6282 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 21 / Wednesday, February 1, 1995 / Notices
Minerals Management Service
Request for Comments Concerning the Effect of Removing Oil and Gas Platforms and Structures in the Outer
Continental Shelf
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The MMS is assessing oil and gas platform and structure removal techniques. The assessment will focus on safety and environmental issues. This document requests comment regarding the effects of using various removal techniques.
DATES: The MMS must receive comments to this notice on or before March 3, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the Interior: Minerals Management Service; MS—4700; 381 Elden Street; Herndon, Virginia 22070-4817: Attention: Acting Chief, Technology Assessment and Research Branch.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles E. Smith, Acting Chief, Technology Assessment and Research Branch, telephone (703) 787-1559.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At the request of MMS, the Marine Board of the National Research Council (NRC) is assessing techniques for removing fixed offshore structures. The assessment will determine the occupational hazards and environmental effects of removal processes, determine techniques to mitigate undesirable effects, and appraise current regulations government the removal of platforms and structures located in the OCS. The study will evaluate both explosive and nonexplosive removal offshore structures, their hazards and effects, and mitigating strategies. The MMS offers the following information and questions to assist you in your response to this notice.
Requirements for Removal
-
Current regulations require that lessees remove all structures to a depth of 15 feet below the mud line. The MMS is inviting the public, including other users of ocean space (boaters, fishers, conservationists, etc.) to comment on the need for this requirement and to bring to the attention of the NRC committee any information that MMS should consider in assessing and updating this requirement.
Status of Technology
-
What are the alternatives to the removal of offshore structures?
-
What new approaches or improvements to existing techniques for removing offshore structures are in development?
-
What are the requirements and/or limitations of the existing or new techniques relative to different water depths or soil types?
Economic Costs
-
What are the comparative costs of explosive versus nonexplosive techniques for removing offshore structures.
-
Are new technologies in development likely to alter the comparative economics of alternative approaches?
Hazards
-
What are the environmental hazards of explosive and nonexplosive removal techniques?
-
What are the occupational hazards of explosive and nonexplosive removal techniques?
Impacts
-
What are the direct and indirect impacts on living marine resources (fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, etc.) from explosive removal of offshore structures (for example: direct=mortality, injury. indirect=damage to habitats, damage to overall health and survivability, etc.)?
-
What are the direct and indirect impacts of living marine resources form nonexplosive removal of offshore structures?
-
How do alternative removal techniques affect other users of the marine environment (fishers, recreational boaters, ship operators, others)?
Regulations
-
Do other users of the marine environment have needs that MMS should take into account in regulations for full or partial platform removal and for site clearance?
-
Are existing MMS regulations and operating rules governing the removal of offshore structures adequate?
Dated: January 25, 1995.
Thomas M. Gernhofer.
Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management.
(FR Doc. 95-2376 Filed 1-31-95: 8:45 a.m.)
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M
LIST OF RESPONDENTS
-
National Ocean Industries Association
-
Samedan Oil Corporation
-
Amoco Corporation
-
Mobil Exploration and Producing U.S., Inc.
-
Chevron, U.S.A., Inc.
-
Phillips Petroleum Company
-
Shell Offshore, Inc.
-
State of Louisiana (U.S. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries)
-
DALEN Resources Oil and Gas Company
-
Explosive Service International, Ltd.
-
Kenny Enterprises, Inc.
-
CNG Producing Company
-
Unocal
-
California Coastal Commission
-
Offshore Operators Committee