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The MMS Pacific
Region Office of Leasing and Environment conducts environmental
analyses and reviews on all OCS oil & gas projects. Environmental
reviews are conducted in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA), and projects are inspected, as appropriate, for
compliance with the full spectrum of conditions placed upon them.
NEPA Environmental
Reviews
As a primary
component of the Environmental Analysis Program, NEPA environmental
reviews are undertaken for all plans, revisions, and significant
changes to operations. MMS must comply with numerous environmental
laws, regulations, and executive orders to carry out its mission. To
achieve this, MMS staff scientists and analysts conduct pre-project
environmental reviews and analyses and consult and coordinate with
other Federal, State and local agencies on all
applicable laws
and regulations affecting OCS oil & gas projects. The development
of environmental mitigation measures to minimize project-specific
impacts often results from such analyses and consultation.
Environmental Compliance Monitoring
Program
The Pacific
Region conducts environmental compliance inspections during projects
to ensure conditions of approval placed on projects are implemented
and effective in protecting coastal and marine resources. MMS may be
assisted by other agencies and requires industry to check for
compliance with mitigation measures identified during the NEPA reviews
and for compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The MMS has
the authority to monitor and enforce these conditions and regulations
pursuant to 30 CFR 250 Subpart N. Operators who fail to comply with
the conditions of permit approvals or regulations, including
mitigating measures, are subject to warnings, equipment or facility
shut-ins, and civil or criminal penalties.
Coordination of Environmental Requirements
with Other Agencies
In addition to
the MMS Environmental Compliance Monitoring Program, MMS coordinates
and consults on compliance monitoring inspections with other
responsible agencies and assists those agencies in monitoring
requirements and conditions placed on new OCS oil and gas projects as
well as on-going operations.
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