On October 1st, The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) marked the completion of its first year as a Bureau. To recognize the day, Bureau leadership met with employees across the country and stakeholders to thank everyone for their support, highlight accomplishments and discuss the path forward.
In addition, Director Watson joined Secretary Salazar and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Tommy Beaudreau for a nationwide teleconference with employees from both BSEE and BOEM. Recognizing the significance of the day, Director Watson thanked all BSEE employees for their efforts and dedication to offshore safety.
This has been a busy year for BSEE as the Bureau completed the Final Drilling Safety Rule and set an aggressive regulatory agenda to enhance the reliability of blowout preventers, more effectively manage production safety systems, and build upon performance-based standards for Safety and Environmental Management Systems. In addition, BSEE updated guidance to the offshore oil and gas industry regarding oil spill response planning, incorporating lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting oil spill, and directed the first-ever, full scale deployment and pressurization test for a deepwater capping stack from dockside to nearly 200 miles offshore Texas, in almost 7,000 feet of water. The Bureau remains focused on spurring the development of enhanced technologies and promoting a culture of safety and environmental responsibility that enables the country to safely develop its offshore resources.
[mappress] Press Release, October 10, 2012