Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?mc=true&node=sp30.2.550.b&rgn=div6
Timestamp: 2020-02-25 07:00:58
Document Index: 385415844

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', 'art 2', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', 'arts 1500', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550', '§550']

Title 30 → Chapter V → Subchapter B → Part 550 → Subpart B
§550.200 Definitions.
§550.201 What plans and information must I submit before I conduct any activities on my lease or unit?
§550.202 What criteria must the Exploration Plan (EP), Development and Production Plan (DPP), or Development Operations Coordination Document (DOCD) meet?
§550.203 Where can wells be located under an EP, DPP, or DOCD?
§550.204 When must I submit my IOP for proposed Arctic exploratory drilling operations and what must the IOP include?
§550.205 [Reserved]
§550.206 How do I submit the IOP, EP, DPP, or DOCD?
§550.207 What ancillary activities may I conduct?
§550.208 If I conduct ancillary activities, what notices must I provide?
§550.209 What is the BOEM review process for the notice?
§550.210 If I conduct ancillary activities, what reporting and data/information retention requirements must I satisfy?
§550.231 After receiving the EP, what will BOEM do?
§550.233 What decisions will BOEM make on the EP and within what timeframe?
§550.235 If a State objects to the EP's coastal zone consistency certification, what can I do?
§550.266 After receiving the DPP or DOCD, what will BOEM do?
§550.267 What actions will BOEM take after the DPP or DOCD is deemed submitted?
§550.268 How does BOEM respond to recommendations?
§550.269 How will BOEM evaluate the environmental impacts of the DPP or DOCD?
§550.270 What decisions will BOEM make on the DPP or DOCD and within what timeframe?
§550.271 For what reasons will BOEM disapprove the DPP or DOCD?
§550.272 If a State objects to the DPP's or DOCD's coastal zone consistency certification, what can I do?
§550.273 How do I submit a modified DPP or DOCD or resubmit a disapproved DPP or DOCD?
§550.296 When and how must I submit a CID or a revision to a CID?
§550.298 How long will BOEM take to evaluate and make a decision on the CID?
§550.299 What operations require approval of the CID?
(a) Plans and documents. Before you conduct the activities on your lease or unit listed in the following table, you must submit, and BOEM must approve, the listed plans and documents. Your plans and documents may cover one or more leases or units.
(1) Exploration Plan (EP), Conduct any exploration activities on a lease or unit.
(2) Development and Production Plan (DPP), Conduct any development and production activities on a lease or unit in any OCS area other than the Western Gulf of Mexico.
(3) Development Operations Coordination Document (DOCD), Conduct any development and production activities on a lease or unit in the Western GOM.
(4) BSEE approved Deepwater Operations Plan (DWOP), Conduct post-drilling installation activities in any water depth associated with a development project that will involve the use of a non-conventional production or completion technology.
(5) Conservation Information Document (CID), Commence production from development projects in water depths greater than 1,312 feet (400 meters).
(6) EP, DPP, or DOCD, Conduct geological or geophysical (G&G) exploration or a development G&G activity (see definitions under §550.105) on your lease or unit when:
(iv) The Regional Supervisor, after reviewing a notice under §550.209, determines that an EP, DPP, or DOCD is necessary.
(d) Referencing. In preparing your proposed plan or document, you may reference information and data discussed in other plans or documents you previously submitted or that are otherwise readily available to BOEM.
(a) Conforms to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act as amended (Act), applicable implementing regulations, lease provisions and stipulations, and other Federal laws;
The Regional Supervisor reviews and approves proposed well location and spacing under an EP, DPP, or DOCD. In deciding whether to approve a proposed well location and spacing, the Regional Supervisor will consider factors including, but not limited to, the following:
(b) Protecting Federal royalty interests;
(c) Recovering optimum resources;
(d) Number of wells that can be economically drilled for proper reservoir management;
(e) Location of drilling units and platforms;
(f) Extent and thickness of the reservoir;
(g) Geologic and other reservoir characteristics;
(h) Minimizing environmental risk;
(i) Preventing unreasonable interference with other uses of the OCS; and
(j) Drilling of unnecessary wells.
If you propose exploratory drilling activities on the Arctic OCS, you must submit an Integrated Operations Plan (IOP) to the Regional Supervisor at least 90 days prior to filing your EP. Your IOP must describe how your exploratory drilling program will be designed and conducted in an integrated manner that accounts for Arctic OCS conditions and include the following information:
(a) A description of how all vessels and equipment will be designed, built, and/or modified to account for Arctic OCS conditions;
(b) A schedule of your exploratory drilling program, including contractor work on critical components of your program;
(c) A description of your mobilization and demobilization operations, including tow plans that account for Arctic OCS conditions, as well as your general maintenance schedule for vessels and equipment;
(d) A description of your exploratory drilling program objectives and timelines for each objective, including general plans for abandonment of the well(s), such as:
(1) Contingency plans for temporary abandonment in the event of ice encroachment at the drill site;
(2) Plans for permanent abandonment; and
(3) Plans for temporary seasonal abandonment.
(e) A description of your weather and ice forecasting capabilities for all phases of the exploration program, including a description of how you would respond to and manage ice hazards and weather events;
(f) A description of work to be performed by contractors supporting your exploration drilling program (including mobilization and demobilization), including:
(1) How such work will be designed or modified to account for Arctic OCS conditions; and
(2) Your concepts for contractor management, oversight, and risk management.
(g) A description of how you will ensure operational safety while working in Arctic OCS conditions, including but not limited to:
(1) The safety principles that you intend to apply to yourself and your contractors;
(2) The accountability structure within your organization for implementing such principles;
(3) How you will communicate such principles to your employees and contractors; and
(4) How you will determine successful implementation of such principles.
(h) Information regarding your preparations and plans for staging of oil spill response assets;
(i) A description of your efforts to minimize impacts of your exploratory drilling operations on local community infrastructure, including but not limited to housing, energy supplies, and services; and
(j) A description of whether and to what extent your project will rely on local community workforce and spill cleanup response capacity.
[81 FR 46565, July 15, 2016]
(a) Number of copies. When you submit an IOP, EP, DPP, or DOCD to BOEM, you must provide:
(2) Eight copies for public distribution (public information copies) that omit information that you assert is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552) and the implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2); and
(3) Any additional copies that may be necessary to facilitate review of the IOP, EP, DPP, or DOCD by certain affected States and other reviewing entities.
(b) Electronic submission. You may submit part or all of your IOP, EP, DPP, or DOCD and its accompanying information electronically. If you prefer to submit your IOP, EP, DPP, or DOCD electronically, ask the Regional Supervisor for further guidance.
(c) Withdrawal after submission. You may withdraw your proposed IOP, EP, DPP, or DOCD at any time for any reason. Notify the appropriate BOEM OCS Region if you do.
Before or after you submit an EP, DPP, or DOCD to BOEM, you may elect, the regulations in this part may require, or the Regional Supervisor may direct you to conduct ancillary activities. Ancillary activities include:
(a) Geological and geophysical (G&G) explorations and development G&G activities;
(b) Geological and high-resolution geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, biological, physical oceanographic, meteorological, socioeconomic, or other surveys; or
(c) Studies that model potential oil and hazardous substance spills, drilling muds and cuttings discharges, projected air emissions, or potential hydrogen sulfide (H2S) releases.
At least 30 calendar days before you conduct any G&G exploration or development G&G activity (see §550.207(a)), you must notify the Regional Supervisor in writing.
(2) Provide the names of the vessel, its operator, and the person(s) in charge; the specific type(s) of operations you will conduct; and the instrumentation/techniques and vessel navigation system you will use;
(1) Give written notice to BOEM at least 15 calendar days before you conduct any other ancillary activity (see §550.207(b) and (c)) in addition to those listed in §550.207(a); and
The Regional Supervisor will review any notice required under §550.208(a) and (b)(1) to ensure that your ancillary activity complies with the performance standards listed in §550.202(a), (b), (d), and (e). The Regional Supervisor may notify you that your ancillary activity does not comply with those standards. In such a case, the Regional Supervisor will require you to submit an EP, DPP, or DOCD and you may not start your ancillary activity until the Regional Supervisor approves the EP, DPP, or DOCD.
(a) Reporting. The Regional Supervisor may require you to prepare and submit reports that summarize and analyze data or information obtained or derived from your ancillary activities. When applicable, BOEM will protect and disclose the data and information in these reports in accordance with §550.197(b).
(b) Data and information retention. You must retain copies of all original data and information, including navigation data, obtained or derived from your G&G explorations and development G&G activities (see §550.207(a)), including any such data and information you obtained from previous leaseholders or unit operators. You must submit such data and information to BOEM for inspection and possible retention upon request at any time before lease or unit termination. When applicable, BOEM will protect and disclose such submitted data and information in accordance with §550.197(b).
(1) The submitted information, including the information that must accompany the EP (refer to the list in §550.212), fulfills requirements and is sufficiently accurate;
(2) You have provided all needed additional information (see §550.201(b)); and
(3) You have provided the required number of copies (see §550.206(a)).
(b) Identify problems and deficiencies. If the Regional Supervisor determines that you have not met one or more of the conditions in paragraph (a) of this section, the Regional Supervisor will notify you of the problem or deficiency within 15 working days after the Regional Supervisor receives your EP and its accompanying information. The Regional Supervisor will not deem your EP submitted until you have corrected all problems or deficiencies identified in the notice.
(c) Deemed submitted notification. The Regional Supervisor will notify you when the EP is deemed submitted.
(a) Timeframe. The Regional Supervisor will take one of the actions shown in the table in paragraph (b) of this section within 30 calendar days after the Regional Supervisor deems your EP submitted under §550.231, or receives the last amendment to your proposed EP, whichever occurs later.
(b) BOEM decision. By the deadline in paragraph (a) of this section, the Regional Supervisor will take one of the following actions:
supervisor will . . .
(1) Approve your EP, It complies with all applicable requirements, The Regional Supervisor will notify you in writing of the decision and may require you to meet certain conditions, including those to provide monitoring information.
(2) Require you to modify your proposed EP, The Regional Supervisor finds that it is inconsistent with the lease, the Act, the regulations prescribed under the Act, or other Federal laws, The Regional Supervisor will notify you in writing of the decision and describe the modifications you must make to your proposed EP to ensure it complies with all applicable requirements.
(3) Disapprove your EP, Your proposed activities would probably cause serious harm or damage to life (including fish or other aquatic life); property; any mineral (in areas leased or not leased); the National security or defense; or the marine, coastal, or human environment; and you cannot modify your proposed activities to avoid such condition(s), (i) The Regional Supervisor will notify you in writing of the decision and describe the reason(s) for disapproving your EP.
(ii) BOEM may cancel your lease and compensate you under 43 U.S.C. 1334(a)(2)(C) and the implementing regulations in §§550.182, 550.184, and 550.185 and 30 CFR 556.77.
If an affected State objects to the coastal zone consistency certification accompanying your proposed EP within the timeframe prescribed in §550.233(a) or §550.234(c), you may do one of the following:
(a) Amend your EP. Amend your EP to accommodate the State's objection and submit the amendment to the Regional Supervisor for approval. The amendment needs to only address information related to the State's objection.
(1) Grant your appeal by finding, under section 307(c)(3)(B)(iii) of the CZMA (16 U.S.C. 1456(c)(3)(B)(iii)), that each activity described in detail in your EP is consistent with the objectives of the CZMA, or is otherwise necessary in the interest of National security; or
(1) The submitted information, including the information that must accompany the DPP or DOCD (refer to the list in §550.242), fulfills requirements and is sufficiently accurate;
(b) Identify problems and deficiencies. If the Regional Supervisor determines that you have not met one or more of the conditions in paragraph (a) of this section, the Regional Supervisor will notify you of the problem or deficiency within 25 working days after the Regional Supervisor receives your DPP or DOCD and its accompanying information. The Regional Supervisor will not deem your DPP or DOCD submitted until you have corrected all problems or deficiencies identified in the notice.
(c) Deemed submitted notification. The Regional Supervisor will notify you when your DPP or DOCD is deemed submitted.
(a) State, local government, CZMA consistency, and other reviews. Within 2 working days after the Regional Supervisor deems your DPP or DOCD submitted under §550.266, the Regional Supervisor will use receipted mail or alternative method to send a public information copy of the DPP or DOCD and its accompanying information to the following:
(1) The Governor of each affected State. The Governor has 60 calendar days after receiving your deemed-submitted DPP or DOCD to submit comments and recommendations. The Regional Supervisor will not consider comments and recommendations received after the deadline.
(2) The executive of any affected local government who requests a copy. The executive of any affected local government has 60 calendar days after receipt of your deemed-submitted DPP or DOCD to submit comments and recommendations. The Regional Supervisor will not consider comments and recommendations received after the deadline. The executive of any affected local government must forward all comments and recommendations to the respective Governor before submitting them to the Regional Supervisor.
(3) The CZMA agency of each affected State. The CZMA consistency review period under section 307(c)(3)(B)(ii) of the CZMA (16 U.S.C.1456(c)(3)(B)(ii)) and 15 CFR 930.78 begins when the States CZMA agency receives a copy of your deemed-submitted DPP or DOCD, consistency certification, and required necessary data/information (see 15 CFR 930.77(a)(1)).
(b) General public. Within 2 working days after the Regional Supervisor deems your DPP or DOCD submitted under §550.266, the Regional Supervisor will make a public information copy of the DPP or DOCD and its accompanying information available for review to any appropriate interstate regional entity and the public at the appropriate BOEM Regional Public Information Office. Any interested Federal agency or person may submit comments and recommendations to the Regional Supervisor. Comments and recommendations must be received by the Regional Supervisor within 60 calendar days after the DPP or DOCD including its accompanying information is made available.
(c) BOEM compliance review. The Regional Supervisor will review the development and production activities in your proposed DPP or DOCD to ensure that they conform to the performance standards in §550.202.
(d) Amendments. During the review of your proposed DPP or DOCD, the Regional Supervisor may require you, or you may elect, to change your DPP or DOCD. If you elect to amend your DPP or DOCD, the Regional Supervisor may determine that your DPP or DOCD, as amended, is subject to the requirements of §550.266.
The Regional Supervisor will evaluate the environmental impacts of the activities described in your proposed DPP or DOCD and prepare environmental documentation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C.4321 et seq.) and the implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508).
(a) Environmental impact statement (EIS) declaration. At least once in each OCS planning area (other than the Western and Central GOM Planning Areas), the Director will declare that the approval of a proposed DPP is a major Federal action, and BOEM will prepare an EIS.
(c) Draft EIS. The Regional Supervisor will send copies of the draft EIS to the Governor of each affected State and to the executive of each affected local government who requests a copy. Additionally, when BOEM prepares a DPP EIS, and the Federally-approved CZMA program for an affected State requires a DPP NEPA document for use in determining consistency, the Regional Supervisor will forward a copy of the draft EIS to the State's CZMA agency. The Regional Supervisor will also make copies of the draft EIS available to any appropriate Federal agency, interstate regional entity, and the public.
(1) The Regional Supervisor will make a decision within 60 calendar days after the latest of the day that:
(i) The comment period provided in §550.267(a)(1), (a)(2), and (b) closes;
(ii) The final EIS for a DPP is released or adopted; or
(iii) The last amendment to your proposed DOCD is received by the Regional Supervisor.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(1) of this section, BOEM will not approve your DPP or DOCD until either:
(i) All affected States with approved CZMA programs concur, or have been conclusively presumed to concur, with your DPP or DOCD consistency certification under section 307(c)(3)(B)(i) and (ii) of the CZMA (16 U.S.C. 1456(c)(3)(B)(i) and (ii)); or
(ii) The Secretary of Commerce has made a finding authorized by section 307(c)(3)(B)(iii) of the CZMA (16 U.S.C. 1456(c)(3)(B)(iii)) that each activity described in the DPP or DOCD is consistent with the objectives of the CZMA, or is otherwise necessary in the interest of National security.
The regional supervisor will . . .
(1) Approve your DPP or DOCD, It complies with all applicable requirements, The Regional Supervisor will notify you in writing of the decision and may require you to meet certain conditions, including those to provide monitoring information.
(2) Require you to modify your proposed DPP or DOCD, It fails to make adequate provisions for safety, environmental protection, or conservation of natural resources or otherwise does not comply with the lease, the Act, the regulations prescribed under the Act, or other Federal laws, The Regional Supervisor will notify you in writing of the decision and describe the modifications you must make to your proposed DPP or DOCD to ensure it complies with all applicable requirements.
(3) Disapprove your DPP or DOCD, Any of the reasons in §550.271 apply, (i) The Regional Supervisor will notify you in writing of the decision and describe the reason(s) for disapproving your DPP or DOCD; and
(ii) BOEM may cancel your lease and compensate you under 43 U.S.C. 1351(h)(2)(C) and the implementing regulations in §§550.183 through 550.185 and 30 CFR 556.77.
The Regional Supervisor will disapprove your proposed DPP or DOCD if one of the four reasons in this section applies:
(a) Non-compliance. The Regional Supervisor determines that you have failed to demonstrate that you can comply with the requirements of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as amended (Act), implementing regulations, or other applicable Federal laws.
(b) No consistency concurrence. (1) An affected State has not yet issued a final decision on your coastal zone consistency certification (see 15 CFR 930.78(a)); or
(2) An affected State objects to your coastal zone consistency certification, and the Secretary of Commerce, under section 307(c)(3)(B)(iii) of the CZMA (16 U.S.C. 1456(c)(3)(B)(iii)), has not found that each activity described in the DPP or DOCD is consistent with the objectives of the CZMA or is otherwise necessary in the interest of National security.
(3) If the Regional Supervisor disapproved your DPP or DOCD for the sole reason that an affected State either has not yet issued a final decision on, or has objected to, your coastal zone consistency certification (see paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) in this section), the Regional Supervisor will approve your DPP or DOCD upon receipt of concurrence by the affected State, at the time concurrence of the affected State is conclusively presumed, or when the Secretary of Commerce makes a finding authorized by section 307(c)(3)(B)(iii) of the CZMA (16 U.S.C. 1456(c)(3)(B)(iii)) that each activity described in your DPP or DOCD is consistent with the objectives of the CZMA, or is otherwise necessary in the interest of National security. In that event, you do not need to resubmit your DPP or DOCD for approval under §550.273(b).
(d) Exceptional circumstances. The Regional Supervisor determines because of exceptional geological conditions, exceptional resource values in the marine or coastal environment, or other exceptional circumstances that all of the following apply:
(1) Implementing your DPP or DOCD would cause serious harm or damage to life (including fish and other aquatic life), property, any mineral deposits (in areas leased or not leased), the National security or defense, or the marine, coastal, or human environment;
(a) Amend or resubmit your DPP or DOCD. Amend or resubmit your DPP or DOCD to accommodate the State's objection and submit the amendment or resubmittal to the Regional Supervisor for approval. The amendment or resubmittal needs to only address information related to the State's objections.
(1) Grant your appeal by finding under section 307(c)(3)(B)(iii) of the CZMA (16 U.S.C.1456(c)(3)(B)(iii)) that each activity described in detail in your DPP or DOCD is consistent with the objectives of the CZMA, or is otherwise necessary in the interest of National security; or
(a) Modified DPP or DOCD. If the Regional Supervisor requires you to modify your proposed DPP or DOCD under §550.270(b)(2), you must submit the modification(s) to the Regional Supervisor in the same manner as for a new DPP or DOCD. You need submit only information related to the proposed modification(s).
(b) Resubmitted DPP or DOCD. If the Regional Supervisor disapproves your DPP or DOCD under §550.270(b)(3), and except as provided in §550.271(b)(3), you may resubmit the disapproved DPP or DOCD if there is a change in the conditions that were the basis of its disapproval.
(c) BOEM review and timeframe. The Regional Supervisor will use the performance standards in §550.202 to either approve, require you to further modify, or disapprove your modified or resubmitted DPP or DOCD. The Regional Supervisor will make a decision within 60 calendar days after the Regional Supervisor deems your modified or resubmitted DPP or DOCD to be submitted, or receives the last amendment to your modified or resubmitted DPP or DOCD, whichever occurs later.
(a) You must submit one original and two copies of a CID to the appropriate OCS Region at the same time you first submit your DOCD or DPP for any development of a lease or leases located in water depths greater than 400 meters (1,312 feet). You must also submit a CID for a Supplemental DOCD or DPP when requested by the Regional Supervisor. The submission of your CID must be accompanied by payment of the service fee listed in §550.125.
(b) If you decide not to develop a reservoir you committed to develop in your CID, you must submit one original and two copies of a revision to the CID to the appropriate OCS Region. The revision to the CID must be submitted within 14 calendar days after making your decision not to develop the reservoir and before the reservoir is bypassed. The Regional Supervisor will approve or disapprove any such revision to the original CID. If the Regional Supervisor disapproves the revision, you must develop the reservoir as described in the original CID.
(a) The Regional Supervisor will make a decision within 150 calendar days of receiving your CID. If BOEM does not act within 150 calendar days, your CID is considered approved.
(b) BOEM may suspend the 150-calendar-day evaluation period if there is missing, inconclusive, or inaccurate data, or when a well reaches total depth during the evaluation period. BOEM may also suspend the evaluation period when a well penetrating a hydrocarbon-bearing structure reaches total depth during the evaluation period and the data from that well is needed for the CID. You will receive written notification from the Regional Supervisor describing the additional information that is needed, and the evaluation period will resume once BOEM receives the requested information.
(c) The Regional Supervisor will approve or deny your CID request based on your commitment to develop economically producible reservoirs according to sound conservation, engineering, and economic practices.
You may not begin production before you receive BOEM approval of the CID.