 

Compliance, Inspections and Enforcement 

A key component of the reorganization and reform efforts is the identification of how BSEE can improve 

its investigation, analysis, regulatory, inspection, and compliance programs based on risk considerations. 

Based on recommendations from investigatory and oversight reports, internal and external review of 

operations, and reorganization studies, BSEE has already implemented a number of improvements to its 

inspection regime and will continually look for improvements to enhance its programs. 

The BSEE is also actively working to develop a risk-based inspection methodology for use at various 

levels within the regulatory program. In FY 2014, BSEE anticipates that an evidence-based risk analysis 

methodology for production facilities will be piloted in the field. The deployment and use of this analysis 

will allow BSEE to directly and effectively target available inspector resources. Through the 

identification and quantification of risk, BSEE can identify leading and lagging indicators, and improve 

its analysis of the effectiveness of redundant physical controls (barrier analysis). 

Safety is a priority for both BSEE staff and for operations that occur under BSEE’s jurisdiction. Onsite 

facility inspections and enforcement actions are important components of BSEE's safety program. The 

Bureau has established ambitious performance targets for the conduct of thousands of inspections of OCS 

facilities and operations, including coverage of tens of thousands of safety and pollution prevention 

components each year to prevent offshore accidents and spills, and to ensure a safe working environment. 

The Bureau places a high-priority on inspections as they provide a day-to-day, front-line view of OCS oil 

and gas facilities. In FY 2013, BSEE conducted over 24,000 inspections, including the witnessing of 

36 subsea Blow Out Preventer (BOP) tests on the OCS. 

The BSEE is working to refine internal controls and processes and expand the use of information and data 

management systems to enhance continuous offshore safety and an environmental enforcement presence. 

As these reforms are deployed, BSEE is able to strengthen its investigation, data analysis and compliance 

and enforcement programs to enhance the identification of risk and risk mitigation approaches. The 

Bureau is further advancing new protocols that emphasize risk-based oversight with the intent of 

identifying and focusing inspections on the “riskiest” activities and facilities and utilizing real-time 

monitoring technologies to improve and increase the regulatory oversight of critical offshore operations 

and equipment. 

The BSEE is also working to strengthen resources through intra- and interagency cooperation. For 

example, the Bureau renewed its longstanding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United 

States Coast Guard (USCG) and is focusing on shared resources, cross-training, and cooperation in 

Federal enforcement efforts on the OCS. The BSEE is aligning its investigations expertise with the 

enforcement efforts of regional and district personnel. This gives BSEE the ability to rapidly deploy 

multi-disciplinary investigative teams in response to offshore incidents and credible whistleblower 

complaints. 

Safety and Environmental Management: The Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) 

regulations, passed after the Deepwater Horizon event, are intended to foster the development of a more 

robust safety culture on the OCS. Similar to the quality management and environmental management 

programs of the International Standards Organization (ISO), the SEMS program prescribes a systematic 

approach to managing safety and environmental risks, and critical analysis (auditing). The Bureau is 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 7 
 

General Statement 

currently evaluating all of the submitted audits and CAPs required by the updated rule to do a critical 

evaluation of the program’s efficacy and track the CAP’s implementation. These ongoing evaluations 

will be further studied to assure continuous improvement of SEMS on an industry-wide basis. 

Renewable Energy Inspection Program: On May 19, 2010, Secretarial Order 3329, created BOEM and 

BSEE to carry out separate core missions: BOEM to ensure the balanced and responsible development of 

energy resources on the OCS, and BSEE to be responsible for safe and environmentally responsible 

exploration and production and to enforce regulatory functions. While BOEM continues to implement an 

expanding renewable energy program, there are currently no operational units on the OCS. Current 

industry plans suggest the first structures could be constructed in 2015. The BSEE and the BOEM have 

established a transition team to plan for a future BSEE regulatory structure, including a potential 

inspection fee. The BSEE is also initiating evaluation of a methodology for including facility inspection 

capabilities into existing inspection and compliance programs and developing the appropriate regulatory 

authorities and appropriations language to support safe and environmentally responsible renewable 

energy development on the OCS. In FY2014, BSEE will contract a study to assess current onshore and 

international offshore inspection practices related to wind turbine facilities and associated electrical 

transmission systems. The BSEE will use this assessment to inform the development of regulations, 

inspection guidelines, procedures and criteria for inspections of offshore renewable energy facilities so 

that the appropriate regulatory structure will be in place to protect the safety of these facilities as well as 

the environment. 

Real-Time Monitoring: The BSEE is examining the use of real-time monitoring (RTM) technologies to 

improve and increase the regulatory oversight of critical offshore operations and equipment. The intent of 

RTM is to develop, test, and implement reforms that significantly improve the Inspection and 

Enforcement Program in BSEE by using innovative technologies and using risk-based inspection criteria 

to supplement BSEE’s current inspection program. The use of this technology and facilities to monitor 

OCS oil and gas drilling, well-completion, well workover, well servicing and other rig related operations 

is one avenue that may be used to further efficiency as well as help BSEE carry out its mission. 

The Bureau is actively working to determine which available RTM opportunities would provide the best 

return on investment and which activities require on-site inspectors. Initially, the focus will likely be on 

using this technology for high risk activities involving deepwater drilling and casing/cementing. When 

implemented, it is expected the use of RTM will allow BSEE to quickly shift technical resources to 

evaluate these operations wherever they occur. 

The importance of incorporating RTM into BSEE’s regulatory program is demonstrated by the 

Department of the Interior including a provision in the British Petroleum settlement that requires the 

company to maintain a RTM Center in Houston and provide BSEE with access to the facility. The 

Bureau is also determining if regulatory action is needed to ensure that the agency has complete access to 

other industry RTM facilities and whether BSEE needs to take additional steps to ensure that industry 

expands the use of RTM technology to address issues such as equipment reliability. 

Near-Miss Program: In August 2013, the BSEE and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) 

signed an Interagency Agreement (IAA) for the development and operation of a voluntary confidential 

reporting system for near-miss events associated with oil and gas operations on the Outer Continental 

Shelf (OCS). The system will have a combination of reporting capabilities (web-based, smart phone 

apps, 1-800 numbers, etc.) to ensure confidential reporting is easily accessible. This system will provide 

BSEE and the industry information about accident precursors and hazards associated with OCS 

operations, which in conjunction with existing methods of collecting data and assessing risk, can be used 

to reduce the risk of major incidents, loss of life, injury and negative impacts on the environment. 

Confidentiality is critical to the success of this reporting system. The BTS will operate the system under 

8 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
General Statement 

the Confidential Information Protection and Security Efficiency Act 2002 (CIPSEA), which requires 

protection of the identity of reporters and other personal information obtained under that statute from 

public disclosure. Near-miss reporting systems have proven successful in other major industries, such as 

commercial airlines, railroads, and firefighting programs. The importance of confidential near-miss 

reporting to the safety of OCS operations is demonstrated by the National Commission’s report on the BP 

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill which included a recommendation for BSEE to incorporate near-miss 

reporting into the Bureau’s regulatory program for improved risk evaluations of oil and gas activities on 

the OCS. The development of the voluntary confidential near-miss reporting system is well underway 

and is expected to be operational in mid-FY 2014. 

Emerging Technologies and BAST: The BSEE continues to promote the evaluation of emerging 

technologies, ranging from the drilling of oil and gas exploration wells in search of new reserves to the 

removal of platforms and related infrastructure once production operations have ceased. In addition 

BSEE is in the process of defining BAST for established technologies that ensure safe and responsible 

development. 

Under the Emerging Technologies Program, BSEE promotes investigation of new technologies to assure 

approved permits continue to promote safe operations, the prevention of oil pollution, and the 

improvement of oil spill response and clean-up. The Bureau also continues to focus its efforts to identify 

high-risk components and systems, such as BOPs, and to work with industry to apply BAST in those 

areas where overall risks could be reduced and it is economically feasible to do so. 

To take advantage of and leverage expertise from other Federal resources, BSEE has entered into an IAA 

with the Department of Energy National Laboratory system to collaborate on risk-based decision making 

and applying BAST to offshore components, systems and procedures. In FY 2014, BSEE plans to issue 

the proposed BOP Rule to increase the reliability of this critical equipment that is currently the last line of 

defense in a blowout situation. This proposed rule, developed after conducting a workshop involving a 

wide variety of stakeholders, will upgrade regulations related to the design and repair of BOPs and will 

incorporate a robust API standard that has had significant stakeholder input. The proposed regulation will 

also include third party certification of the design and quality systems used to manufacture BOPs. 

The Ocean Energy Safety Institute (OESI) was established in early FY 2014 and will be managed by the 

Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s (TEES) Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center. The 

OESI, established under a five-year agreement, will provide a forum for dialogue, shared learning and 

cooperative research among academia, government, industry and other non-government organizations in 

offshore-related technologies and activities that ensure safe operations with limited impact to the 

environment. The Institute will provide recommendations and technical assistance to BSEE related to 

emerging technologies and BAST. In addition, it will develop and maintain an equipment failure 

monitoring system and train Federal employees to enable them to remain current on state-of-the-art 

technology. The Institute will also promote collaboration among Federal agencies, industry, standards 

organizations, academia, and the National Academy of Sciences. 

Oil Spill Research: The Oil Spill Research program within BSEE continues to aggressively maintain a 

comprehensive, long-term research program dedicated to improving oil spill response options for oil 

spills in offshore environments. Major focus has been placed upon improving the methods and 

technologies used for oil spill detection from aerial and subsea platforms and vehicles, surface and subsea 

containment, treatment with dispersants, recovery using mechanical devices, and clean up. The program 

will continue to put an emphasis on evaluating oil spill response capabilities in Arctic environments in FY 

2014 and FY 2015. During FY 2014, BSEE intends to fund research on in situ burn planning standards, 

remote sensing tools for oil spill detection and thickness determination, improving the capabilities of 

Ohmsett, technology readiness levels, and in the development of “smart” skimming technologies. The 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 9 
 

General Statement 

BSEE is also dedicating an entire month at Ohmsett in FY 2014 to conduct simulated cold-water tests on 

different types of dispersants that might be used in the Arctic to determine those best suited for the type of 

oil anticipated from production on the Alaska North Slope. BSEE has begun serving as the Co-Chair of 

the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research (ICCOPR) – a Congressionallymandated body. In addition to BSEE’s continuing active participation as a member on the Steering 

Committee for the ICCOPR Research and Technology Plan and other ICCOPR subcommittees, BSEE, as 

Co-Chair, will provide leadership and coordinate research efforts throughout the Federal oil spill research 

community. The BSEE, as members of the Arctic Council, Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and 

Response Working Group, will also be engaging international partners in joint research activities to better 

protect resources that could be impacted from spills in Arctic waters. BSEE also sits on the Scientific and 

Technical Committee of the National Response Team, adding another venue in which the agency is 

proactively working with Federal partners to seek joint research funding opportunities, exchange 

information on recent research, discuss best practices in oil spill response, and address other topics key to 

the U.S. preparedness posture. 

FY 2015 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS 

The BSEE receives funding through the Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement (OSEE) and Oil 

Spill Research (OSR) appropriations. The OSEE appropriation is partially offset by a portion of OCS 

rental collections, cost recovery fees, and inspection fees. The OSR appropriation is funded through the 

Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. 

The FY 2015 request proposes to merge BSEE’s Environmental Enforcement Program (EEP), which was 

previously funded through the Environmental Enforcement Activity, into the Operations, Safety and 

Regulation Activity. This program is an integral part of the overall increased safety initiative of the 

Bureau. Similar to the offshore safety inspection program, the EEP assures that industry is adopting an 

overall and comprehensive approach to environmental protection measures. Combining the EEP into the 

BSEE Operations, Safety and Regulations activities will allow better identification of regulatory needs for 

enhanced environmental compliance and closer coordination between the EEP and the newly established 

Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) program. The merger will also allow better 

management and oversight of all of the compliance programs in BSEE. Additionally, it has comparable 

field operation requirements and regulation activity that would be more efficiently funded from one 

source. Though the activities are distinct, for every permit issued and accounted for under the Operations 

Safety and Regulation Activity, there is a corresponding NEPA activity. All enforcement activity 

currently conducted under the Environmental Enforcement Activity is the same as that conducted under 

the Operations Safety and Regulation Activity (INCs, Shut Ins, Civil Penalties, etc.). Under the SEMS 

program, field personnel covered by both Activity funds are working together. 

In FY 2015, the BSEE budget requests $204.6 million which includes $50.4 million from offsetting rental 

collections, $8.2 million from cost recovery fees, and $65.0 million from inspection fees. 

The budget for BSEE in the OSEE account funds the following activities: 

•	 The Operations, Safety and Regulation Activity funds: environmental and safety compliance 

activities related to issuing permits associated with plans; inspections of environmental measures 

and enforcement of incidences of noncompliance; monitoring industry compliance with 

mitigation and other environmental requirements through office and field inspections; OCS 

permit application reviews; inspections of OCS facilities including critical high-risk activities; 

offshore operator oil spill planning and preparedness compliance; investigations; civil penalties; 

operator training and audit programs; annual operator performance reviews; verification of oil 

10 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
General Statement 

and gas production levels to help ensure the public receives a fair return; and the Emerging 

Technologies Program. 

•	 The Administrative Operations Activity funds: general administration and ethics programs; equal 

employment opportunity services; emergency management; finance; human resources; 

procurement; and information management. The BSEE also provides administrative services, 

such as human resources, procurement, and finance to BOEM and other entities within the 

Department. 

•	 The General Support Services Activity funds: shared activities and related support services for 

the Bureau. These include expenses such as: rental and security of office space; workers’ 

compensation and unemployment compensation; voice and data communications; centrally 

provided services funded by the Department’s Working Capital Fund; annual building 

maintenance contracts; mail services; and printing costs. The BSEE will continue to provide 

some of these services to BOEM through a reimbursable service agreement. 

•	 The Executive Direction Activity funds: Bureau-wide leadership, direction, management, 

coordination, communications strategies, and outreach. It includes functions such as budget, 

congressional and public affairs, and policy and analysis. The Office of the Director and the 

Regional Director’s Offices are also funded within this activity. 

The budget for BSEE in the OSR account funds oil spill research, the Ohmsett facility, as well as oil spill 

response preparedness and planning activities. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 11 
 

 

 

 

 

General Statement 

Table 2: FY 2015 Analysis of Budgetary Changes 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

FY 2015 Budget Changes 

($000) 

Organization/Category Budget Changes ($000) FTE 1/ 

BSEE FY 2014 ENACTED -- DIRECT APPROPRIATION 78,644 818 

Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement (OSEE) 

Environmental Enforcement* Transfer to Operations, Safety and Regulation -8,314 -30 

Operations, Safety, and Regulation 

Activity* 

Transfer from Environmental Enforcement +8,314 +30 

Fixed Costs +485 

Best Available and Safest Technologies +905 +2 

FTE Technical Adjustment +26 

Administrative Operations Fixed Costs +116 

FTE Technical Adjustment +15 

General Support Services Fixed Costs +399 

Executive Direction Fixed Costs +106 

FTE Technical Adjustment +8 

Subtotal of OSEE +2,011 +51 

Changes in Offsetting Collections +391 

Oil Spill Research Appropriation 

Program Changes 0 

FY 2015 Requested Increase +2,402 +51 

BSEE FY 2015 PROPOSAL -- DIRECT APPROPRIATION 81,046 869 

* The FY 2015 request consolidates the Environmental Enforcement Activity into the Operations, Safety and Regulation Activity. 

1/ The total FTE request for 2015 is 2 FTE. The technical adjustment of 49 FTE aligns current staffing levels to those projected for the 

budget year base program. The FTE growth reflects current hiring trends that support measured growth, considering the challenges of 

filling technical positions across the Bureau. No additional funding is requested as a result of this adjustment. 

In FY 2015, the following budget changes are proposed: 

Fixed Costs (+$1,106,000): Projected fixed costs such as rent, salary increases, central billing, 

information technology transformation for the Department’s working capital fund, and other items are 

fully funded by this request. 

Best Available and Safest Technologies (+$905,000; +2 FTE): Requested funding will support 

enhanced review of emerging technologies and the evaluation, testing and use of Best Available and 

Safest Technologies (BAST). 

FTE Technical Adjustment (+49 FTE): The technical adjustment of 49 FTE aligns current staffing 

levels to those projected for the budget year base program. The FTE growth reflects current hiring trends 

12 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
that support measured growth, considering the challenges of filling technical positions across the Bureau. 

No additional funding is requested as a result of this adjustment. 

Changes in Offsetting Collections (+$391,000; 0 FTE): 

•	 Rental Receipts (+$156,000; 0 FTE): This decrease in rental receipts revenue results from an 

anticipated decrease of $0.2 million from the FY 2014 Enacted amount of $50.6 million. This is one 

type of three different offsetting collections credited to the BSEE OSEE account to help defray the 

cost of operations. 

•	 Cost Recovery Fees (+$235,000; 0 FTE): This decrease in cost recovery fee revenue results from an 

anticipated decrease of $0.2 million from the FY 2014 Enacted amount of $8.4 million. This is one 

type of three different offsetting collections credited to the BSEE OSEE account to help defray the 

cost of operations. 

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY 

The BSEE aims to promote safety, protect the environment, and conserve resources offshore through 

vigorous regulatory oversight and enforcement. 

During FY 2015, BSEE plans to review and update its 2012-2015 Strategic Plan. To update the plan, 

BSEE will begin by evaluating the extent to which it has been successful in meeting its current strategic 

goals and whether there is a need for the Bureau to continue to place a strategic focus on those areas. The 

BSEE is currently working to expand upon and refine its performance measures to support the Strategic 

Plan. The BSEE will assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and risks of the organization and 

consider any impacts that ongoing and future industry trends may have on its role as regulator. The 

BSEE is currently in the process of developing and implementing an enterprise wide risk management 

system to help identify and prioritize areas of risk for the Bureau, both internally and externally. Results 

from this effort and other initiatives BSEE is pursuing (e.g., real-time monitoring, near-miss reporting, 

enforcement reform, and human capital strategic planning) will further inform the update process. 

General Statement 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 13 
 

General Statement 

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14 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Investment Fund, Secretarial Initiatives and High Priority Goals 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Secretarial Initiatives, Priority Performance Goals, and 

President’s Management Agenda
 

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement fully supports the Secretarial and Administration 

Initiatives to realize high priority goals and implement the President’s Management Agenda. The BSEE 

contributes to these efforts in several ways. 

Secretarial Initiative: Powering Our Future and Responsible Use of Our Resources 

Through early planning, thoughtful mitigation, and the application of sound science, Interior is working to 

ensure the Administration’s “all-of-the above” energy strategy includes not only traditional sources, but 

also the further development of new, cleaner resources to help mitigate the causes of climate change. The 

President’s budget for the BSEE proposes $204.6 million, a $2.0 million increase for energy related 

activities in support of these objectives. 

The 2015 BSEE budget fully supports the President’s strategy by ensuring development of the Nation’s 

vast offshore energy resources is conducted in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Funds 

will be used to recruit expert engineers, scientists, and oil spill planning, prevention and response 

specialists to support the development of strong scientific information and the timely and thorough review 

of permits. 

Priority Performance Goal: Climate Change Adaptation 

Goal: By September 30, 2015, the Department of the Interior will demonstrate “maturing” 

implementation of climate change adaptation, as scored when implementing strategies provided in its 

Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan. 

The BSEE fully supports the Secretary’s commitment to ensure agencies are integrating climate change 

adaptation into policies, plans, programs, and operations. The BSEE has made efforts to support this 

initiative and will continue to do the following: 

•	 Support the Rigs to Reefs policy that helps create new, thriving, and sustainable habitats for 

marine life which could become important aquatic life refuges as climate change impacts arise. 

•	 Restrict gas venting and flaring offshore and use infrared technology to identify gas emissions in 

excess of approved venting and flaring requests. 

•	 Provide experts and input, while serving on the National Ocean Council, Climate Change 

Taskforce, Science Advisor/Science Integrity Officer Working Group and other expert panels as 

requested to further the Department’s policies for climate adaptation. 

•	 Work toward replacing our current fleet of GSA vehicles from non-hybrid to hybrid vehicles. 

•	 Train staff about preparedness and response to natural disasters that may be attributed to climate 

change. 

•	 Take precautionary measures to mitigate against future extreme storm events that may be 

associated with climate change. The BSEE is currently spending $4.0 million in Hurricane Sandy 

Mitigation funds, that DOI received as part of the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (P.L. 

113-2), at the Ohmsett facility located in Leonardo, New Jersey, to protect the facility from 

potential future storm damage. This funding, transferred from funds appropriated to the 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 15 
 

Investment Fund, Secretarial Initiatives and High Priority Goals 

Department to be used for mitigation by the bureaus, is in addition to the $3.0 million in 

supplemental funding BSEE received in direct appropriations for Hurricane Sandy recovery 

efforts. Mitigation efforts at Ohmsett should be completed in FY 2016. 

•	 The BSEE’s climate change adaptation efforts are ongoing. The BSEE will be working with a 

contractor in calendar year 2014 to develop additional performance metrics. 

Priority Performance Goal: Youth Stewardship of Natural and Cultural Resources 

Goal: By September 30, 2015, the Department of the Interior will provide 40,000 work and training 

opportunities over two fiscal years (FY 2014 and FY 2015) for individuals age 15 to 25 to support the 

mission of the Department. 

The BSEE fully supports the Secretary’s commitment to engage young people in the management and 

conservation of the resources that are entrusted to the Department, as well as the Priority Performance 

Goal that supports this initiative. 

The BSEE has taken a number of steps to attract, retain, and train younger employees that provide 

management of oil and gas activities on the OCS. These include the following: 

•	 Recruitment Teams - BSEE has recruitment teams throughout its regional offices that target 

engineers and scientists at the entry level and mid-level grades by visiting universities and 

engineering departments and attending conferences. 

•	 Utilization of existing authority – BSEE has actively used existing authority to offer recruitment, 

retention, and relocation incentives, including student loan repayments for eligible employees 

whenever appropriate. 

•	 Partnership - DOI has established a cooperative agreement with the Partnership for Public Service 

(PPS) to fund Student Ambassadors. Students will be selected competitively from each summer’s 

pool of technical interns to return to their campuses for the new academic year and act as 

“ambassadors” for DOI to assist in recruitment efforts and branding recognition. The BSEE is 

currently pursuing this partnership and plans to hire three student ambassadors in 2014. 

•	 The BSEE is working with a contractor in calendar year 2014 to develop performance metrics. 

Administration’s Management Agenda 

President’s Management Agenda: The Department of the Interior supports the President’s 

Management Agenda to cut waste and implement a government that is more responsive and open. The 

BSEE budget supports the Department’s plan to build upon the Accountable Government Initiative 

through a set of integrated enterprise reforms designed to support collaborative, evidence-based resource 

management decisions; efficient Information Technology (IT) Transformation; optimized programs, 

business processes, and facilities; and a network of innovative cost controlling measures that leverage 

strategic workforce alignment to realize an effective 21st Century Interior organization. 

The BSEE will help achieve this by reducing “discretionary” travel through the use of alternative methods 

where feasible, such as the increased use of technology, including teleconferencing, video conferences, 

shared web sites, and web conferences as well as enhanced management attention and internal controls. 

All travel and conference attendance is being monitored to ensure the need to complete mission critical 

activities is not impacted. BSEE will continue to monitor other administrative spending in FY 2015 and 

apply best practices where prudent. 

16 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
 

 

 

 

Investment Fund, Secretarial Initiatives and High Priority Goals 

Information Technology Transformation: The FY 2015 President’s Budget Request includes 

$185,500 for BSEE’s participation in the Department’s IT Transformation efforts through the 

Department’s Working Capital Fund. These funds will support IT Transformation project-level planning 

and coordination and the implementation of enterprise IT services. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 17 
 

Investment Fund, Secretarial Initiatives and High Priority Goals 

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18 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Performance Summary 

Strategic Objective Performance Summary 

FY 2015 PERFORMANCE BUDGET
 Strategic Objective Performance Summary 

The FY 2015 budget request provides the resources needed to carry out the core functions of the Bureau 

of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), including offshore regulatory programs; oil spill 

response planning; safety inspections, enforcement and investigations; environmental enforcement and 

compliance; well and production permitting; and production and development oversight. 

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE PERFORMANCE SUMMARY 

The FY 2014 - 2018 Department of the Interior (DOI) Strategic Plan, in compliance with the principles of 

the Government Performance and Results (GPRA) Modernization Act of 2010, provides a collection of 

mission objectives, goals, strategies and corresponding metrics that together constitute an integrated and 

focused approach for tracking performance across the wide range of DOI programs. While the DOI 

Strategic Plan for FY 2014 – FY 2018 is the foundational structure for the description of program 

performance measurement and planning for the FY 2015 President’s Budget, further details for achieving 

the Strategic Plan’s goals are presented in the DOI Annual Performance Plan and Report (APP&R). 

Bureau and program specific plans for FY 2015 are fully consistent with the goals, outcomes, and 

measures described in the FY 2014 - 2018 version of the DOI Strategic Plan and related implementation 

information in the APP&R. 

Bureau Contribution 

Within the DOI Strategic Plan for FY 2014 – FY 2018, BSEE is aligned under the third mission area: 

Powering Our Future and Responsible Use of the Nation’s Resources. Specifically, its functions are 

captured within Goal One: Secure America’s Energy Resources and Strategy One: Ensure environmental 

compliance and the safety of energy development. The BSEE has two GPRA measures that assess its 

support of this strategy: 

 The Amount (in barrels) of operational offshore oil spilled per million barrels produced 

(excluding Hurricane-related spills), is an annual environmental measure comparing the amount 

of oil spilled during operations to the amount of oil produced. This measure takes into account 

all crude oil, condensate, and refined petroleum product spills of one barrel or greater that occur 

in Federal offshore waters as a result of mineral development, production, and transportation 

activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Oil spills which occur from acts of nature (e.g., 

hurricanes and earthquakes), acts of terrorism, or activities other than those involved in Federal 

OCS oil and gas production and transportation are excluded from the measure (e.g. non-Federal 

OCS petroleum spills from marine transportation, fishing, recreational and other activities which 

occurred on the Federal OCS). 

 The Number of recordable injuries per 200,000 offshore man hours worked (100 man years) is 

an annual safety incident rate of all recordable injuries (including fatalities) that are associated 

with BSEE-regulated activities. Beyond fatalities, recordable injuries are those injuries that 

require medical treatment beyond first aid, excluding those that are due to natural causes, 

illness, or that are self-inflicted. The man hours worked count covers all operator and contractor 

hours worked for production, construction, and drilling operations on the OCS (200,000 man 

hours equates to approximately 100 full time workers). 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 19 
 

Strategic Objective Performance Summary 

The BSEE strategies also support DOI Mission Area 4: Engaging the Next Generation and DOI’s mission 

of Building a 21st Century Department of the Interior. 

BSEE continues to review, update, and add to its Bureau-level performance measures. The Bureau 

currently also reports on the total number of compliance inspections completed and the utilization rate 

achieved at Ohmsett National Oil Spill Response Research test facility each fiscal year. The BSEE’s 

current GPRA measures, supporting measures, and their respective results are included in the following 

Goal Performance table. 

20 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Strategic Objective Performance Summary 

Table 3: Goal Performance Table Target Codes: SP- Strategic Plan measures HPG- High Performance Goal BUR - Bureau specific measure UNK- Prior year data unavailable TBD- Targets have not yet been developed NA- Long-term targets are inappropriate to determine at this time Type Codes:

C - Cumulative Measures 

A - Annual Measures 

F - Future Measures 

Mission Area 2: Sustainably Manage Energy, Water, and Natural Resources Goal 1: Secure America's Energy ResourcesSupporting Performance Measures Type 2010 Actual 2011 Actual 2012 Actual 2013 Plan 2013 Actual 2014 Plan 2015 Request GPRA Measures Amount (in barrels) of operational offshore oilspilled per million barrels produced (excluding Hurricane-related spills) (SP) 

A 

7,600 (est.)

(4,590369/ 604 

million ) 

0.42 (est.)

(243/581 

million) 

0.26 (est.)

(141/547 million) <4.5 

0.099 

(47.86/ 482 

million) 

<4.5 <4.5 

Total amount (in barrels) of offshore oilspilled per million barrels produced (including Hurricane-related spills)(BUR) 

A 

7,600 (est.)

(4,590369/ 604 

million ) 

0.42 (est.)

(243/581 

million) 

0.26 (est.)

(144/547 million) 

-­

0.099 

(47.86/ 482 

million) 

-­ -­

Contributing Programs Operations, Safety and Regulation and Environmental Enforcement Comments 

In FY 2013, 15 operational spill events greater than 1 barrel were reported resulting in approximately 48 barrels of oil being spilled, with the largest spill reported being approximately 15 barrels. Currently production for FY 2014 is estimated to be 482 million barrels resulting in operational and total oil spill ratios of 0.099 and 0.099 respectively. In FY 2010, government scientists estimated that 4.9 million barrels of oil were spilled on theOCS following the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig off the coast of Louisiana. TheNational Incident Command Report estimated that burning, skimming and direct recovery from the wellhead removed one quarter (25%) of the oil released from the wellhead; one quarter (25%) of the total oil naturallyevaporated or dissolved, and just less than one quarter (24%) was dispersed (either naturally or as a result ofoperations) as microscopic droplets into Gulf waters. Although FY 2010 results for the oil spill ratio greatlyexceeded the planned target; future targets will remain at the annual target of less than 4.5 barrels spilled permillion barrels produced.NOTE: Oil spill data are constantly updated as additional information becomes available through the completion of investigations and/or recovery operations; occasionally, a spill may be deleted or added a year or more laterand result in historical data revisions. A final spill volume for the Deepwater Horizon accident has not been determined. Therefore the numerator for the FY2010 Operational Oil Spill ratio and the rate itself are both estimates. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 21 
 

Strategic Objective Performance Summary Supporting Performance Measures Type 2010 Actual 2011 Actual 2012 Actual 2013 Plan 2013 Actual 2014 Plan 2015 Request Number of Recordable Injuries per 200,000 Offshore Man Hours Worked (DOI- Regulated Activities ONLY) (SP) A N/A 0.30 (revd) (171/569) 0.28 (est.) (186/657) <0.50 0.306 (est.) (211/688) <0.50 <0.50 Contributing Programs Operations, Safety and Regulation Comments This strategic plan measure is an incident rate of all Recordable Injuries (i.e., injuries that require medical treatment beyond first aid and fatalities) that occur during DOI-regulated activities in the fiscal year for every 200,000 offshore man hours worked (which is the approximate equivalent of 100 full-time workers). In FY 2013, there were 211 recordable injuries reported for activities with BSEE’s jurisdiction and the estimated number of man years worked was 68,848. These estimated results indicate that in FY 2013 there was approximately 1 recordable injury in DOI-regulated activities for every 326 full-time offshore workers. Because safety levels are best evaluated as trends over multiple years, targets for FY 2014 and beyond are based on analysis of historical recordable injury rates against an extrapolation of voluntary man hour reporting from operators in previous years. The Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS) regulation that went into effect in November 2010 requires all operators to report offshore man hours worked during the calendar year. Number of fatalities among workers in DOI

permitted activities (BUR) A 11 2 0 3 4 3 3 Contributing Programs Operations, Safety and RegulationComments

In FY 2013, there were four fatalities among offshore workers in DOI-regulated activities. Three of the fatalitiesresulted from an explosion and fire on a platform in the Gulf of Mexico operated by Black Elk Energy OffshoreOperations (Black Elk). The explosion and fire occurred during welding work that was being conducted as partof construction operations on November 16, 2012. The 4th fatality occurred on January 26, 2013 when a worker was fatally injured in a suspected electrical incident on a jack-up rig at SS 170. This incident is stillbeing investigated. There was a 5th fatality that occurred in FY 2013, however, it was a helicopter incident and was not under BSEE's primary jurisdiction. Because safety levels are best evaluated as trends over multipleyears, targets for the fatalities are developed based on reducing a rolling 5-year average, which includes the FY2010 explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig off the coast of Louisiana resulted in 11 deaths.

Less than X% of total gas produced is flared or vented offshore (BUR) (Calendar Yr) A 

0.36%

(8,295,702/2,289,

085,773 MCF)

(Rev) 

0.33%

(6,236,550/1,86

2,844,400)

(Rev) 

0.39%

(6,070,151/1,563,

186,639) (Rev) 

0.70% 

0.38% (est)

(3,921,621/1,02

8,144,258) 

0.70% 0.70% 

Contributing Program Environmental Enforcement (sub-activity of Operations, Safety and Regulations)Comments 

Industry statistics for venting and flaring show worldwide rates ranging from 0.2% to 100%. Due to satellitemonitoring and verification, flaring and venting on the OCS is kept to a minimum. Since FY 2008 U.S. annualaverage rates have ranged from 0.28% to 0.72%. In April of 2010, BSEE published revised flaring and venting regulations requiring operators to install flare/vent meters on all OCS facilities that process more than 2,000 bblof oil per day. Previously operators were allowed to estimate these flare/vent volumes. The revised regulationswill improve the accuracy of flaring data but may increase reported volumes. Long-term targets will bedetermined once data has been collected for multiple years under the revised regulations. 

22 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Strategic Objective Performance Summary 

Supporting Performance Measures Type 2010 Actual 2011 Actual 2012 Actual 2013 Plan 2013 Actual 2014 Plan 2015 Request Achieve a utilization rate of X% at Ohmsett,the national oil spill response test facility(BUR) 

A 93% (222/240) 84% (202/240) 94% (226/240) 85% 93% (206/222) 85% 85% 

Contributing Programs Oil Spill ResearchComments

Ohmsett is the National Oil Spill Response Test Facility located in New Jersey. At Ohmsett, clients can test oilspill response equipment in realistic conditions and have training in the use of the equipment. This measureevaluates the utilization level of the facility. The increased focus on oil spill response, as well as expanded usesfor the facility such as dispersant training and renewable energy wave tests, have sustained overall utilization rates at around 85%.

Supporting Performance Measures Type 2010 Actual 2011 Actual 2012 Actual 2013 Plan 2013 Actual 2014 Plan 2015 Request Total Number of Compliance InspectionsCompleted (BUR) A 23,619 20,537 23,025 24,000 24,195 25,000 25,000 Contributing Programs Operations, Safety and RegulationComments 

On April 30, 2010, the President directed the Secretary to conduct a 30-day review of the Deepwater Horizon event and to report what additional precautions and technologies should be required to improve the safety ofoil and gas exploration and production operations on the outer continental shelf. One of the keyrecommendations included in that report, as well as other subsequent reports, is that the BSEE needs to increase its oversight and evaluate/ revise the manner in which it conducts its drilling inspections. Since 2010, the inspector/investigator workforce has increased over 40% and BSEE has begun to develop and implement a new inspection strategy that focuses on risk and the use of advanced inspection technologies. Inspection performance trends are not increasing as fast as previously planned due to an increased focus on the witnessing of complex high-risk activities (e.g., BOP testing and cement/casing activities) that consumemore resources to inspect and the extended time required to hire and train new inspectors so they can independently conduct inspections and other safety/environmental enforcement work. Additionally, there is a high rate of turnover with inspectors seeking employment with industry. For these reasons, it is difficult to determine how many inspections will be completed beyond FY 2014. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 23 
 

Strategic Objective Performance Summary Supporting Performance Measures Type 2010 Actual 2011 Actual 2012 Actual 2013 Plan 2013 Actual 2014 Plan 2015 Request Conduct full Coast Guard inspections on X% of manned offshore facilities annually (BUR) A 16.5% (169/1021) 14.3% (141/985) 14.3% (133/932) 10% 24% (229/959) 10% 10% Contributing Programs Operations, Safety and Regulation Comments Inspection of U.S. Coast Guard regulated items is a function that was provided for by regulation but one for which BSEE is not reimbursed. Assumption of limited responsibilities by BSEE was pursued following a report by the Inspector General that the U.S. Coast Guard was not conducting inspections of safety items on fixed facilities, as required by law. At this time, BSEE inspectors conduct a limited FPSIP (fixed platform self inspection program) inspection on every platform that they visit and have an annual target of conducting full FPSIP inspections on 10 percent of manned facilities. 

24 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Budget Tables 

 

Fixed Inte rnal Program 2013 2014 2015 Costs Transfers Changes Actual Enacted Request (+/-) (+/-) (+/-) 

Appropriation: Operations, Safety, and Environme ntal Enforce ment 

Environmental Enforcement Activity1 3,899 8,314 -8,314 0 

Activity Total, Environmental Enforcement 3,899 8,314 0 -8,314 0 0 

Ope rations, Safety and Regulation Activity 125,388 132,207 +485 +8,314 +905 141,911 

Activity Total, Operations, Safety and Regulation 125,388 132,207 +485 +8,314 +905 141,911 

Administrative Operations Activity 14,756 15,560 +116 15,676 

Activity Total, Administrative Operations 14,756 15,560 +116 0 0 15,676 

Gene ral Support Se rvices Activity 11,966 13,513 +399 13,912 

Activity Total, Ge ne ral Support Service s 11,966 13,513 +399 0 0 13,912 

Executive Direction Activity 17,182 18,121 +106 18,227 

Activity Total, Executive Direction 17,182 18,121 +106 0 0 18,227 

TOTAL, Operations, Safe ty, and Environme ntal Enforce me nt 173,191 187,715 +1,106 0 +905 189,726 

Appropriation: Oil Spill Research 

Oil Spill Research 

Activity Total, Oil Spill Research 

TOTAL, Oil Spill Research 

14,120 

14,120 

14,120 

14,899 

14,899 

14,899 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

14,899 

14,899 

14,899 

Appropriation: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (P.L. 113-2) 

Disaste r Re lief Suppleme ntal 

Activity Total, Disaster Relief Supplemental 

TOTAL, Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (P.L. 113-2) 

TOTAL, Bure au of Safe ty and Environme ntal Enforce ment (w/o supp) 

2,850 

2,850 

2,850 

187,311 

0 

0 

202,614 

0 

0 

+1,106 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

+905 

0 

0 

0 

204,625 

TOTAL, Bure au of Safe ty and Environme ntal Enforce ment (w/ supp) 190,161 202,614 +1,106 0 +905 204,625 

Budget Tables 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Budget At A Glance Table 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Budget At A Glance 

Dollars in Thousands ($000) 

1/ The FY 2015 request consolidates the Environmental Enforcement Activity into the Operations, Safety and Regulation Activity. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 25 
 

 

Budget Tables 

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26 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
 

 

 

 

 

Budget Tables 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Summary of Requirements Tables 

Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement Appropriation 

Summary of Requirements for Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

(Dollars in Thousands) 

Account 

2013 Actual 2014 Enacted 2015 Request 

Amount 

Total 

FTE Amount 

Fixed Costs 

& Related 

(+/-) 

Internal 

Transfers 

(+/-) FTE Amount 

Program Changes 

(+/-) 

FTE Amount FTE 1 Amount 

Change from CY (+/-) 

Offshore Safety & Environme ntal Enforceme nt 

Environme ntal Enforceme nt2/ 

Direct Appropriation 

Offsetting Collections 

1,420 

2,479

30 3,027

 - 5,287

 - -3,027 

- -5,287 

-30 -

- -

- -

- -

-30 -3,027 

- -5,287 

Subtotal, Environme ntal Enforceme nt 3,899 30 8,314 - -8,314 -30 - - - -30 -8,314 

Operations, Safe ty and Re gulation2/ 

Direct Appropriation 

Offsetting Collections 

34,993 

90,395

430 37,478 

- 94,729 

+146 +4,134 

+339 +4,180 

+58 +905 

- -

488 42,663 

- 99,248

+58 +5,185 

- +4,519 

Subtotal, Ope rations, Safety and Regulation 125,388 430 132,207 485 +8,314 +58 +905 488 141,911 +58 +9,704 

Administrative Operations 

Direct Appropriation 

Offsetting Collections 

4,732 

10,024

232 4,990 

- 10,570 

+37 -

+79 -

+15 -

- -

247 5,027 

- 10,649

+15 +37 

- +79 

Subtotal, Administrative Ope rations 14,756 232 15,560 116 - +15 - 247 15,676 +15 +116 

Gene ral Support Services 

Direct Appropriation 

Offsetting Collections 

3,785

8,181

 - 4,275 

- 9,238 

+126 -

+273 -

- -

- -

- 4,401

 - 9,511

 - +126 

- +273 

Subtotal, Ge neral Support Se rvices 11,966 - 13,513 399 - - - - 13,912 - +399 

Executive Direction 

Direct Appropriation 

Offsetting Collections 

13,251 

3,931

104 13,975 

- 4,146 

+81 -

+25 -

+8 -

- -

112 14,056 

- 4,171

+8 +81 

- +25 

Subtotal, Executive Direction 17,182 104 18,121 106 - 8 - 112 18,227 +8 +106 

Total 173,191 796 187,715 +1,106 - +51 +905 847 - +51 +2,011 

Total Direct Appropriation 

Total Offsetting Collections 

58,181 

115,010

796 63,745 

- 123,970 

+390 +1,107 

+716 -1,107 

- +905 

- -

847 66,147 

- 123,579

+51 +2,402 

- -391 

Total, OSEE 173,191 796 187,715 +1,106 - - +905 847 189,726 +51 +2,011 

1/ The total FTE request for FY 2015 is +2 FTE. The technical adjustment of 49 FTE aligns current staffing levels to those projected for the budget year base program. The FTE growth reflects current hiring trends that 

support measured growth, considering the challenges of filling technical positions across the Bureau. No additional funding is requested as a result of this adjustment. 

2/ The FY 2015 Request merges the Environmental Enforcement Activity into the Operations, Safety and Regulation Activity. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 27 
 

Budget Tables 

Oil Spill Research Appropriation 

Summary of Requirements for Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

(Dollars in Thousands) 

Account 

2013 Actual 2014 Enacted 2015 Request 

Amount 

Total 

FTE Amount 

Fixed Costs 

& Related 

(+/-) 

Internal 

Transfers 

(+/-) FTE Amount 

Program Changes 

(+/-) 

FTE Amount FTE Amount 

Change from CY (+/-) 

Oil Spill Research 14,120 22 14,899 0 0 0 0 22 14,899 0 0 

Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (P.L. 113-2) 2,850 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

TOTAL FUNDING, Oil Spill Research 16,970 22 14,899 0 0 0 0 22 14,899 0 0 

28 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
 

 

 

Budget Tables 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Fixed Costs and Internal Realignments 

Fixed Cost Changes and Projections 2015 Change 

Change in Number of Paid Days 

Pay Raise 

This column reflects changes in pay associated with the change in the number of paid days between FY 2014 and FY 

2015. In years where there is no change in paid days, the salary impact will be zero. 

-

Employer Share of Federal Health Benefit Plans 

The 2015 Change column reflects the change in personnel costs resulting from the 1.0% pay increase proposed in FY 

2015. 

+834 

Employer Share of FERS Contributions 

The change reflects expected increases in employer's share of Federal Health Benefit Plans. +45 

Departmental Working Capital Fund 

The change reflects expected increases in employer's share of contributions to the Federal Employee Retirement 

System per OMB Circular A-11 guidance. 

-

Worker's Compensation Payments 

The change reflects expected changes in the charges for centrally billed Department services and other services through 

the Working Capital Fund. These charges are displayed in the Budget Justification for Department Management. 

-172 

Unemployment Compensation Payments 

The adjustment is for changes in the costs of compensating injured employees and dependents of employees who 

suffer accidental deaths while on duty. Costs for the BY will reimburse the Department of Labor, Federal Employees 

Compensation Fund, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 8147(b) as amended by Public Law 94-273. 

+40 

Rental Payments 

The adjustment is for projected changes in the costs of unemployment compensation claims to be paid to the 

Department of Labor, Federal Employees Compensation Account, in the Unemployment Trust Fund, pursuant to 

Public Law 96-499. 

+1 

The adjustment is for changes in the costs payable to General Services Administration (GSA) and others resulting 

from changes in rates for office and non-office space as estimated by GSA, as well as the rental costs of other 

currently occupied space. These costs include building security; in the case of GSA space, these are paid to 

Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Costs of mandatory office relocations, i.e. relocations in cases where due 

to external events there is no alternative but to vacate the currently occupied space, are also included. 

+358 

Total, Fixed Cost Changes +1,106 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 29 
 

Budget Tables 

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30 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Language Citations 

 

Language Citations 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
 Language Citations 

Appropriations Language 

Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement Appropriation Account 

For expenses necessary for the regulation of operations related to leases, easements, rightsof-way and agreements for use for oil and gas, other minerals, energy, and marine-related 

purposes on the Outer Continental Shelf, as authorized by law; for enforcing and implementing 

laws and regulations as authorized by law and to the extent provided by Presidential or Secretarial 

delegation; and for matching grants or cooperative agreements, [$122,715,000]$124,726,000, of 

which [$63,745,000]$66,147,000 is to remain available until September 30, [2015]2016 and of 

which [$58,970,000]$58,579,000 is to remain available until expended: Provided, That this total 

appropriation shall be reduced by amounts collected by the Secretary and credited to this 

appropriation from additions to receipts resulting from increases to lease rental rates in effect on 

August 5, 1993, and from cost recovery fees from activities conducted by the Bureau of Safety 

and Environmental Enforcement pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, including 

studies, assessments, analysis, and miscellaneous administrative activities: Provided further, That 

the sum herein appropriated shall be reduced as such collections are received during the fiscal 

year, so as to result in a final fiscal year [2014]2015 appropriation estimated at not more than 

[$63,745,000]$66,147,000. 

For an additional amount, $65,000,000, to remain available until expended, to be reduced by 

amounts collected by the Secretary and credited to this appropriation, which shall be derived from 

non-refundable inspection fees collected in fiscal year [2014]2015, as provided in this Act: 

Provided, That to the extent that amounts realized from such inspection fees exceed $65,000,000, 

the amounts realized in excess of $65,000,000 shall be credited to this appropriation and remain 

available until expended: Provided further, That for fiscal year [2014]2015, not less than 50 

percent of the inspection fees expended by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

will be used to fund personnel and mission-related costs to expand capacity and expedite the 

orderly development, subject to environmental safeguards, of the Outer Continental Shelf 

pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), including the review 

of applications for permits to drill. 

Oil Spill Research Appropriation Account 

For necessary expenses to carry out title I, section 1016, title IV, sections 4202 and 4303, title 

VII, and title VIII, section 8201 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, $14,899,000, which shall be 

derived from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, to remain available until expended. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 31 
 

Language Citations 

General Provisions 

(See General Provisions chapter of the Office of the Secretary 2015 budget justification.) 

OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF INSPECTION FEES 

SEC. 107. (a) In fiscal year [2014]2015, the Secretary shall collect a nonrefundable inspection 

fee, which shall be deposited in the "Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement" account, 

from the designated operator for facilities subject to inspection under 43 U.S.C. 1348(c). 

(b) Annual fees shall be collected for facilities that are above the waterline, excluding drilling 

rigs, and are in place at the start of the fiscal year. Fees for fiscal year [2014]2015 shall be: 

(1) $10,500 for facilities with no wells, but with processing equipment or gathering lines; 

(2) $17,000 for facilities with 1 to 10 wells, with any combination of active or inactive wells; and 

(3) $31,500 for facilities with more than 10 wells, with any combination of active or inactive 

wells. 

(c) Fees for drilling rigs shall be assessed for all inspections completed in fiscal year [2014]2015. 

Fees for fiscal year [2014]2015 shall be: 

(1) $30,500 per inspection for rigs operating in water depths of 500 feet or more; and 

(2) $16,700 per inspection for rigs operating in water depths of less than 500 feet. 

(d) The Secretary shall bill designated operators under subsection (b) within 60 days, with 

payment required within 30 days of billing. The Secretary shall bill designated operators under 

subsection (c) within 30 days of the end of the month in which the inspection occurred, with 

payment required within 30 days of billing. 

BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, REGULATION AND ENFORCEMENT 

REORGANIZATION 

SEC. 109. The Secretary of the Interior, in order to implement a reorganization of the Bureau of 

Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, may transfer funds among and 

between the successor offices and bureaus affected by the reorganization only in conformance 

with the reprogramming guidelines [for division G in the explanatory statement described in 

section 4 (in the matter preceding division A of this consolidated Act)] described in the report 

accompanying this Act. 

32 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Mandatory Budget and Offsetting Collection Proposals 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Mandatory Accounts and Offsetting Collections Proposals 

For a complete, detailed discussion of the Department’s proposed Mandatory and Offsetting 

Collections Proposals, please refer to the Mandatory Proposals chapter of the Office of the 

Secretary FY 2015 budget justification. 

Federal Oil and Gas Reforms – The 2015 budget includes a package of legislative reforms to 

bolster and backstop administrative actions being taken to reform the management of Interior’s 

onshore and offshore oil and gas programs, with a key focus on improving the return to taxpayers 

from the sale of these Federal resources and on improving transparency and oversight. Proposed 

statutory and administrative changes fall into three general categories: advancing royalty reforms, 

encouraging diligent development of oil and gas leases, and improving revenue collection 

processes. 

Royalty reforms include evaluating minimum royalty rates for oil, gas, and similar products, 

adjusting the onshore royalty rate, analyzing a price-based tiered royalty rate, and repealing 

legislatively-mandated royalty relief. Diligent development requirements include shorter primary 

lease terms, and monetary incentives to get leases into production through a new per-acre fee on 

nonproducing leases. Revenue collection improvements include simplification of the royalty 

valuation process, elimination of interest accruals on company overpayments of royalties, and a 

permanent repeal of Interior’s authority to accept in-kind royalty payments. Collectively, these 

reforms will generate $2.5 billion in revenue to the Treasury over ten years, of which nearly $1.7 

billion will result from statutory changes. Many States also will benefit from higher Federal 

revenue sharing payments as a result of these reforms. 

The oil and gas reform package also includes a proposal to amend Section 365 of the Energy 

Policy Act of 2005 to extend the Act’s permit processing pilot office authority beyond 2015 and 

remove the current limitation of the authority to only those pilot offices explicitly identified in the 

Energy Policy Act. This change will provide the Bureau of Land Management with greater 

flexibility in locating these offices where they can be most effective as industry permitting 

demands change over time. The pilot office authority allows BLM to fund personnel from other 

agencies that are assigned to these pilot offices. This authority has improved BLM’s efficiency in 

processing Applications for Permits to Drill and other use authorizations. The 2015 legislative 

proposal does not extend the Permit Processing Improvement Fund that was also established by 

Section 365. This permanent funding source is scheduled to expire at the end of 2015. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 33 
 

Mandatory Budget and Offsetting Collections Proposals 

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34 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Environmental Enforcement 

 

Environmental Enforcement 

FY 2015 PERFORMANCE BUDGET REQUEST 

Environmental Enforcement Activity 

Table 4: Environmental Enforcement Activity Budget Summary 

2013 

Actual 

2014 

Enacted 

Fixed Costs 

and Related 

Changes 

 (+/-)

Internal 

Transfers 

 (+/-)

Program 

Changes 

 (+/-)

2015 

Request 2014

 (+/-) 

Changes 

from 

Environmental Enforcement ($000) 

FTE 1/ 

3,899 

18 

8,314 

30 

-

-

-8,314 

-30 

-

-

-

-

-8,314 

-30 

1/ The FY 2015 Request consolidates the Environment Enforcement Activity into the Operations, Safety and Regulation Activity. 

INTERNAL TRANSFERS 

The FY 2015 budget request for the Environmental Enforcement Activity is -$8,314,000 and -30 FTE, a net 

decrease of $8,314,000 and -30 FTE over the FY 2014 Enacted. 

Consolidation of Environmental Enforcement Activity into the Operations, Safety and Regulation 

Activity (-$8,314,000; -30 FTE) 

The 2015 request proposes merging the BSEE’s Environmental Enforcement Program, which 

was previously funded through the Environmental Enforcement Activity, into the Operations, Safety 

and Regulation Activity. The BSEE Environmental Enforcement Program (EEP) is an integral part of the 

Bureau’s overall increased safety initiative. Similar to the offshore inspection program, the EEP assures 

that industry is adopting an overall and comprehensive approach to environmental protection measures. 

Combining the EEP into the BSEE Operations, Safety and Regulation activities will allow for better 

identification of regulatory needs for enhanced environmental compliance and closer coordination 

between the EEP and the newly established Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) 

program. The merger will also allow better management and oversight of all of the compliance programs 

in BSEE. The EEP will continue to foster environmental compliance, inspection, investigation, and 

enforcement programs that assure the highest level of environmental standards for all offshore energy 

activities. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 35 
 

Environmental Enforcement 

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Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 36 
Operations, Safety, and Regulation 

 

 

 

 

Operations, Safety and Regulation 

FY 2015 PERFORMANCE BUDGET REQUEST
 Operations, Safety and Regulation Activity 

Table 5: Operations, Safety and Regulation Activity Budget Summary 

Fixed Costs Changes 

2013 2014 and Related Internal Program 2015 from 

Actual Enacted Changes Transfers Changes Request 2014

 (+/-) (+/-) (+/-) (+/-) 

Environmental Enforcement 1/ ($000) 

FTE 1/ 

3,899 

18 

8,314 

30 

-

-

-8,314 

-30 

-

-

-

-

-8,314 

-30 

Operations, Safety and Regulation ($000) 

FTE 2/ 

125,388 

359 

132,207 

430 

+485 

-

+8,314 

+30 

+905 

+28 

141,911 

488 

+9,704 

+58 

Operations, Safety and Regulation Total ($000) 

FTE 2/

129,287 

 377

140,521 

 460 

+485 

-

-

-

+905 

+28 

141,911 

488 

+1,390 

+28 

Major Program IT Investments 

Technical Information Management System ($000) [7,355] [8,160] [7,789] [-371]

(TIMS) 3/ FTE - - - - - - -

1/ The FY 2015 Request consolidates the Environment Enforcement Activity into the Operations, Safety and Regulation Activity.
 

2/ The total FTE increase requested for FY 2015 is 2 FTE. The technical adjustment of 26 FTE aligns current staffing levels to those projected
 

for the budget year base program. The FTE growth reflects current hiring trends that support measured growth, considering the challenges
 

of filling technical positions across the Bureau. No additional funding is requested as a result of this adjustment.
 3/ TIMS is a BSEE owned system, which it shares with BOEM. The amounts shown are the BSEE only portion.
 

SUMMARY OF 2015 PROGRAM CHANGES 

Request Component Amount 

($000) FTE 

Best Available and Safest Technologies +905 +2 

FTE technical adjustment +26 

Total Program Changes: +905 +28 

INTERNAL TRANSFERS 

Consolidation of Environmental Enforcement Activity (+$8,314,000; +30 FTE) 

The 2015 request proposes merging the BSEE’s Environmental Enforcement Program, which 

was previously funded through the Environmental Enforcement Activity, into the Operations, Safety 

and Regulation Activity. The BSEE Environmental Enforcement Program (EEP) is an integral part of the 

Bureau’s overall increased safety initiative. Similar to the offshore inspection program, the EEP assures 

that industry is adopting an overall and comprehensive approach to environmental protection measures. 

Combining the EEP into the BSEE Operations, Safety and Regulation activities will allow for better 

identification of regulatory needs for enhanced environmental compliance and closer coordination 

between the EEP and the newly established Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) 

program. The merger will also allow better management and oversight of all of the compliance programs 

in BSEE. The EEP will continue to foster environmental compliance, inspection, investigation, and 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 37 
 

Operations, Safety and Regulation 

enforcement programs that assure the highest level of environmental standards for all offshore energy 

activities. 

JUSTIFICATION OF 2015 PROGRAM CHANGES 

The 2015 budget request for the Operations, Safety and Regulation Activity is $141,911,000 and 488 FTE, a 

net increase of $ 1,390,000 and +28 FTE over the 2014 Enacted level. 

Best Available and Safest Technologies (+$905,000; +2 FTE) 

The BSEE is requesting funding needed to further decrease the risks associated with offshore oil and gas 

operations by increasing the evaluation, testing and use of new and emerging technologies and 

identification of Best Available and Safest Technologies (BAST). The funds will support two additional 

FTE to work in specific areas, such as acting as technical liaisons with the newly established Offshore 

Energy Safety Institute; acting as Subject Matter Experts for evaluating new technology being proposed 

by industry in Deepwater Operating Plans; evaluating and proposing new and updated standards 

development for new technologies; and acting as technical experts for identifying and including BAST 

into new and updated regulations. 

The remaining funds will support the testing and evaluation of BAST through Joint Industry Projects that 

are targeted to leverage the funds at least 3:1 to address issues associated with technology validation, 

testing protocols and economic feasibility analysis. 

Impact of Not Funding: If the funds are not provided, BSEE’s ability to fully evaluate the risks associated 

with various emerging technologies would be reduced. These risks are growing as high pressure, high 

temperature drilling becomes more common. Approval of these types of permits requires BSEE to have a 

clear understanding of the proposed alloys to be used in these harsh environments and the risks associated 

with non-standard metallurgy. The funds are intended to facilitate coordination on critical technical issues 

with the newly established Ocean Energy Safety Institute; evaluation of these new technologies; and 

development of new regulations and standards that incorporate the information derived from these efforts and 

studies. In addition, some of the emerging technologies may be considered BAST, which will require 

significant evaluation, laboratory testing, field testing and economic analysis to bring the technology into an 

industry-wide standard. Loss of these funds will reduce BSEE’s ability to make progress on identifying new 

risk-reducing and safety-enhancing technologies for the offshore oil and gas industry. 

FTE technical adjustment (+26 FTE): The technical adjustment of 26 FTE aligns current staffing 

levels to those projected for the budget year base program. The FTE growth reflects current hiring trends 

that support measured growth, considering the challenges of filling technical positions across the Bureau. 

No additional funding is requested as a result of this adjustment. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW 

The BSEE works to assure that energy and mineral development activities are conducted in a safe and 

environmentally sound manner, with safety being at the forefront of all activity on the OCS. The Bureau 

continually seeks operational improvements that will reduce the risks to offshore personnel and the 

environment. Coordinated efforts target the areas of greatest risk for compliance and enforcement 

actions. Additionally, BSEE continues to evaluate procedures and regulations to stay abreast of 

industries’ technological advances which will ensure safe and clean operations as well as conserving the 

38 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Operations, Safety and Regulation 

Nation’s natural resources. These functions include Regulatory Development, Standards Development, 

Review and Approval of OCS Permits, Inspections, Investigations and Risk Management, Safety and 

Environmental Management Systems, Real-Time Monitoring, Conservation Management, Emerging 

Technologies Evaluations, Compliance and Enforcement, and Oil Spill Response Planning and 

Preparedness. 

PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW 

Regulatory Development: The goal of BSEE’s comprehensive management program of energy and 

mineral operations on the OCS is to ensure that these operations are conducted in a safe and 

environmentally sound manner. The foundation of this program is a set of regulations that govern all 

aspects of offshore energy, from engineering specifications for offshore facilities to training requirements 

for OCS workers. The BSEE will continually review these regulations to update and revise them as 

necessary so they include the most effective requirements for safety and environmental protection on the 

OCS, and will continue efforts to improve efficiency in its regulatory program. These efforts will focus 

on the identification and evaluation of regulatory needs; streamlining the regulatory development 

process to ensure that high quality, enforceable, and legally defensible regulations are generated in a 

timely manner; and streamlining the incorporation of new and updated industry standards into regulations. 

While the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) continues to implement an expanding 

renewable energy program, there are currently no operational units on the OCS. Current industry plans 

suggest the earliest the first structures could be fully constructed offshore would be sometime during 

2015. The BSEE and the BOEM have established a transition team to plan for a future BSEE regulatory 

structure, including a potential inspection fee. The BSEE is also initiating evaluation of a methodology 

for including facility inspection capabilities into existing inspection and compliance programs and 

developing the appropriate regulatory authorities and appropriations language to support safe and 

environmentally responsible renewable energy development on the OCS. 

The Bureau will continue to develop and revise regulations to ensure safety and environmental protection 

associated with offshore oil and gas operations and renewable energy resources. BSEE will focus on 

regulations related to drilling and production operations, transportation of oil and gas, the use of Best 

Available and Safest Technology (BAST) for Blow Out Preventers (BOPs) and the decommissioning of 

offshore facilities. These regulations will be based on priorities established from a comprehensive review 

of the existing oil and gas regulations. In addition, BSEE will continue to work with industry groups on 

standards development and assess those standards for possible incorporation into BSEE’s regulations. 

Regulatory efforts will specifically address oil and gas pipeline requirements for the OCS; production 

measurement to ensure an accurate assessment of royalties; oil spill planning; updates of requirements 

for decommissioning to ensure that wells and facilities are removed in a timely manner; regulations to 

address special considerations and best practices for oil and gas development in the Arctic; revisions in 

regulations to ensure operators use the BAST; and updates to inspection and enforcement provisions to 

ensure BSEE can use a full range of tools for regulatory compliance. 

Standards Development: In 2012, BSEE formed and began to staff a new Standards Development 

Section in response to recommendations related to the Deepwater Horizon event. This Section, under the 

Regulations and Standards Branch in the Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs now consists of a total 

of five FTE. This organization actively participates with external Standards Development Organizations 

(SDOs) to develop new or revised standards for safety and environmental protection on the Outer 

Continental Shelf (OCS). In addition, a directory of 35 Subject Matter Experts was compiled from all of 

the regional offices to assist in Standards Development. Further, to minimize travel costs associated with 

SDO meeting attendance, in 2014 BSEE will locate a total of five Section staff in Houston, Texas, where 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 39 
Operations, Safety and Regulation 

most of the SDO meetings are held. This Section assists BSEE by optimizing the use of national and 

international standards in regulations for safe and environmentally sound development of OCS resources; 

collaborating with SDOs to expedite the incorporation of industry standards into BSEE regulations; 

increasing BSEE’s knowledge and awareness of standards related to oil and natural gas development on 

the OCS and their applicability to the regulatory regime; and facilitating BSEE’s ability to provide input 

on the standards. The organization has also been tasked with establishing more effective communication 

links with international standards organizations that can provide additional information to BSEE on the 

use of BAST standards in international energy development programs. 

Review and Approval of OCS Permits: Reviews of permits help to ensure that all OCS operators comply 

with regulatory standards and specific lease stipulations. BSEE performs detailed technical and 

environmental reviews of permits for exploration, development, and production on OCS lands, as well as 

permits for other activities such as the installation of pipelines. The ongoing effort by BSEE to develop 

performance-based operating regulations is expected to generate an increasing number of operator 

requests for approval of alternative compliance programs. Prior to making approval decisions on 

alternative compliance, BSEE must assess the alternatives to ensure they provide equal or greater 

protection than the regulatory requirements they would replace. BSEE will be required to commit a 

substantial and increasing amount of resources to these assessments in order to evaluate an operator’s 

proposed alternative, verify adherence to approved plans, and determine effectiveness of technologies and 

procedures employed. To help manage the expected increase in permitting workload, BSEE has 

accelerated its effort to implement an ePermitting program that will allow BSEE to leverage information 

technology to collect, process, and approve OCS permits. 

Inspections, Investigations and Risk Management: Safety is a priority for both BSEE staff and for the 

operations that occur under BSEE’s jurisdiction, and onsite facility inspections and enforcement actions 

are important components of BSEE's safety program. BSEE is working to institutionalize and standardize 

various risk-based approaches to inspection strategies to move from a more qualitative analyses of 

potential risks to a more quantitative approach. The Bureau has established ambitious performance 

targets for the conduct of thousands of inspections of OCS facilities and operations, including coverage of 

tens of thousands of safety and pollution prevention components each year to prevent offshore accidents 

and spills, and to ensure a safe working environment. The Bureau’s goal is to conduct annual inspections 

of all oil and gas operations on the OCS to enforce its safety regulations designed to prevent blowouts, 

fires, spills, and other major accidents. The increases to inspection and oversight, most notably on 

drilling operations, combined with the increase in OCS oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico, 

Pacific, and Alaska Regions have required that BSEE increase its inspector workforce and grow their skill 

base. Additionally, BSEE's inspection philosophy is evolving to promote a focus on the higher risk oil 

and gas activities. 

The BSEE is also actively working to develop a risk-based inspection methodology for use at various 

levels within the regulatory program. The Bureau plans to use the information gleaned from an ongoing 

risk correlation analysis to learn more about the relative risks posed by discrete offshore oil and gas 

activities. The BSEE will then use the updated risk model to identify and focus Bureau inspections on the 

“riskiest” activities. 

To meet the growing manpower demands, BSEE has engaged in an aggressive hiring effort to ensure its 

capability to achieve our scheduled and unscheduled inspections. The BSEE’s inspection workforce has 

nearly doubled since 2010 to a total of 109 on board as of February 2014. Continued growth in the 

inspectors’ ranks will increase the demand and costs associated with our employee health and safety 

standards program for inspectors and inspector training program, both for new hires and refresher training 

for experienced personnel. In response to this need, BSEE established a National Offshore Training 

40 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Operations, Safety and Regulation 

Program to improve how we provide the inspection workforce with the tools required to successfully 

perform their inspection duties while minimizing costs. 

Significant progress on eInspections has been made since a pilot program was launched in select locations 

within the Gulf of Mexico Region to test a computer based tool for documenting the inspection process 

and results, including the development and internal deployment of the Incidents of Non-Compliance 

(INC) Response application. The INC Response application will be used by operators, beginning in 

2014, to respond to incidents of non-compliance that are issued by BSEE inspectors during the inspection 

process. Operators will be able to view INCs issued to them; submit an informal appeal by requesting an 

INC rescission; request extension to complete the work; or resolve the issue and report the correction. At 

the same time, the application will allow BSEE personnel to review the operators’ response and take 

appropriate action. System capabilities include: automatic notifications via email for status changes and 

pending actions, attaching supporting documents (e.g., picture, files, etc.) to electronically submitted INC 

Responses, and storing in the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS). Additional 

eInspections applications in various development/deployment phases include one that will allow BSEE to 

replace the current TIMS-based forms for creation and maintenance of inspection information for Rigs, 

Facilities, and Meters, along with inspection-related data such as questions, Potential Incidents of NonCompliance (PINCs) lists, Fire Systems and Component management as well as an application that will 

allow operators to electronically submit facility safety system components data, along with Safety 

Analysis Function Evaluation (SAFE) chart and flow schematics, for review and approval by BSEE 

personnel. 

 

During 2012 and 2013, BSEE started and expanded initiatives in risk management to identify leading and 

lagging indicators to support risk-based inspections and to develop next-generation enforcement tools. 

The BSEE collaborated with Argonne National Laboratory to evaluate historic PINCs/INCs to assess 

patterns that may be a gauge for identifying leading or lagging indicators of safety deficiencies. In 

addition, BSEE has initiated discussions with the various organizations to evaluate the existing "nearmiss" programs in use. In 2013, BSEE established an interagency agreement with the Bureau of 

Transportation Statistics (BTS) to conduct a confidential near-miss program for the OCS, which would 

take advantage of BTS's authorities under the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical 

Efficiency Act to protect the confidential data. 

The BSEE has the responsibility under OCSLA to conduct investigations and prepare a report of incidents 

associated with OCS development. The purpose of an investigation is to identify the cause(s) of the 

incident and to make recommendations to prevent their recurrence and the occurrence of similar 

incidents. The BSEE conducts an initial onsite investigation for many of the incidents reported and 

reviews all incidents reported to determine whether or not they will be investigated. In 2013, 75 incident 

investigations were completed. As a result of incident investigation report recommendations and other 

inspections and enforcement activities, BSEE publishes Safety Alerts to inform the offshore oil and gas 

industry of the circumstances surrounding an incident or near miss and to provide recommendations that 

will help prevent the recurrence of a similar incident on the OCS. Incident investigation reports may also 

recommend that the Bureau consider new or revised regulatory or inspection actions or other 

initiatives. Through active participation in industry activities such as the American Petroleum Institute’s 

Center for Offshore Safety and aggressively establishing and maintaining relationships with other 

government agencies such as the United States Coast Guard, BSEE promotes effective utilization and 

coordination of respective investigative resources. Incident investigation reports are published on the 

BSEE website. 

Safety and Environmental Management Systems: The Safety and Environmental Management System 

(SEMS) is a nontraditional, performance-focused tool for integrating and managing operations on the 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 41 
Operations, Safety and Regulation 

OCS. All operators on the OCS are required to have a functioning SEMS program in an effort to seek 

continuous improvement; focus on the influences that human error and poor organization have on 

accidents; encourage the use of performance-based operating practices; and collaborate with industry in 

efforts that promote the public interests of offshore worker safety and environmental protection. 

All OCS operators must perform their first comprehensive SEMS audit within two years of 

implementation. The rule affects all lessees and operators of leases and pipeline rights-of-way holders on 

the OCS, including the estimated 65 percent of these companies that are considered small operators. The 

BSEE is working to provide an effective and comprehensive coverage of this requirement. The BSEE 

continues collecting audit reports and is reviewing and evaluating these reports and corrective action 

plans from approximately 100 operators. 

The BSEE has also revised its original “Safety and Environmental Management” rule and published the 

new SEMS II rule on April 5, 2013. The SEMS II rule addresses safety concerns that were not covered in 

the original SEMS rule issued in October 2010. 

Real-Time Monitoring: The purpose of the real-time monitoring (RTM) program is to develop, test, and 

implement reforms that significantly improve and increase the regulatory oversight of critical offshore 

operations and equipment by strengthening the Inspection and Enforcement Program at BSEE. This can 

be accomplished by using innovative technologies and using risk-based inspection criteria to supplement 

BSEE’s current inspection program. Use of RTM technology and facilities to monitor OCS oil and gas 

drilling, well-completion, well workovers, well servicing and other rig related operations will help to 

meet the BSEE mission. 

The BSEE is also considering other RTM opportunities not associated with onshore monitoring facilities 

and is currently working to determine which available RTM opportunities would provide the best return 

on the investment and which activities require on-site inspectors. Initially, the focus will be on high risk 

activities involving deepwater drilling and casing/cementing. The use of RTM will allow BSEE to 

quickly shift technical resources to evaluate these operations wherever they occur. 

The RTM is increasingly being utilized by oil companies, particularly for oversight of higher risk drilling 

operations such as those in deepwater. This gives companies the opportunity to engage expert advisors 

onshore without the expense of having them located on the offshore facility. These advisors participate in 

a “real time” advisory capacity and provide offshore drilling personnel with “a second set of eyes.” 

Access to real-time information while high-risk activities are being conducted would allow BSEE access 

to those experts located on-shore, thus allowing real-time queries into the decision-making process as 

activities progress. 

In 2012, BSEE sent technical engineering staff to evaluate the current state of monitoring activities at 

three RTM centers; Shell in New Orleans and Statoil and BP in Houston. The BSEE held discussions 

with each of the companies to determine which of these RTM capabilities could feasibly be incorporated 

into BSEE’s regulatory regime and inspection program and contracted for an independent assessment of 

the various types of real-time data monitoring systems available for offshore oil and gas operations. The 

assessment will identify what automation systems are available or being developed, the potential they 

have to increase offshore drilling safety, and any negative impacts they have on operations. BSEE is 

currently in the process of analyzing the results of the study. 

42 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Operations, Safety and Regulation 

Conservation Management: As a steward of the Nation’s OCS oil, gas, and mineral resources, BSEE 

must provide for conservation of natural resources by preventing waste and ensuring ultimate recovery of 

the resources, as well as protecting the correlative rights of OCS lessees and the government. 

Conservation of oil and gas resources is an integral part of the Nation’s energy policy and a primary 

objective for the BSEE regulatory program. To promote conservation, BSEE monitors development and 

production activities on the OCS and enforces regulations that require operators to avoid waste and 

maximize the ultimate recovery of OCS minerals once access has been granted. 

Emerging Technologies Evaluations: The BSEE continues to promote identification of and use of 

BAST associated with energy and mineral operations, ranging from the drilling of oil and gas exploration 

wells in search of new reserves to the removal of platforms and related infrastructure once production 

operations have ceased. Although BSEE’s efforts to advance the technology may involve any aspect of 

energy and mineral operations, particular attention is given to oil and gas drilling, workover, production, 

completions, structures, pipelines, decommissioning, human factors/risk assessment and measurement 

operations. Under the Emerging Technologies program, BSEE furthers the investigation of new 

technologies to promote safe, pollution-free operations and prevention of oil pollution and the 

improvement of oil spill response and clean-up. 

Starting in FY 2012, BSEE focused its efforts to identify high-risk components and systems, such as 

BOPs, to ensure that industry was applying BAST in those areas where overall risks could be reduced. 

To take advantage of and leverage expertise from other Federal resources, BSEE has entered into an 

Interagency Agreement (IAA) with the Department of Energy’s National Laboratory System to 

collaborate on risk-based decision making and applying BAST to offshore components, systems and 

procedures. The studies from this collaboration are expected to provide BSEE with information to aid the 

current and future inspection workforce and provide regional engineers with the tools to improve the way 

the use of BOPs are assessed and approved since these devices are considered to be the last line of 

defense for well containment. In addition, BSEE and the National Laboratory are developing procedures 

for performing barrier analyses of offshore oil and gas structures similar to those performed in the nuclear 

industry. The collection of risk based data will allow BSEE to better define and interpret the risks 

associated with the various physical barriers and then develop guidance, regulations, or standards that will 

reduce the associated risks. The barrier analyses will inform BSEE about those systems where there are 

inadequate redundant barriers to accidental release of hydrocarbons and/or identify components that could 

be candidates for review for failure analysis, lifecycle and/or BAST. 

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) recently completed and published a BSEE funded project: 

"Best Available and Safest Technologies for Offshore Oil and Gas Operations: Options for 

Implementation (2013)," which identifies options that BSEE could use for improving the implementation 

of the BAST requirement in the OCSLA. The NAS committee has reviewed various options, including: 

the feasibility and appropriateness of establishing a formal industry committee to make BAST 

determinations about new and improved technologies; whether BSEE will need to develop test protocols 

for every technology it evaluates in order to fairly compare competing technologies; how to determine 

economic feasibility in a manner that is independent of industry; whether BSEE should rely on the 

development of consensus standards; and how BSEE could initiate a more rigorous process to identify 

ways to improve blowout preventers. In 2014, BSEE will begin implementation of many of the NAS 

recommendations. 

The BSEE continues to actively seek opportunities for joint projects to leverage available funds and 

disseminate research findings. Participation in jointly funded projects with industry, other Federal and 

State agencies, academia, and international regulatory organizations has become an important mechanism 

for BSEE to improve its understanding of important safety issues. In 2013, BSEE continued to 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 43 
Operations, Safety and Regulation 

participate in several joint projects and plans to continue to seek opportunities to leverage available funds 

through joint projects with other organizations. For example, BSEE is working with the Department of 

Energy on projects such as early kick detection and advanced downhole signaling transmission and is 

anticipated to be a 60% partner in this effort. 

Compliance and Enforcement (including Environmental Enforcement Program): An essential part of 

any regulatory program is the provision of compliance assistance and enforcement in cases where safety 

and environmental regulations are not complied with. BSEE employs a number of tools, including 

issuance of incidents of non compliance, penalties and orders to underscore the importance of safe 

operations and to create a level playing field for all operators. BSEE also conducts annual performance 

reviews of each operator as a way to address recurring safety concerns. 

A key component of the reorganization and reform efforts is the identification of how BSEE can improve 

its investigation, analysis, regulatory, inspection, and compliance programs based on risk considerations. 

Based on recommendations from investigatory and oversight reports, internal and external review of 

operations, and reorganization studies, BSEE has already implemented a number of improvements to its 

inspection regime and will continue to look for improvements to enhance its programs. 

The BSEE is also actively developing a risk-based methodology for use at various levels within the 

regulatory and enforcement program. In 2014, BSEE anticipates that an evidence-based risk analysis 

methodology for production facilities will be deployed and tested in the field. The deployment and use of 

this analysis will allow BSEE to directly and effectively target available inspector resources. Through the 

identification and quantification of risk, BSEE can identify leading and lagging indicators, and improve 

its analysis of the effectiveness of redundant physical controls (barrier analysis). 

In the 2015 budget, BSEE proposes to merge safety and environmental enforcement activities to ensure 

consistent and efficient coordination of enforcement actions. The Environmental Enforcement Program 

(EEP) is responsible for both the Bureau’s own compliance with NEPA requirements and the oversight 

and enforcement of activities by operators on the OCS. Combining the EEP into the BSEE Operations, 

Safety and Regulation activities will allow for better identification of regulatory needs for enhanced 

environmental compliance and closer coordination between the EEP and the newly established Safety and 

Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) program. The merger will also allow better management 

and oversight of all of the compliance programs in BSEE. 

Though the program’s resources have so far been largely dedicated to ensuring the timely processing of 

BSEE permits, the EEP has established procedures and pursued 100+ environmental violation cases 

detected since October 1, 2011. These include violations associated with NEPA, Outer Continental Shelf 

Lands Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the National Historic Preservation 

Act. 

The funding increase EEP received in 2014 is being used to coordinate and target compliance and 

enforcement actions to address the greatest areas of risk as well as to acquire data and technology for 

tracking, verifying, and enforcing compliance. 

Oil Spill Response Planning and Preparedness: In addition to using the Oil Spill Research appropriation 

to conduct oil spill response research, the Oil Spill Response Division (OSRD) has the responsibility of 

ensuring that the offshore operators and response community have the necessary equipment, resources, 

trained personnel, and established plans to carry out an effective, efficient response to a worst case 

discharge from an offshore source. Division staff fully integrates into activities of the National Response 

44 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Operations, Safety and Regulation 

System through appointment to positions on the National Response Team Preparedness Subcommittee, 

Scientific and Technical Committee, Regional Response Teams affecting policy for the Gulf of Mexico, 

Pacific, and Alaska Regions, and applicable Area Committees. 

OSRD conducts roughly 200 plan review activities a year to ensure the 145 approved Oil Spill Response 

Plans remain updated. These activities are triggered by significant changes to an operator's response 

plans/capabilities or to meet recurring update requirements during the entire lifecycle of an offshore oil 

and gas facility. OSRD also conducts equipment validation inspections at over 50 storing areas, attends 

at least 35 industry lead exercises, and initiates about 15 unannounced government led exercises each year 

to ensure plans are executable. In addition, the Division commits time to daily monitoring, tracking, and 

investigation into approximately 1,500 self-reported offshore spills a year maintaining a record for risk 

analysis and targeted proactive enforcement actions. 

Internal and external coordination is imperative to strengthening the Nation’s readiness for an oil spill. 

BSEE collaborates with other Federal and State response agencies when reviewing oil spill response 

plans. BSEE also collaborates with international partners. Internally, OSRD is working with other BSEE 

divisions to proactively identify spills that were not reported to take enforcement actions for notification 

violations. During responses to incidents offshore, BSEE supports all levels of response organizations as 

subject matter experts in offshore oil spill response. OSRD partners with other DOI programs along with 

the stakeholders represented in the National Response System established in the National Oil and 

Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). 

The BSEE is responsible for the oversight of exploration, development, and production operations for oil 

and natural gas on the OCS. The Bureau’s regulation and oversight of Federal offshore resources ensures 

that energy development on the OCS is done in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. BSEE’s 

Performance Measures are shown in the following tables. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 45 
 

Operations, Safety and Regulation 

Table 6: Performance Overview Table- Operations, Safety and Regulation Supporting Performance Measures Type 2010 Actual 2011 Actual 2012 Actual 2013 Plan 2013 Actual 2014 Plan 2015 Request Number of Recordable Injuries per 200,000 Offshore Man Hours Worked (DOI- Regulated Activities ONLY) (SP) A N/A 0.30 (revd) (171/569) 0.28 (est.) (186/657) <0.50 0.306 (est.) (211/688) <0.50 <0.50 Contributing Programs Operations, Safety and Regulation Comments This strategic plan measure is an incident rate of all Recordable Injuries (i.e., injuries that require medical treatment beyond first aid and fatalities) that occur during DOI-regulated activities in the fiscal year for every 200,000 offshore man hours worked (which is the approximate equivalent of 100 full-time workers). In FY 2013, there were 211 recordable injuries reported for activities with BSEE’s jurisdiction and the estimated number of man years worked was 68,848. These estimated results indicate that in FY 2013 there was approximately 1 recordable injury in DOI-regulated activities for every 326 full-time offshore workers. Because safety levels are best evaluated as trends over multiple years, targets for FY 2014 and beyond are based on analysis of historical recordable injury rates against an extrapolation of voluntary man hour reporting from operators in previous years. The Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS) regulation that went into effect in November 2010 requires all operators to report offshore man hours worked during the calendar year. Number of fatalities among workers in DOI permitted activities (BUR) A 11 2 0 3 4 3 3 Contributing Programs Operations, Safety and Regulation Comments In FY 2013, there were four fatalities among offshore workers in DOI-regulated activities. Three of the fatalities resulted from an explosion and fire on a platform in the Gulf of Mexico operated by Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations (Black Elk). The explosion and fire occurred during welding work that was being conducted as part of construction operations on November 16, 2012. The 4th fatality occurred on January 26, 2013 when a worker was fatally injured in a suspected electrical incident on a jack-up rig at SS 170. This incident is still being investigated. There was a 5th fatality that occurred in FY 2013, however, it was a helicopter incident and was not under BSEE's primary jurisdiction. Because safety levels are best evaluated as trends over multiple years, targets for the fatalities are developed based on reducing a rolling 5-year average, which includes the FY 2010 explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig off the coast of Louisiana resulted in 11 deaths. Less than X% of total gas produced is flared or vented offshore (BUR) (Calendar Yr) A 0.36% (8,295,702/2,289, 085,773 MCF) 0.33% (6,236,550/1,86 2,844,400) 0.39% (6,070,151/1,563, 186,639) 0.70% 0.38% (est) (3,921,621/1,02 8,144,258) 0.70% 0.70% Contributing Program Environmental Enforcement (sub-activity of Operations, Safety and Regulations)

Comments 

Industry statistics for venting and flaring show worldwide rates ranging from 0.2% to 100%. Due to satellitemonitoring and verification, flaring and venting on the OCS is kept to a minimum. Since FY 2008 U.S. rateshave ranged from 0.28% to 0.72%. In April of 2010, BSEE published revised flaring and venting regulationsrequiring operators to install flare/vent meters on all OCS facilities that process more than 2,000 bbl of oil perday. Previously operators were allowed to estimate these flare/vent volumes. The revised regulations willimprove the accuracy of flaring data but may increase reported volumes. Long-term targets will be determined once data has been collected for multiple years under the revised regulations. 

46 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Operations, Safety and Regulation 

Supporting Performance Measures Type 2010 Actual 2011 Actual 2012 Actual 2013 Plan 2013 Actual 2014 Plan 2015 Request Total Number of Compliance InspectionsCompleted (BUR) A 23,619 20,537 23,025 24,000 24,195 25,000 25,000 Contributing Programs Operations, Safety and RegulationComments

On April 30, 2010, the President directed the Secretary to conduct a 30-day review of the Deepwater Horizon event and to report what additional precautions and technologies should be required to improve the safety ofoil and gas exploration and production operations on the outer continental shelf. One of the keyrecommendations included in that report, as well as other subsequent reports, is that the BSEE needs to increase its oversight and evaluate/ revise the manner in which it conducts its drilling inspections. Since 2010, the inspector/investigator workforce has increased over 40% and BSEE has begun to develop and implement a new inspection strategy that focuses on risk and the use of advanced inspection technologies. Inspection performance trends are not increasing as fast as previously planned due to an increased focus on the witnessing of complex high-risk activities (e.g., BOP testing and cement/casing activities) that consumemore resources to inspect and the extended time required to hire and train new inspectors so they can independently conduct inspections and other safety/environmental enforcement work. Additionally, there is a high rate of turnover with inspectors seeking employment with industry. For these reasons, it is difficult to determine how many inspections will be completed beyond FY 2014. 

Supporting Performance Measures Type 2010 Actual 2011 Actual 2012 Actual 2013 Plan 2013 Actual 2014 Plan 2015 Request Conduct full Coast Guard inspections onX% of manned offshore facilities annually(BUR) 

A 16.5%

(169/1021) 

14.3%

(141/985) 

14.3%

(133/932) 10% 24% (229/959) 10% 10% 

Contributing Programs Operations, Safety and Regulation

Comments 

Inspection of U.S. Coast Guard regulated items is a function that was provided for by regulation but one forwhich BSEE is not reimbursed. Assumption of limited responsibilities by BSEE was pursued following a report by the Inspector General that the U.S. Coast Guard was not conducting inspections of safety items on fixed facilities, as required by law. At this time, BSEE inspectors conduct a limited FPSIP (fixed platform selfinspection program) inspection on every platform that they visit and have an annual target of conducting fullFPSIP inspections on 10 percent of manned facilities. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 47 
 

Operations, Safety and Regulation 

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48 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Administrative Operations 

Administrative Operations 

FY 2015 PERFORMANCE BUDGET REQUEST
 Administrative Operations Activity 

Table 7: Administrative Operations Activity Budget Summary 

2013 

Actual 

2014 

Enacted 

Fixed Costs 

and Related 

Changes 

 (+/-)

Internal 

Transfers 

 (+/-)

Program 

Changes 

 (+/-)

2015 

Request 2014

 (+/-) 

Changes 

from 

Administrative Operations ($000) 

FTE 1/ 

14,756 

223 

15,560 

232 

+116 

-

-

-

-

+15 

15,676 

247 

+116 

+15 

1/ The technical adjustment of 15 FTE aligns current staffing levels to those projected for the budget year base program. The FTE growth 

reflects current hiring trends that support measured growth, considering the challenges of filling technical positions across the Bureau. No 

additional funding is requested as a result of this adjustment. 

SUMMARY OF 2015 PROGRAM CHANGES 

Amount Request Component FTE ($000) 

FTE technical adjustment +15 

Total Program Changes: - +15 

JUSTIFICATION OF 2015 PROGRAM CHANGES 

The 2015 budget request for the Administrative Operations Activity is $15,676,000 and 247 FTE, a net 

increase of $116,000 and +15 FTE from the 2014 Enacted. 

FTE technical adjustment (+15 FTE): The technical adjustment of 15 FTE aligns current staffing 

levels to those projected for the budget year base program. The FTE growth reflects current hiring trends 

that support measured growth, considering the challenges of filling technical positions across the Bureau. 

No additional funding is requested as a result of this adjustment. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW 

The Administrative Operations Activity consists of the following: Acquisition Management Division, 

Equal Employment Opportunity Division, Finance Division, Human Resources Division, Management 

Support Division, and Technology Services Division. These administrative services are provided to 

BSEE as well as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) through a reimbursable service 

agreement. By utilizing a shared service model, BSEE and BOEM can continue to improve their best 

practices and maximize the use of administrative funds. 

Acquisition Management Division: The Acquisition Management Division is responsible for the 

execution and administration of BSEE and BOEM contracts and financial assistance agreements. By 

collaborating with the customer organizations, they create quality business solutions that help to 

accomplish the mission goals of the Bureaus. The Division provides acquisition and financial assistance 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 49 
Administrative Operations 

policy guidance, cost and price analysis, and advice to procurement and program personnel. They 

conduct acquisition management and other internal control reviews of procurement activities. They also 

administer the purchase line of the BSEE and BOEM charge card programs as well as their competitive 

sourcing programs. In addition, they manage the Business and Economic Development Program to 

maximize opportunities for small, disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses, as well as historically 

black colleges and universities as both prime contractors and subcontractors. They also oversee all 

acquisition career management programs. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Division (EEOD): The EEOD develops, monitors, and operates the 

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program for BSEE and BOEM in compliance with the Civil 

Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, Executive Order 11478, 

departmental directives, and other related statutes and orders. Its goal is to ensure that workforce 

activities are inclusive, and that they promote the full utilization and exchange of skills and talents. 

The Division provides advice and guidance to managers, supervisors, and employees regarding EEO 

policies and procedures. EEOD provides technical advice and consultation to managers on recruitment 

strategies for affirmative employment designed to improve low participation rates of various groups in 

BSEE and BOEM. EEOD provides oversight of special initiative programs designed to involve more 

women, minorities, and people with disabilities throughout all levels of management. The Division also 

provides an alternative dispute resolution program, counseling and mediation services, as well as formal 

EEO complaint processing. 

Finance Division: The Finance Division (FD) provides a full range of accounting and financial 

management services to BSEE and BOEM. The FD manages and oversees the Bureau-level CFO related 

audit as conducted by an independent audit firm with oversight from the Department’s Office of Inspector 

General (OIG). The FD develops Bureau financial policies, procedures, and guidelines. The Division 

maintains liaison with departmental policy offices, including the Office of Financial Management and the 

Office of Acquisition and Property Management. It also coordinates with the Bureau’s Office of Budget 

and with the Department’s Office of Budget. Staff members may also represent the Bureau on a variety 

of departmental and government-wide teams dealing with financial issues. 

This Division is responsible for the administrative accounting operations of both BSEE and BOEM. The 

FD manages the administrative accounting system; audits and schedules bills for payments; collects 

debts; develops financial data; prepares financial reports; provides advice and guidance on financial 

matters; and maintains liaison with departmental offices and other Federal agencies. 

Human Resources Division: The Human Resources (HR) Division develops and implements policies, 

procedures, guidelines, and standards relating to general personnel management, recruitment and 

employment, position management and classification, and employee development. Work includes 

performing all operational personnel services for BSEE, BOEM, and other client organizations including 

the Department of the Interior’s Office of the Secretary, and providing assistance and guidance related to 

personnel matters for all regional and field installations. 

The HR Division also leads all BSEE and BOEM workforce-planning initiatives, which include analyzing 

the current workforce, identifying future workforce needs, and preparing plans for building the workforce 

needed in the future. The long-term benefits of workforce-planning initiatives include the ability of 

BSEE and BOEM to meet their mission and performance goals. As regulators, BSEE must be able to 

keep pace with the latest technological advances. In support of these efforts, the Division works with its 

customers to adopt a comprehensive recruitment and training system in order to attract the best talent to 

the public service while continuing to provide the training and education necessary to keep its workforce 

at the leading edge of industry innovation. 

50 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Administrative Operations 

The Division focuses on employee relations and services, including personnel program evaluation, 

labor/management relations, advising employees about conflict of financial interest and standards of 

conduct, and administering incentive awards programs, family friendly programs, the Federal Equal 

Opportunity Recruitment Program, and Senior Executive Service program. In addition, the Division is 

responsible for the development of training policy and oversight of a Bureau-wide Learning Management 

System that will serve as a valuable workforce planning and management tool. The HR Division also 

coordinates all departmental mandated employee development initiatives for implementation in BSEE 

and BOEM. 

Management Support Division: The Management Support Division (MSD) provides direct assistance to 

BSEE’s Associate Director for Administration, as well as to BSEE and BOEM personnel. MSD’s 

responsibilities include: 

•	 Emergency management, physical security, personnel security; 

•	 Evaluations and studies; 

•	 Delegation of authority, directives management, program management, providing high-level 

administrative support; and management and organization analysis activities; 

•	 Occupational safety and health; 

•	 Support services, including facilities management, property management, space management, 

printing and publications activity, and general office services; 

•	 Continuity of operations program; plans, implements, and directs the physical and personnel 

security programs, including development and implementation of policy, procedures, methods, 

and techniques for protection of proprietary and national security information; 

•	 Budget planning, execution, and formulation for the administrative operations and the general 

support services budgets; 

•	 Maintains accountability records of all system-controlled property in the possession and control 

of custodial property officers and contractors and manages the vehicle fleet and the museum 

property, including an Arts and Artifacts program. 

Technology Services Division: The Technology Services Division (TSD) ensures the efficient and 

effective planning, management and acquisition of information technology and information resources 

within BSEE, BOEM, and ONRR and ensures compliance with all DOI and Federal information 

resources management policies and guidelines. In alignment with the Department's IT Transformation, 

the Division clearly distinguishes the information technology needs of the Bureau’s mission and 

enterprise functions. 

The TSD provides a central foundation to manage the large volume of information and data used in the 

scientific, engineering, and management activities of the BSEE and BOEM programs. At the core of the 

IT capabilities is the Technical Information Management System (TIMS). TIMS automates the business 

and regulatory functions of BSEE and BOEM and brings diverse information into a central database. 

This enables BSEE and BOEM Regions and Headquarters to share and combine data; to standardize 

processes, forms, reports, and maps; to promote the electronic submission of data; to enforce data 

integrity through relational database technology; and to release accurate, consistent information to the 

public sector. 

In support of the strategic goals of the Bureau, TSD through a collaborative effort with its customer base 

will redesign its information and knowledge management tools, and enhance the collection, 

standardization, accuracy, completeness, consistency, and storage of data. These efforts will increase the 

Bureau’s ability to collaborate across current divisions of process and software. Improved data 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 51 
 

Administrative Operations 

management and analysis will allow the Bureau to better identify trends and statistics critical to assessing 

broader indicators of risk. A more collaborative and streamlined knowledge management system will 

also better enable agency-wide innovation and adaptation in all aspects of offshore safety, response 

preparedness, and environmental protection. 

The TSD also manages and maintains the Geological Interpretive Tools (GIT) system, which represents 

the basis of essentially all BOEM determinations requiring geoscience analysis. GIT allows BOEM to 

improve productivity by quantifying analyses, analyzing digital data in three-dimensions (3-D), fully 

integrating geophysical and geological data analysis, and reducing risks and uncertainty in decisionmaking processes. In addition, TSD has developed an extensive Geographic Information System (GIS) 

capability for nearly all BSEE and BOEM offshore maps and leasing processes, providing us the means to 

define, describe, analyze, and account for every acre of Federal offshore-submerged lands. 

The Division provides direction and coordination for Bureau-wide IT activities such as the IT 

Capital/Strategic Planning, with an emphasis on IT investment planning and monitoring through a 

rigorous governance process. They also provide support for the overall infrastructure, including the 

shared services budget, enterprise help desk, network management, and other essential infrastructure for 

office automation. The TSD implements and supports the Bureau’s IT security program by working 

collaboratively with the BSEE and BOEM offices as well as with the DOI’s Office of the CIO to review 

and improve security plans, policies, procedures, and standards to reflect technological changes. The IT 

security efforts include participating in risk assessments and management reviews of systems and 

networks, identifying security issues, and recommending mitigation. 

52 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
General Support Services 

 

General Support Services 

FY 2015 PERFORMANCE BUDGET REQUEST
 General Support Services Activity 

Table 8: General Support Services Budget Summary 

2013 

Actual 

2014 

Enacted 

Fixed Costs 

and Related 

Changes 

 (+/-)

Internal 

Transfers 

 (+/-)

Program 

Changes 

 (+/-)

2015 

Request 2014

 (+/-) 

Changes 

from 

General Support Services ($000) 

FTE

11,967 

-

13,513 

-

+399 

-

-

-

-

-

13,912 

-

+399 

-

JUSTIFICATION OF FY 2015 PROGRAM CHANGES
 

The FY 2015 budget request for the General Support Services Activity is $13,912,000 and 0 FTE, a net 

increase of $399,000 from the 2014 Enacted. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW 

The General Support Services Activity provides Bureau-wide infrastructure support to BSEE. This 

activity funds actual infrastructure costs associated with office space, security, utilities, and voice/data 

communications for all organizational needs to carry out the Bureau’s primary missions. BSEE will 

continue to provide some of these services to BOEM through a reimbursable services agreement. 

Funding for shared activities and related support services for both BSEE and BOEM is used for: 

• Rental and security of office space 

• Workers’ compensation and unemployment compensation 

• Voice and data communications 

• The Department’s Working Capital Fund (WCF) 

• Annual building maintenance contracts 

• Mail services 

• Printing costs. 

The two major program objectives are to provide safe and secure facilities that will contribute to the 

productivity and efficiency of the employees in achieving goals and objectives, and to provide appropriate 

services in support of the BSEE and BOEM operating programs. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 53 
 

 

General Support Services 

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54 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Executive Direction 

SUMMARY OF 2015 PROGRAM CHANGES 

Amount Request Component FTE ($000) 

FTE technical adjustment +8 

Total Program Changes: - +8 

JUSTIFICATION OF 2015 PROGRAM CHANGES 

The 2015 budget request for the Executive Direction Activity is $18,227,000 and 112 FTE, a net increase of 

$106,000 and +8 FTE from the 2014 Enacted level. 

FTE technical adjustment (+8 FTE): The technical adjustment of 8 FTE aligns current staffing levels 

to those projected for the budget year base program. The FTE growth reflects current hiring trends that 

support measured growth, considering the challenges of filling technical positions across the Bureau. No 

additional funding is requested as a result of this adjustment. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW 

The Executive Direction Activity provides Bureau-wide leadership, direction, management, coordination, 

communications strategies, and outreach for the entire organization to carry out its primary mission. The 

Executive Direction Activity funds the Office of the Director, Investigations and Review Unit, Office of 

Budget, Office of Policy and Analysis, Office of Public Affairs, Office of Congressional Affairs, and 

Office of International Programs. 

Office of the Director 

The Office of the Director includes the Director, the Deputy Director, and their immediate staff. This 

office is responsible for providing general policy guidance and overall leadership within the BSEE 

organization, as well as managing all of the official documents of the Office of the Director. 

Investigations and Review Unit (IRU) 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 55 

Executive Direction 

FY 2015 PERFORMANCE BUDGET REQUEST 

Executive Direction Activity 

Table 9: Executive Direction Budget Summary 

2013 

Actual 

2014 

Enacted 

Fixed Costs 

and Related 

Changes 

 (+/-)

Internal 

Transfers 

 (+/-)

Program 

Changes 

 (+/-)

2015 

Request 2014

 (+/-) 

Changes 

from 

Executive Direction ($000) 

FTE 1/ 

17,182 

103 

18,121 

104 

+106 

-

-

-

-

+8 

18,227 

112 

+106 

+8 

1/ The technical adjustment of 8 FTE aligns current staffing levels to those projected for the budget year base program. The FTE growth 

reflects current hiring trends that support measured growth, considering the challenges of filling technical positions across the Bureau. No 

additional funding is requested as a result of this adjustment. 
Executive Direction 

The IRU serves as a team of professionals with investigations training who promptly and credibly 

respond to allegations or evidence of misconduct and unethical behavior by Bureau employees; pursue 

allegations of misconduct by oil and gas companies involved in offshore energy projects and investigate 

significant incidents to inform safety and environmental protection improvement. In 2013, BSEE 

assigned specific staff to support managers with internal matters. The IRU shares allegations of internal 

misconduct with the DOI’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), determining jointly which office conducts 

any investigation of those allegations. 

Office of Budget 

The Office of Budget provides budget analysis and guidance for the formulation, congressional and 

execution phases of the budget cycle. During the budget formulation cycle, the office develops and 

maintains all budgetary data to support BSEE’s budget requests to the Department with submission of the 

Budget Proposal, to the Office of Management and Budget with submission of the Budget Estimates, and 

to the Congress with submission of the Budget Justifications. During the congressional phase, the Office 

of Budget prepares capability and effect statements, provides answers to House and Senate questions and 

drafts testimony and oral statements for congressional hearings. Throughout the execution phase, the 

Budget Division tracks spending against line item budgets, analyzes budgetary and expense data, and 

provides regular updates to BSEE executives on the status of funds. The Office of Budget works closely 

with the Office of Policy and Analysis and program level performance staff to integrate performance data 

and information into all aspects of budget formulation and execution. 

Office of Policy and Analysis 

The Office of Policy and Analysis serves as the principle office to provide the Director with independent 

review and analysis of programmatic and management issues. Additionally, the office leads, coordinates, 

and monitors many cross-program initiatives, assuring a consistent, BSEE-wide implementation that 

directly supports congressional, Presidential and departmental directives, laws, mandates and guidance. 

The Office of Policy and Analysis fulfills the Director’s responsibilities in several critical areas including 

strategic and performance planning, policy and program evaluation and internal controls. It is also 

responsible for ensuring that programmatic plans and policies are consistent with and integrated into the 

overall Bureau mission and responsibilities, as well as with Department and Administration policy 

frameworks. In addition, the office administers and coordinates internal reviews, and oversees and 

assures implementation of recommendations made by oversight groups such as the Government 

Accountability Office and the OIG. 

Office of Public Affairs (OPA) 

The OPA is responsible for BSEE’s communication strategies and outreach. The goal of OPA is to 

inform the public, and ensure coordinated communication, consistent messages, and the effective 

exchange of information with all customers and stakeholders. The OPA coordinates the implementation 

of an effective and inclusive outreach program to numerous target audiences, including state and local 

governments, the energy industry, related trade associations, the environmental community, Indian tribes, 

energy consumer groups and the public. 

Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA) 

The OCA serves as the primary point of contact with Congress, and is responsible for the coordination of 

all communication and outreach with congressional offices, as well as ensuring a consistent message and 

 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 56 
 

Executive Direction 

the effective exchange of information. The OCA serves as the liaison for BSEE on all congressional and 

legislative matters that affect BSEE with Congress, the Department, and other Federal executive 

agencies. 

Office of International Programs 

 

The Office of International Programs serves as the primary point of contact between BSEE and BOEM 

and the Department’s Office of International Affairs. The office also maintains an open line of 

communication regarding BSEE’s and BOEM’s programs and policies with the Department of State and 

the international programs within all relevant U.S. agencies such as the Department of Energy, the 

Department of Commerce, and the Department of the Treasury. 

The Office of International Programs becomes involved in international initiatives consistent with the 

mission and goals of BSEE and BOEM. Responsibilities also include reporting to the Department’s 

Office of International Affairs on all BSEE and BOEM international engagements; advising BSEE’s 

international travelers on matters of security, protocol and travel requirements; structuring international 

Memoranda of Understanding and other international cooperation agreements; and coordinating BSEE 

programs for visiting international delegations. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 57 
 

Executive Direction 

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Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 58 
Oil Spill Research 

Oil Spill Research Appropriation 

FY 2015 PERFORMANCE BUDGET REQUEST
 Oil Spill Research Appropriation 

Table 10: Oil Spill Research Budget Summary 

Fixed Costs Changes 

2013 2014 and Related Internal Program 2015 from 

Actual Enacted Changes Transfers Changes Request 2014

 (+/-) (+/-) (+/-) (+/-) 

Oil Spill Research ($000) 

FTE 

14,120 

19 

14,899 

22 

-

-

-

-

14,899 

22 

-

-

JUSTIFICATION OF 2015 PROGRAM CHANGES
 

The 2015 budget request for the Oil Spill Appropriation is $14,899,000 and 22 FTE; no net change from the 

2014 Enacted level. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW 

The Oil Spill Research (OSR) appropriation funds oil spill response research, Ohmsett – the National Oil 

Spill Response Research & Renewable Energy Test Facility, and oil spill prevention, abatement, 

planning, preparedness, and response functions for all facilities seaward of the coastline of the United 

States that handle, store, or transport oil. These activities support the DOI strategic mission of protection 

of environmental resources and economic interests of the Nation. 

Funding for OSR activities is appropriated from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF). As intended 

by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the companies that produce and transport oil are supporting research and 

activities to improve oil spill response capabilities. Appropriated funds are awarded through a 

competitive process to academia and qualified companies from throughout the U.S. who have the 

scientific and engineering expertise, and qualifications necessary to successfully meet the research goals 

of BSEE to improve all phases of offshore oil spill response. 

PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW 

In October 2011, BSEE formally came into existence and established the Oil Spill Response Division 

(OSRD). This division maintains two focus areas; oil spill response research (OSRR) and oil spill 

response compliance. These two areas support the BSEE 2015 Strategic Plan and are influenced by this 

plan’s direction. 

The research mission involves coordination with other Federal partners. This is achieved through 

representation on the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research (ICCOPR), which 

identifies national priorities for oil spill response research, provides a forum for Federal entities to engage 

in information transfer of the latest science and engineering related to oil spill prevention and response, 

and works with Canadian partners who are developing a Five Year Strategic Plan for Oil Spill Research 

in Canadian Arctic Waters. Internally, BSEE, through the Response Research Unit is conducting the 

foundational work to move research and development projects into innovative new methods to respond to 

an oil spill and identify the best available technologies for both mechanical and alternative response. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 59 
Oil Spill Research Appropriation 

The OSR funding is used by BSEE to improve the ability to effectively remove oil from water and protect 

the environment when oil is discharged from offshore oil facilities. This need is highlighted in the many 

lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon incident. Weaknesses and gaps specifically in mechanical 

and alternative response technologies are noted in the Incident Specific Preparedness Review, the 

Deepwater Horizon Federal On-Scene Coordinator report, and a report by the National Incident 

Commander during this spill of national significance. Research is focused on improving those response 

tactics such as offshore in situ burn and subsea dispersant use that were found to be viable options. 

Funding will also be dedicated to finding new and more efficient ways to prevent or reduce the rate of oil 

being discharged from a source, locate spilled oil, recover or treat oil that is spilled, and communicate a 

common operations picture to both the spill responders and the public during spill responses. Responding 

to an oil spill in the Arctic environment presents many unique challenges and funding will also be utilized 

to understand these implications and advance response technologies and procedures to ensure the least 

impact to the environment and to human safety. 

In addition to the oil spill research described below, BSEE Safety and Engineering Research in the 

Emerging Technologies program includes technical studies to understand the technologies that industry 

employs to prevent an oil spill from happening, such as blowout preventers, drilling fluid design, and 

well-bore cementing procedures. 

Oil Spill Response and Planning: The BSEE is the lead agency for ensuring the highest oil spill 

response preparedness standard in the offshore environment through innovative research and an effective 

regulatory oversight program. The OSRD compliance staff provides continuous Federal oversight that 

requires reoccurring compliance actions during the entire lifecycle of offshore oil and gas facilities, from 

drilling a well to decommissioning and removal. OSRD conducts approximately 200 plan review 

activities a year to ensure the nearly 145 approved Oil Spill Response Plans (OSRPs) remain updated. 

These activities are triggered by significant changes to an operator's response plans/capabilities or to meet 

recurring update requirements during the entire lifecycle of an offshore oil and gas facility. OSRD staff 

also conducts equipment validation activities at about 50 staging areas, attends at least 35 industry led 

exercises, and initiates about 15 unannounced government led exercises each year to ensure plans are 

executable. OSRD commits time to daily monitoring, tracking, and investigation into approximately 

1,500 reported offshore spills a year, maintaining a record for risk analysis and targeted proactive 

enforcement actions. After a spill greater than 42 gallons, OSRD conducts follow up activities to ensure 

the owner or operator uses lessons learned to improve preparedness for the next spill. 

Internal and external coordination is imperative to strengthening the Nation’s readiness for an oil spill. 

BSEE staff participates in Area Committees, Regional Response Teams, and in the National Response 

Team and its subcommittees to represent issues pertaining to offshore. BSEE collaborates with other 

Federal and State response agencies when reviewing oil spill response plans. BSEE also collaborates 

with international partners. Internally, OSRD is working with other BSEE divisions to proactively 

identify spills that were not reported in order to take enforcement actions for notification violations. 

During responses to incidents offshore, BSEE supports all levels of response organizations as subject 

matter experts in offshore oil spill response. 

Oil Spill Response Research (OSRR): BSEE is the principal Federal agency funding offshore oil spill 

response research and maintains a comprehensive, long-term research program (in place since the 1970’s) 

to improve oil spill response technologies and procedures. The OSRR program provides research 

leadership and funding to improve the technology and procedures for the detection, containment, 

treatment, and/or cleanup of oil spills that may occur on the OCS. Emphasis is always on oil spill 

prevention and research related to securing a source when a spill occurs thereby reducing the amount of 

oil impacting the environment. The program seeks to enhance communication capabilities, develop 

60 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Oil Spill Research Appropriation 

computer enhanced “smart” technologies, remote sensing tools; and remotely operated technologies that 

will reduce the risk to responders and increase the potential operating window in areas such as the Arctic 

where the harsh environment and prolonged periods of low light present challenges to current technology. 

Specific research efforts focused on geographic challenges include Arctic environments, high pressure 

wells, and the ever-challenging deep water areas of the Gulf of Mexico. 

The OSRR program is responsive to the information and technological needs of the Bureau’s regional and 

district offices and to specific requirements and limitations in BSEE authority. Information derived from 

the OSRR program is directly integrated into BSEE’s operations and is used in making regulatory 

decisions pertaining to plan approvals, safety and pollution prevention inspections, enforcement actions, 

and training requirements. Research results are also transferred to rule writers, investigators, plan 

reviewers, and others that need this information to ensure safe operations and assist BSEE in its efforts to 

independently keep pace with industry’s fast paced technological advancements. Response technologies 

identified by the OSRR program focus on preventing offshore operational spills from reaching sensitive 

environments and habitats. 

The OSRR projects are offered competitively to all interested parties throughout the country. Funding is 

ultimately awarded to those applicants who have the proven people, skills, and experience necessary to 

successfully complete the research and complement the body of scientific knowledge on oil spill 

response. 

The current OSRR projects cover a wide spectrum of oil spill response issues and include laboratory, 

meso-scale and full-scale field experiments. Recent oil spill response research examples include methods 

to: 

- Determine the dispersant effectiveness when applied via subsea injection methods, its impact on 

worker safety by reducing the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) that rise to the surface of the 

water, and modeling efforts to forecast how the dispersed oil will travel through the water 

column; 

- Enhance in situ burning including how to estimate the burn potential in icy waters; 

- Detect and quantify oil in the water column in addition to detecting, quantifying, and mapping oil 

in and under ice; 

- Enhance development and communication of a common operating picture to all Federal, State, 

and local responders as well as the public; 

- Reduce the impact of hydrate formations on capping stack operations; and 

- Understand the impact of various ice concentrations on recovery efficiencies of mechanical 

skimming systems. 

In 2015, BSEE will continue research to: 

- Develop, test, and evaluate enhanced mechanical recovery technologies, especially those 

designed for use in Arctic conditions; 

- Refine capabilities to detect and recover oil in and under ice, including technological advances in 

remotely controlled operations to reduce risk to personnel and increase the operational window; 

- Develop command and control systems that incorporate and automate science into the decisionmaking process during a response; 

- Understand the temporary storage options of recovered oil in the Alaskan Arctic; 

- Establish an estimate of the period of time that environmental conditions might preclude an oil 

spill response from being conducted safely in the Alaskan Arctic; 

- Understand the impact of extremely cold temperatures upon skimming systems’ hoses and hose 

couplings; 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 61 
Oil Spill Research Appropriation 

- Model the potential impact of various spill scenarios in the Alaskan Arctic, in conjunction with 

our Federal partners; 

- Develop a tool for rapid measurement of the amount of oil emanating from a submerged oil 

release; and 

- Develop realistic oil simulants that will replicate the behavior of oil droplets in the subsea 

environment, in conjunction with our Federal partners. 

The BSEE disseminates research results and development projects as widely as possible in publications 

through appropriate scientific and technical journals, technical reports, public information documents, and 

publication on the BSEE website. The intent is to make this information widely available to oil spill 

response personnel and organizations worldwide. 

Ohmsett - The National Oil Spill Response Research and Renewable Energy Test Facility: Ohmsett is 

one of the world’s largest tow/wave tanks designed to test and evaluate full scale equipment for the 

detection and response to spilled oil. Ohmsett is one of the only facilities where oil spill response testing, 

training, and research can be conducted with a variety of crude and refined oil products in varying wave 

conditions. The heart of Ohmsett is a large, outdoor, above-ground concrete test tank that is 667 feet 

long, 65 feet wide, 11 feet deep and filled to a depth of eight feet with 2.6 million gallons of crystal clear 

saltwater. Ohmsett also has the capability to test scaled renewable energy systems such as current and 

wave energy converters. No other agency operates a facility like Ohmsett. 

Ohmsett plays an important role in developing the most effective response technologies as well as 

preparing responders by using the most realistic training available. The facility provides testing and 

research capabilities to help the government fulfill its regulatory requirements and meet its goal of clean 

and safe operations. Major Federal clients such as the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) National Strike Force 

and the U.S. Navy (USN) rely on Ohmsett for their oil spill responder training needs. 

Many of today’s commercially available oil spill cleanup equipment and products have been tested at 

Ohmsett and a considerable body of performance data and information on mechanical response 

equipment has been obtained there. Response planners use this information in reviewing and approving 

facility response and contingency plans. Ohmsett is also the premier training site for government agency 

and private industry oil spill response personnel to test their own full-scale equipment. Some of the more 

recent testing activities included oil spill response equipment testing in a simulated Arctic environment, 

remote sensing of spilled oil, wave energy conversion device tests, skimmer and boom tests, dispersant 

tests, alternative fuel recovery tests, and industry oil spill response training classes. 

Due to the facility’s coastal location, the effects of Hurricane Sandy were unavoidable. Damage 

sustained from wind, storm surge, and debris caused the facility to temporarily suspend operational status 

for three weeks. The BSEE is coordinating its reconstruction efforts with the National Park Service in 

order to return the facility to pre-Hurricane Sandy condition. Additional efforts are being undertaken to 

prevent similar damage from occurring with future storms. These mitigation efforts include elevating 

vulnerable equipment and hardening/protecting assets that cannot be relocated. 

The Ohmsett facility requires constant maintenance and periodic upgrades. While a 2013 feasibility study 

indicated that the current Ohmsett tank can accommodate some small-scale subsea dispersant injection 

research, it recommended that a new vertical tank be added to the facility. The BSEE is exploring the 

feasibility and costs of constructing and operating a new vertical test tank, which if built, would be one of 

the only tanks in the world that could be used for simulating a subsea release and conducting associated 

research for flow rate determinations, subsea dispersant application ratios, and dispersant equipment 

designs. 

62 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
 

Oil Spill Research Appropriation 

BSEE is building on knowledge learned from recent tests, such as skimmers in broken ice conditions and 

cold water dispersant testing, to plan for a series of subsequent tests in similar conditions. In 2014, BSEE 

is conducting several projects to enhance the test measurement parameters available for researchers at 

Ohmsett including expanding the facility’s existing Arctic simulation capabilities. Information on 

Ohmsett can be found at www.ohmsett.com. 

Figure 2: Ohmsett Facility in New Jersey 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 63 
 

Oil Spill Research Appropriation 

Table 11: Performance Overview Table- Oil Spill Research Appropriation Supporting Performance Measures Type 2010

Actual 2011 Actual 2012 Actual 2013 Plan 2013 Actual 2014 Plan 2015 Request 

Achieve a utilization rate of X% at Ohmsett,the national oil spill response test facility(BUR) 

A 93% (222/240) 84% (202/240) 94% (226/240) 85% 93% (206/222) 85% 85% 

Contributing Programs Oil Spill ResearchComments 

Ohmsett is the National Oil Spill Response Test Facility located in New Jersey. At Ohmsett, clients can test oilspill response equipment in realistic conditions and have training in the use of the equipment. This measureevaluates the utilization level of the facility. The increased focus on oil spill response, as well as expanded usesfor the facility such as dispersant training and renewable energy wave tests, have sustained overall utilization rates at around 85%. 

64 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Appendices 

Section 404 Compliance 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Section 404 Compliance 

Section 404 of Public Law 113-76, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, states: 

DISCLOSURE OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 

SEC. 404. The amount and basis of estimated overhead charges, deductions, 

reserves or holdbacks, including working capital fund and cost pool charges, 

from programs, projects, activities, and subactivities to support government-wide, 

departmental, agency, or bureau administrative functions or headquarters, 

regional, or central operations shall be presented in annual budget justifications 

and subject to approval by the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 

Representatives and the Senate. Changes to such estimates shall be presented to 

the Committee on Appropriations for approval. 

To improve efficiency across the Department, BSEE offers a full array of administrative 

functions to bureaus and Department offices to help meet their administrative needs. BSEE 

implements this shared services approach through reimbursable services agreements with each 

agency. Under these agreements, BSEE provides specific services to meet the agency’s needs 

including acquisition management, equal employment opportunity, finance, human resources, 

information technology management, management support, personnel security, and facilities 

support services. Maintaining these critical administrative functions within the Department 

provides the following benefits: 

•	 Minimizing duplication of administrative entities across multiple organizations while 

optimizing efficiency. 

•	 Providing a centralized administrative function that can, over time, allow the Department 

to pursue additional efficiencies. 

The Department has strongly supported the expansion of business cross-servicing for more than 

30 years. These efforts have the added benefit of implementing standardized practices that will 

further increase the productivity for highly skilled resources, improve best practices and 

maximize the use of administrative funds in the future. 

The BSEE regularly evaluates these support arrangements jointly with each customer agency. 

BSEE’s costs to provide these services are also carefully managed and jointly approved by the 

respective agencies. Changes between cost allocations to BSEE and the customer agency may 

change to reflect actual agreements signed annually, and these changes would not be presented 

as a reprogramming. BSEE’s internal bureau assessment reported for 2015 reflects the 

alignment of the bureau’s administrative support requirements based on estimated FTE 

allocations between BSEE and its customers. Customer payments are recorded as reimbursable 

funding to BSEE. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 65 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 404 Compliance 

As outlined in the General Support Services (GSS) program justification, the GSS activity 

includes essential fixed costs to support BSEE’s program missions such as rent, 

telecommunications, the DOI working capital fund, and service contracts. The table below 

provides the actual WCF billings to the BSEE for 2013 and 2014 and estimates for 2015. 

FY 2015 

Dollars in Thousands ($000) 

External Administrative Costs 

General Support Services 

Working Capital Fund Centralized Billing 3,268 

Working Capital Fund Direct Billing 827 

Subtotal 4,095 

Internal Bureau Assessments 

Operations, Safety and Regulations 2,523 

Total Assessments of Bureau Programs 6,618 

66 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Section 404 Compliance 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Working Capital Fund Centralized Bill 

(Dollars in thousands) 

2013 2014 2015 

Account Actual Actual Estimate 

Document Management Unit 42.5 0.0 0.0 

FOIA Tracking & Reporting System 16.1 46.9 45.9 

Alaska Affairs Office 7.5 6.4 6.4 

Alaska Resources Library and Information Services 41.0 43.5 43.5 

Departmental News and Information 9.0 9.6 9.5 

Departmental Museum 15.2 11.3 11.3 

FedCenter 2.1 1.9 1.9 

Compliance Support ESF-11/ESF-11 Website 2.3 2.3 2.3 

Invasive Species Council 17.2 17.6 17.6 

Invasive Species Coordinator 3.2 3.2 3.2 

Passport and Visa Services 8.6 14.2 4.9 

CPIC 2.2 2.7 2.7 

Consolidated Financial, Internal Controls & Performance 9.6 7.5 5.2 

Travel Management Center 0.9 1.0 1.6 

e-Travel 14.8 8.4 9.1 

Interior Collections Management System 2.1 2.1 2.1 

Space Management Initiative 3.6 3.7 3.7 

Planning and Performance Management 13.6 12.4 12.4 

Department-wide Worker’s Compensation Program 2.9 3.1 3.1 

OPM Federal Employment Services 4.2 3.7 4.1 

Accessibility & Special Hiring Programs (fka ATC) 3.5 6.5 6.5 

Human Resources Accountability Team 6.9 6.7 6.9 

Employee and Labor Relations Tracking System 0.3 0.3 0.3 

Consolidated Employee Assistance Program 0.0 0.0 8.1 

EEO Complaints Tracking System 0.6 0.6 0.4 

Special Emphasis Program 0.5 0.4 0.4 

Occupational Safety and Health 19.0 16.0 15.9 

Safety Management Information System 14.6 12.9 12.8 

Leadership Development Programs 8.7 9.9 9.8 

Department-Wide Train Programs (incl. Online Learning) 24.7 27.8 23.4 

Learning and Performance Center Management 14.6 7.3 10.0 

DOIU Management 8.2 7.0 6.9 

Security (Classified Information Facility) 5.5 5.2 5.1 

Law Enforcement Coordination and Training 10.1 6.9 6.9 

Security (MIB/SIB Complex) 144.7 147.1 196.0 

Victim Witness Coordinator 2.0 2.0 1.9 

Federal Executive Board 3.4 2.8 2.8 

Interior Operations Center 24.6 22.5 23.0 

Emergency Preparedness (COOP) 9.3 11.3 11.2 

Emergency Response 12.9 11.1 11.1 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 67 
Section 404 Compliance 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Working Capital Fund Centralized Bill 

(Dollars in thousands) 

2013 2014 2015 

Account Actual Actual Estimate 

MIB Emergency Health and Safety 2.9 3.4 4.6 

Aviation Management 386.0 830.9 840.4 

Electronic Records Management 12.7 19.6 45.9 

Enterprise Services Network 174.8 180.6 73.8 

Enterprise Services Network – Central Bill Pass Thrus 0.0 0.0 109.8 

Architect & IT Port Perf Mgmt (fka Enterprise Architect 31.6 34.5 100.7 

Independent Verification and Validation – Risk Mgmt 19.1 21.0 38.3 

IT Budget Formulation & Port Dev. (fka Capital Plan 23.1 25.7 75.2 

Privacy and Civil Liberties 4.1 8.2 14.9 

IT Security – Information Assurance Division 10.5 0.0 0.0 

Information Management Assurance Division Leadership 0.0 6.7 19.5 

Assessment & Authorization Services 0.0 2.3 6.6 

IT Security 0.0 3.1 5.7 

Solutions, Design & Innovation (SDI) (fka Web Comm 5.0 4.4 4.4 

Enterprise Directory Services (fka Active Directory) 34.0 25.2 30.8 

Enterprise Resource Management 11.1 17.5 17.7 

Enterprise Continuous Diagnostics and Monitoring 0.0 0.0 11.9 

Enterprise Security Info &Event Mgmt Solution (SIEM) 0.0 0.0 25.8 

Identity Credential Access Mgmt (fka DOI Access-Pers) 11.5 12.6 12.7 

IT Asset Management 8.6 9.3 7.7 

Threat Management 25.1 25.5 15.8 

IOS Collaboration 8.4 9.6 9.7 

Unified Messaging 17.4 7.9 9.9 

Federal Relay Service 0.3 0.3 0.6 

IT Transformation Planning (ITT) 0.0 185.5 185.5 

Hosting Services (fka Hosting/Cloud Services) 0.0 14.6 8.7 

ITD ISSO Information Assurance Operations 0.0 7.6 7.6 

ITD MIB Data Networking 0.0 10.7 10.7 

ITD PPCD Privacy Records 0.0 15.3 15.3 

ITD Telecommunication Services 0.0 24.6 24.6 

ITD Integrated Digital Voice Communications System 0.0 17.4 17.4 

ITD Desktop Services 0.0 3.3 0.0 

FBMS Help Desk – Customer Support Center 0.0 126.2 0.0 

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Training 0.6 0.5 0.5 

Mail and Messenger Services 32.0 38.5 51.8 

Health Unit 6.2 0.0 0.0 

Special Event Services 1.0 0.0 0.0 

Safety, Environmental, and Health Services 10.2 20.5 27.5 

Shipping/Receiving & Moving Services 7.1 12.0 16.4 

Vehicle Fleet 1.9 2.1 2.1 

68 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Section 404 Compliance 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Working Capital Fund Centralized Bill 

(Dollars in thousands) 

2013 2014 2015 

Actual Actual Estimate Account 

Personal Property Account Srvs (fka Prop Account Srvs) 13.5 17.1 22.9 

Family Support Room 0.6 0.0 0.0 

Interior Complex Management & Services 18.8 18.1 24.5 

Departmental Library 28.6 10.1 10.2 

Mail Policy 4.2 3.3 3.3 

Moving Services 5.1 0.0 0.0 

Conference & Special Events Srvs (fka Audio Vis Srvs) 26.3 28.8 38.7 

Conservation and Education Partnerships 2.9 3.2 3.2 

Space Management Services 6.8 10.0 13.5 

Interior Asset Disposal System O&M 0.0 0.0 2.5 

Contingency Reserve 1.8 0.0 0.0 

Cooperative Ecosystem Study Units 10.0 21.2 21.2 

CFO Financial Statement Audit 542.2 535.7 259.4 

e-Government Initiatives (WCF Contributions Only) 48.8 51.1 32.0 

Ethics 6.6 5.6 5.5 

FOIA Appeals 10.4 22.0 22.0 

IBC IT Security Improvement Plan 7.5 0.0 0.0 

MIB Data Networking 9.8 0.0 0.0 

Information Management- Records Management 6.2 0.0 0.0 

Telecommunication Services 22.4 0.0 0.0 

Integrated Digital Voice Communications System 17.3 0.0 0.0 

Desktop Services 3.4 0.0 0.0 

FPPS/Employee Express - O&M 136.8 168.1 166.7 

Transportation Services (Household Goods) 1.7 1.7 1.7 

IDEAS 7.0 2.5 0.0 

FBMS Infrastructure Hosting & Support 0.0 0.0 214.1 

FBMS Master Data Systems & Hosting 14.1 10.9 0.0 

FBMS Master Data Management 0.4 0.5 0.5 

Consolidated Financial Statement System 8.4 6.7 0.0 

Boise Acquisition Office 70.0 221.8 24.9 

FBMS Hosting / Applications Management 64.5 68.3 0.0 

FBMS Redirect - IDEAS 29.1 0.0 0.0 

FBMS Help Desk – Customer Support Center 120.2 0.0 0.0 

TOTAL 2,623.3 3,439.6 3,267.5 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 69 
 

Section 404 Compliance 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
 Working Capital Fund Centralized Bill 

(Dollars in thousands) 

2013 2014 2015 

Account Actual Actual Estimate 

Ocean Coastal Great Lakes Activities 0.0 20.0 20.0 

e-OPF 18.2 39.9 39.9 

EAP Consolidation 7.1 9.9 0.0 

Worker’s Comp Nurse Case Management 0.0 1.5 1.5 

Albuquerque Learning & Performance Center 2.4 2.4 2.4 

Online Learning 6.0 6.0 6.0 

Washington Leadership & Performance Center 6.3 6.3 6.2 

Anti-virus Software Licenses 49.0 16.4 16.4 

Unified Messaging 305.7 164.2 164.2 

ICAM (fka INFO ASSURANCE – DOI Access) 89.8 84.0 84.7 

Data at Rest Initiative 6.0 2.4 2.4 

Hosting Services (fka Hosting/Cloud Services) 0.0 12.9 12.4 

ITD Customer Support Services Division 0.0 1.1 0.0 

Enterprise Services Network 420.7 0.0 0.0 

Creative Communications 3.9 4.0 4.0 

Federal Flexible Savings Account (FSA) Program 10.1 10.1 10.1 

ESRI Enterprise Licenses 47.6 35.3 44.2 

FBMS Change Orders 10.2 10.0 0.0 

Customer Support Services Division 1.1 0.0 0.0 

Reimbursable Mail Services 1.0 0.0 0.0 

Payroll & HR Systems 276.1 251.3 262.1 

OLES BSEE Detailee 0.0 150.0 150.0 

Acquisition Services 10.8 0.0 0.0 

TOTAL 1,272.0 827.7 826.5 

70 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
PER-4 Employee Count By Grade 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Employee Count by Grade 

(Total Employment) 

FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 

Actuals Estimate Request

 Executive Level V ................................................ 1 1 1

 SES ................................................................ 6 6 6 

Subtotal .............................................. 7 7 7 

SL - 00 ............................................................. 0 0 0 

ST - 00 ............................................................. 0 0 0 

Subtotal .............................................. 0 0 0

 GS/GM -15 ....................................................... 45 45 45

 GS/GM -14 ....................................................... 130 132 134

 GS/GM -13 ....................................................... 210 216 221

 GS -12 ............................................................. 79 92 103

 GS -11 ............................................................. 106 139 172

 GS -10 ............................................................. 3 3 3

 GS - 9 ............................................................. 45 45 45

 GS - 8 ............................................................. 19 19 19

 GS - 7 ............................................................. 61 61 61

 GS - 6 ............................................................. 16 16 16

 GS - 5 ............................................................. 28 28 28

 GS - 4 ............................................................. 15 15 15

 GS - 3 ............................................................. 0 0 0

 GS - 2 ............................................................. 0 0 0

 GS - 1 ............................................................. 0 0 0 

Subtotal .............................................. 757 811 862

 Other Pay Schedule Systems .................................. 0 0 0

 Total employment (actuals & estimates) .................. 764 818 869 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 71 
 

PER-4 Employee County By Grade 

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72 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
 

 

 

 

 

MAX Tables and Budget Schedules 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement (OSEE) 

MAX Tables and Budget Schedules 

Program and Financing 

(dollars in millions) 

Treasury Account ID: 14-1700 

2013 

Actual 

2014 

Estimate 

2015 

Estimate 

Obligations by program activity 

0001 Appropriations 53 83 70 

0002 Offsetting Collections 107 163 144 

0799 Total direct obligations 160 246 214 

0802 Reimbursable Service Agreements 42 37 37 

0900 Total new obligations 202 283 251 

Budgetary resources: Unobligated balance: 

1000 Unobligated balance brought forward, Oct 1 70 88 30 

1011 

Unobligated balance transfer from other accounts 

[14-1917] * 2 0 0 

1021 Recoveries of prior year unpaid obligations 2 0 0 

1050 Unobligated balance (total) 74 88 30 

Budget authority: Appropriations, discretionary: 

1100 Appropriation 61 64 66 

1130 Appropriations permanently reduced – sequester -3 0 0 

1160 Appropriation, discretionary (total) 58 64 66 

Spending authority from offsetting collections, discretionary 

1700 Offsetting Collections (Cost Recovery) 6 8 8 

1700 Offsetting Collections (Rental Receipts) 53 51 51 

1700 Collected (Inspection Fee) 65 65 

1700 (Reimbursable Service Agreements 43 37 37 

1701 Change in uncollected payments, Federal sources -2 0 0 

1711 Spending authority from offsetting collections -

Inspection Fees - transferred from accounts [14-1917] 

64 0 0 

1723 New and/or unobligated balance-spending authority ­

offsetting collections temporarily reduced – sequester 

-6 0 0 

1750 Spending authority from offsetting collections, 

discretionary (total) 

158 161 161 

1900 Budget authority (total) 216 225 227 

1930 Total budgetary resources available 290 313 257 

Memorandum (non-add) entries: 

1941 Unexpired unobligated balance, end of year 88 30 6 

Change in obligated balance: Unpaid obligations: 

3000 Unpaid obligations, brought forward, Oct 1 83 101 135 

3010 Obligations incurred, unexpired accounts 202 283 251 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 73 
 

 

 

 

 

MAX Tables and Budget Schedules 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement (OSEE) 

Program and Financing (continued) 

(dollars in millions) 

Treasury Account ID: 14-1700 

2013 

Actual 

2014 

Estimate 

2015 

Estimate 

3020 Outlays (gross) -182 -249 -226 

3040 Recoveries of prior year unpaid obligations, 

unexpired 

-2 0 0 

3050 Unpaid obligations, end of year 101 135 160 

Uncollected payments: 

3060 Uncollected payments, Federal sources, brought 

forward, Oct 1 

-21 -19 -19 

3070 Change in uncollected payments, Federal sources, 

unexpired 

2 0 0 

3090 Uncollected payments, Federal sources, end of 

year 

-19 -19 -19 

Memorandum (non-add) entries: 

3100 Obligated balance, start of year 62 82 116 

3200 Obligated balance, end of year 82 116 141 

Budget authority and outlays, net: Discretionary: 

4000 Budget authority, gross 216 225 227 

Outlays, gross: 

4010 Outlays from new discretionary authority 99 158 159 

4011 Outlays from discretionary balances 83 91 67 

4020 Outlays, gross (total) 182 249 226 

Offsets against gross budget authority and outlays: 

Offsetting collections (collected) from: 

4030 Federal sources -43 -37 -37 

4033 Non-Federal sources -59 0 0 

4034 Offsetting governmental collections 0 -124 -124 

4040 Offsets against gross budget authority and outlays 

(total) 

-102 -161 -161 

Additional offsets against gross budget authority only: 

4050 Change in uncollected payments, Federal sources, 

unexpired 

2 0 0 

4070 Budget authority, net (discretionary) 116 64 66 

4080 Outlays, net (discretionary) 80 88 65 

4180 Budget authority, net (total) 116 64 66 

4190 Outlays, net (total) 80 88 65 

Memorandum (non-add) entries 

5090 Unavailable balance, SOY: Offsetting collections 0 6 6 

5091 Unavailable balance, EOY: Offsetting collections 6 6 6 

* Unobligated Balance of $2M was brought forward from BOEMRE and transferred from 

BOEM to BSEE. 

74 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAX Tables and Budget Schedules 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement (OSEE) 

Object Classification 

(dollars in millions) 

Treasury Account ID: 14-1700 

2013 

Actual 

2014 

Estimate 

2015 

Estimate 

OSEE (Direct Obligations) 

1111 Personnel compensation: Full-time permanent 52 57 59 

1121 Civilian personnel benefits 16 17 17 

1210 Travel and transportation of persons 1 3 3 

1231 Rental payments to GSA 9 9 9 

1251 Advisory and assistance services 6 1 1 

1252 Other services from non-Federal sources 56 130 106 

1253 Other goods and services from Federal sources 11 1 1 

1255 Research and development contracts 4 14 14 

1260 Supplies and materials 1 3 3 

1310 Equipment 4 1 1 

1410 Grants, subsidies, and contributions 10 

1990 Subtotal, obligations 160 246 214 

OSEE (Reimbursable Obligations) 

2111 Personnel compensation: Full-time permanent 12 12 12 

2121 Civilian personnel benefits 3 3 3 

2231 Rental payments to GSA 6 5 5 

2251 Advisory and assistance services 5 3 3 

2252 Other services from non-Federal sources 4 5 5 

2253 Other goods and services from Federal sources 9 8 8 

2255 Research and development contracts 1 0 0 

2310 Equipment 2 1 1 

2990 Subtotal, obligations 42 37 37 

9999 Total new obligations 202 283 251 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 75 
 

 

 

 

MAX Tables and Budget Schedules 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Oil Spill Research (OSR) 

Program and Financing 

(dollars in millions) 

Treasury Account ID: 14-8370 

2013 

Actual 

2014 

Estimate 

2015 

Estimate 

Obligations by program activity 

0001 Direct program activity 13 20 18 

0900 Total new obligations 13 20 18 

Budgetary Resources : Unobligated balance: 

1000 Unobligated balance brought forward, Oct 1 6 8 3 

Budget Authority: Appropriations, discretionary 

1101 Appropriation (special or trust fund) 15 15 15 

1132 Appropriations temporarily reduced – sequester -1 0 0 

1160 Appropriation, discretionary (total) 14 15 15 

Spending authority from offsetting collections, discretionary: 

1700 Collected 1 0 0 

1750 Spending authority from offsetting collections, 

discretionary (total) 

1 0 0 

1900 Budget authority (total) 15 15 15 

1930 Total budgetary resources available 21 23 18 

Memorandum (non-add) entries: 

1941 Unexpired unobligated balance, end of year 8 3 0 

Change in obligated balance: Unpaid obligations: 

3000 Unpaid obligations, brought forward, Oct 1 10 13 15 

3010 Obligations incurred, unexpired accounts 13 20 18 

3020 Outlays (gross) -10 -18 -15 

3050 Unpaid obligations, end of year 13 15 18 

Memorandum (non-add) entries: 

3100 Obligated balance, start of year 10 13 15 

3200 Obligated balance, end of year 13 15 18 

Budget authority and outlays, net: Discretionary: 

4000 Budget authority, gross 15 15 15 

Outlays, gross: 

4010 Outlays from new discretionary authority 4 8 8 

4011 Outlays from discretionary balances 6 10 7 

4020 Outlays, gross (total) 10 18 15 

76 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
 

 

 

MAX Tables and Budget Schedules 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Oil Spill Research (OSR) 

Program and Financing (continued) 

(dollars in millions) 

Treasury Account ID: 14-8370 

2013 

Actual 

2014 

Estimate 

2015 

Estimate 

Offsets against gross budget authority and outlays: 

Offsets against gross budget authority and outlays: 

4033 Non-Federal sources -1 

4070 Budget authority, net (discretionary) 14 15 15 

4080 Outlays, net (discretionary) 9 18 15 

4180 Budget authority, net (total) 14 15 15 

4190 Outlays, net (total) 9 18 15 

Object Classification 

(dollars in millions) 

Treasury Account ID: 14-8370 

2013 

Actual 

2014 

Estimate 

2015 

Estimate 

OSR (Direct Obligations) 

1111 Personnel compensation: Full-time permanent 2 2 2 

1121 Civilian Personnel Benefits 1 1 1 

1252 Other services from non-Federal sources 3 7 5 

1255 Research and development contracts 6 10 10 

1990 Subtotal, obligations 12 20 18 

OSR (Reimbursable Obligations) 

2252 Other services from non-Federal sources 1 0 0 

9999 Total new obligations 13 20 18 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 77 
 

 

 

 

 

MAX Tables and Budget Schedules 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Oil Spill Research (OSR)
 

Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Supplemental
 

Appropriations Act of 2013
 

Program and Financing 

(dollars in millions) 

Treasury Account ID: 14-1920 

2013 

Actual 

2014 

Estimate 

2015 

Estimate 

Obligations by program activity 

0001 Direct program activity 3 0 0 

0900 Total new obligations 3 0 0 

Budgetary resources: Budget authority: Appropriations, discretionary: 

1100 Appropriation 3 0 0 

1930 Total budgetary resources available 3 0 0 

Change in obligated balance: Unpaid obligations: 

3000 Unpaid obligations, brought forward, Oct 1 0 2 0 

3010 Obligations incurred, unexpired accounts 3 0 0 

3020 Outlays (gross) -1 -2 0 

3050 Unpaid obligations, end of year 2 0 0 

Memorandum (non-add) entries: 

3100 Obligated balance, start of year 0 2 0 

3200 Obligated balance, end of year 2 0 0 

Budget authority and outlays, net: Discretionary: 

4000 Budget authority, gross 3 0 0 

Outlays, gross (total) 

4010 Outlays from new discretionary authority 1 0 0 

4011 Outlays from discretionary balances 0 2 0 

4020 Outlays, gross (total) 1 2 0 

4070 Budget authority, net (discretionary) 3 0 0 

4080 Outlays, net (discretionary) 1 2 0 

4180 Budget authority, net (total) 3 0 0 

4190 Outlays, net (total) 1 2 0 

78 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
 

 

MAX Tables and Budget Schedules 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Oil Spill Research (OSR)
 

Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Supplemental
 

Appropriations Act of 2013
 

Object Classification 

(dollars in millions) 

Treasury Account ID: 14-1920 

2013 

Actual 

2014 

Estimate 

2015 

Estimate 

OSR (Direct Obligations) 

1252 Other services from non-Federal sources 1 0 0 

1253 Other goods and services from Federal sources 2 0 0 

9999 Total new obligations 3 0 0 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 79 
 

MAX Tables and Budget Schedules 

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80 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
Authorizing Statutes 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 

Authorizing Statutes 

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Program 

43 U.S.C. 1331, et seq. The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act of 1953, as 

amended, extended the jurisdiction of the United States to the 

OCS and provided for granting of leases to develop offshore 

energy and minerals. 

 

P.L. 109-432 The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 required 

leasing certain areas in the Central and Eastern Gulf of Mexico 

Planning Areas within one year of enactment (December 20, 

2006); and established a moratoria on leasing in remaining areas 

in the eastern planning area and a portion of the central planning 

area until 2022. 

P.L. 109-58 The Energy Policy Act of 2005 amended the OCS Lands Act to 

give authority to the Department of the Interior to coordinate the 

development of an alternative energy program on the OCS and 

also to coordinate the energy and non-energy related uses in 

areas of the OCS where traditional oil and natural gas 

development already occur. 

P.L. 113-067 The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 contained provisions which 

approved the Agreement between the U.S. and the United 

Mexico States concerning Transboundary Hydrocarbon 

Reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico, and amended the OCS Lands 

Acts to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to implement the 

U.S.-Mexico Agreement and any future transboundary 

hydrocarbon reservoir agreements entered into by the President 

and approved by Congress. 

43 U.S.C. 4321, 4331-4335, The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 required 

4341-4347 that federal agencies consider in their decisions the 

environmental effects of proposed activities and that Agencies 

prepare environmental impact statements for Federal actions 

having a significant effect on the environment. 

16 U.S.C. 1451, et seq. The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, 

established goals for ensuring that Federal and industry activity 

in the coastal zone be consistent with coastal zone plans set by 

the States. 

16 U.S.C. 1531-1543 The Endangered Species Act of 1973 established procedures to 

ensure interagency cooperation and consultations to protect 

endangered and threatened species. 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 81 
 

Authorizing Statutes 

42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq. The Clean Air Act, as amended, was applied to all areas of the 

OCS except the central and western Gulf of Mexico. OCS 

activities in those non-excepted areas will require pollutant 

emission permits administered by the EPA or the States. 

P. L. 112-42, Section 432 Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012, amended the Clean 

Air Act by transferring air quality jurisdiction from the EPA to 

DOl for OCS activities in the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea 

OCS Planning Areas of the Arctic OCS. 

16 U.S.C. 470-470W6 The National Historic Preservation Act established procedures to 

ensure protection of significant archaeological resources. 

30 U.S.C. 21(a) The Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 set forth the 

continuing policy of the Federal Government to foster and 

encourage private enterprise in the orderly and economic 

development of domestic mineral resources and reserves. 

30 U.S.C. 1601 The Policy, Research and Development Act of 1970 set forth the 

continuing policy et seq. of the Federal Government to foster and 

encourage private enterprise in the orderly and economic 

development of domestic mineral resources and reserves. 

33 U.S.C. 2701, et seq. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 established a fund for 

compensation of damages resulting from oil pollution and 

provided for interagency coordination and for the performance of 

oil spill prevention and response research. It also expanded 

coverage of Federal requirements for oil spill response planning 

to include State waters and the transportation of oil. The Act 

also addressed other related regulatory issues. 

43 U.S.C. 1301 The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 

provided that the Secretary of Commerce must consult with the 

Secretary of the Interior prior to designating marine sanctuaries. 

BSEE provides oversight and enforcement for potential impacts 

from all OCS activities that may be located in or in proximity to 

marine sanctuaries and protected areas. 

16 U.S.C. 1361-1362, The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 provides for 

1371-1384, 1401-1407 the protection and welfare of marine mammals. 

 

P.L. 104-58 The Deepwater Royalty Relief Act provides royalty rate relief 

for offshore drilling in deepwater of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). 

31 U.S.C. 9701 Fees and Charges for Government Services and Things of 

Value. It establishes authority for Federal agencies to collect 

fees for services provided by the Government. Those fees must 

be fair and based on the costs to the Government; the value of 

the services or thing to the recipient; public policy or interest 

served; and other relevant facts. 

82 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorizing Statutes 

General Administration 

31 U.S.C. 65
 

31 U.S.C. 3901-3906
 

31 U.S.C. 3512
 

5 U.S.C. 552
 

31 U.S.C. 7501-7507
 

41 U.S.C. 35045
 

41 U.S.C. 351-357
 

41 U.S.C. 601-613
 

44 U.S.C. 35
 

44 U.S.C. 2101
 

40 U.S.C. 4868
 

31 U.S.C. 3501
 

31 U.S.C. 3501
 

31 U.S.C. 3711, 3716-19
 

31 U.S.C. 1501-1557
 

5 U.S.C. 1104 et seq.
 

31 U.S.C. 665-665(a)
 

41 U.S.C. 252
 

18 U.S.C. 1001
 

18 U.S.C. 287
 

41 U.S.C. 501-509
 

41 U.S.C. 253
 

41 U.S.C. 401
 

15 U.S.C. 631
 

Budget and Accounting Procedures Act of 1950
 

Prompt Payment Act of 1982
 

Federal Managers Financial Integrity Act of 1982
 

Freedom of Information Act of 1966, as amended
 

Single Audit Act of 1984
 

Walsh Healy Public Contracts Act of 1936
 

Service Contract Act of 1965
 

Contract Disputes Act of 1978
 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980
 

Federal Records Act 1950
 

Federal Acquisition Regulation of 1984
 

Privacy Act of 1974
 

Accounting and Collection
 

Claims
 

Appropriation Accounting
 

Delegation of Personnel Management Authority
 

Anti-Deficiency Act of 1905, as amended
 

Competition in Contracting Act of 1984
 

False Claims Act of 1982
 

False Statements Act of 1962
 

Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977
 

Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949
 

Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act of 1974, as
 

amended 

Small Business Act of 1953, as amended 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 83 
Authorizing Statutes 

15 U.S.C. 637 Small Business Act Amendments of 1978 

10 U.S.C. 137 Small Business and Federal Competition Enhancement Act of 

1984 

15 U.S.C. 638 Small Business Innovation Research Program of 1983 

10 U.S.C. 2306(f) Truth in Negotiations Act of 1962 Authorization 

Secretarial Order No. 3299 Directed the creation of the Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental 

Enforcement, and the Office of Natural Resources Revenue in 

May 2010, under the authority provided by Section 2 of 

Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1262). 

Secretarial Order No. 3302 Changed the Name of the Minerals Management Service to the 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and 

Enforcement in June 2010, under the authority provided by 

Section 2 of Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1262). 

Oil Spill Research 

33 U.S.C. 2701, et seq. Title VII of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 authorizes the use of 

the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, established by Section 9509 of 

the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 9509), for oil spill 

research. 

33 U.S.C. 2701, et seq. Title I, Section 1016, of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 requires a 

certification process which ensures that each responsible 

company, with respect to an offshore facility, has established, 

and maintains, evidence of financial responsibility in the amount 

of at least $150,000,000 to meet potential pollution liability. 

43 U.S.C. 1331, et seq. Section 21(b) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as 

amended, requires the use of the best available and safety 

technologies (BAST) and assurance that the use of up-to-date 

technology is incorporated into the regulatory process. 

Executive Order 12777 Signed October 18, 1991, assigned the responsibility to ensure 

oil spill financial responsibility for OCS facilities to the 

Secretary of the Interior (Bureau of Safety and Environmental 

Enforcement). 

 

84 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement