BSEE's responsibilities for the regulation of offshore energy development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) often overlap with the responsibilities and regulations of other Federal and State agencies. The Bureau works closely with these partners to ensure we approach this shared regulatory space in an efficient and consistent manner. The Bureau also leverages its limited resources through agreements with Federal and State agencies, as well as other partner entities. Examples of such non-monetary partnership agreements include Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs).

From 1982 to 2010, BSEE’s mission responsibilities were housed in our predecessor, the Mineral Management Service (MMS). MMS then, in 2010, became the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) before its functions were divided from October 2010 to October 2011 among three new agencies:  BSEE, Bureau of Ocean Management (BOEM), and ONRR (Office of Natural Resource Revenue).

Listed below are those active agreements in which BSEE has a current role. Some of these agreements still bear the names of our predecessor agencies (MMS and BOEMRE) as they predate the creation of BSEE. Any agreement signed at the Departmental level will reflect U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) as a party rather than BSEE, though BSEE’s role is captured in those agreements. Please note that agreements with more than one agency signatories are listed under each agency signatory for ease of reference.

If you have any questions regarding these agreements or this webpage, please contact interagency@bsee.gov.

Internal Department of the Interior (DOI) Partnerships

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

BSEE works closely with BOEM to manage the development of the OCS energy and mineral resources. BOEM studies the environment and leases resources on the OCS while BSEE provides regulatory oversight and enforcement. BOEM and BSEE also collaborate on Rigs to Reefs applications.

Year	Parties	Type	Title
2022	BSEE/BOEM/USCG	MOA	Joint Federal Planning for Oil Pollution Response and Decommissioning Procedures for Mississippi Canyon Blocks 20 and 21, and South Pass Block 73
2020	BOEM/BSEE	MOA	Renewable Energy
2020	BOEM/BSEE	MOU	Working Relationship between BSEE and BOEM in Managing OCS activities
2019	BOEM/BSEE	MOA	Bankruptcy Coordination
2018	BOEM/BSEE	MOA	NEPA and Environmental Compliance
2017	BOEM/BSEE/ONRR	MOA	Collaboration on Policies Relating to the Management of Proceeds from Financial Security in the Context of Bankruptcies Associated with Outer Continental Shelf Energy and Marine Exploration and Development
2014	BOEM/BSEE	MOU	Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico
2014	BOEM/BSEE/ONRR	MOU	Collaboration on Processes, Policies, and Systems Relating to the Management of OCS Energy and Marine Mineral Development
2014	BOEM/BSEE	MOA	Enforcement Activities
2011	BOEM/BSEE	MOA	Assignments, Bonding, and Pipelines
2011	BOEM/BSEE	MOA	Geological Data
2011	BOEM/BSEE	MOA	Marine Minerals
2011	BOEM/BSEE	MOA	Plans and Permits
2011	BOEM/BSEE	MOA	Royalty Relief

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS)

USFWS is dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats. In coordination with USFWS, BSEE operates the Protected Species Program throughout offshore energy programs on the OCS and monitors and protects animals identified in the Endangered Species Act.

Year	Parties	Type	Title
2009	MMS/USFWS	MOU	Implementation of Executive Order 13186, Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds
1985	MMS/USFWS	MOU	Section 7 Consultations under the Endangered Species Act

Office of Natural Resources (ONRR)

ONRR collects and disburses royalty revenues generated by energy production on federal lands, to include the OCS. BSEE performs meter inspections on behalf of ONRR to ensure companies are accurately reporting production totals.

Year	Parties	Type	Title
2017	BOEM/BSEE/ONRR	MOU	Collaboration on Policies Relating to the Management of Proceeds from Financial Security in the Context of Bankruptcies Associated with Outer Continental Shelf Energy and Marine Exploration and Development
2014	BOEM/BSEE/ONRR	MOU	Collaboration on Processes, Policies, and Systems Relating to the Management of OCS Energy and Marine Mineral Development

Other Federal Partnerships

Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanographic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA)

NOAA works to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts; to share that knowledge and information with others; and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) is specifically responsible for the stewardship of the nation's ocean resources and their habitat. In collaboration with NOAA, BSEE operates the Protected Species Program throughout offshore energy programs on the OCS, monitoring and protecting animals identified in the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammals Protection Act. NOAA and BSEE also coordinate under the National Artificial Reef Plan (see Rigs To Reef).

 

Year	Parties	Type	Title
1985	NOAA/MMS	DOC	Geological Data Dissemination

Department of Defense (DOD)

The DOD provides the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security. The DOD’s U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) delivers vital engineering solutions to secure our Nation, energize our economy, and reduce disaster risk. BSEE and USACE coordinate on projects which affect the OCS and shorelines. Both agencies coordinate under the National Artificial Reef Plan (see Rigs to Reefs).

Year	Parties	Type	Title
2018	BSEE/USACE	CACP	To Participate as a Cooperating Agency on the EIS for the Pebble Mine, specifically the Offshore Gas Pipeline in Cook Inlet
1999	MMS/USACE	MOA	Overarching Planning and Coordination Procedures for Congressionally-Authorized Shore Protection Projects

 

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

DOE works to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy (OFE) is responsible for federal research, development, and demonstration efforts on advanced power generation; power plant efficiency; water management; carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies; and emission control technologies, as well as the development of technological solutions for the prudent and sustainable development of our unconventional oil and gas domestic resources. BSEE and DOE work very closely together in the areas of spill prevention research, risk modeling, renewable energy initiatives, and technology research.

Year	Parties	Type	Title
2020	BSEE/DOE	MOC	Ongoing Cooperation
2000	MMS/DOE	MOU	The Implementation of and Participation in Technology Commercialization to Benefit Production in the Ultra Deepwater Gulf of Mexico

 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)

USCG safeguards the American people and promotes national security, border security, and economic prosperity in a complex and evolving maritime environment, saving those in peril and protecting the Nation from all maritime threats. BSEE and the USCG have closely aligned jurisdictional and regulatory responsibilities related to offshore energy development on the OCS. From offshore inspections to incident response and investigations, the two organizations collaborate extensively to reduce redundancy and ensure consistency and clarity for the regulated community. The two organizations work closely together on issues that touch on the organizations' shared regulatory space.

Year	Parties	Type	Title
2022	BSEE/BOEM/USCG	MOA	Joint Federal Planning for Oil Pollution Response and Decommissioning Procedures for Mississippi Canyon Blocks 20 and 21, and South Pass Block 73
2017	BSEE/USCG	MOA	Civil Penalties (MOA OCS-02)
2017	BSEE/USCG	MOA	Oil Discharge Planning, Preparedness, and Response (MOA OCS-03)
2017	BSEE/USCG	MOA	Incident Notifications and Investigations (MOA OCS-05)
2017	BSEE/USCG	MOA	Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) and Safety Management Systems (SMS) (MOA OCS-07)
2016	BSEE/USCG	MOA	Floating Offshore Facilities (MOA OCS-04)
2015	BSEE/USCG	IAP	Rule Sharing Protocol
2014	BSEE/USCG	MOA	Fixed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Facilities (MOA OCS-09)
2013	BSEE/USCG	MOA	Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) (MOA OCS-08)
2012	BSEE/USCG	MOU	Building a Partnership to Improve Safety and Environmental Protection
2011	BOEMRE/USCG	MOA	Offshore Renewable Energy Installations on the Outer Continental Shelf (MOA OCS-06)
1994	MMS/USCG/EPA	MOU	Jurisdictional Responsibilities for Offshore Facilities, including Pipelines

 

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) is the preeminent source of statistics on commercial aviation, multimodal freight activity, and transportation economics, and provides context to decision makers and the public for understanding statistics on transportation. BSEE and DTS collaborate in order to gather data regarding safety and pollution prevention on the OCS.

Year	Parties	Type	Title
2016	BSEE/BTS	MOU	Reporting and Analysis of Safety and Pollution Prevention Equipment Failures

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Maritime Administration (MARAD)

MARAD supports the technical aspects of America's maritime transportation infrastructure – things like ships and shipping, port and vessel operations, national security, environment, and safety, promoting the use of waterborne transportation, and ensure that its infrastructure integrates seamlessly with other methods of transportation. BSEE and MARAD collaborate on areas of regulatory overlap, such as deepwater ports.

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)

PHMSA establishes national policy, sets and enforces standards, educates, and conducts research to prevent incidents and to protect people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials that are essential to our daily lives. Oil, natural gas, and related liquids produced on the OCS are transported to shore primarily through the use of pipelines regulated by PHMSA. BSEE collaborates with PHMSA in the areas of pipeline safety, spill prevention and response and pipeline rights of way (ROWs).

Year	Parties	Type	Title
2020	DOI/DOT	MOU	Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)Pipelines

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

EPA works to ensure that Americans have clean air, land and water; national efforts to reduce environmental risks are based on the best available scientific information; federal laws protecting human health and the environment are administered and enforced fairly, effectively and as Congress intended; environmental stewardship is integral to U.S. policies concerning natural resources, human health, economic growth, energy, transportation, agriculture, industry, and international trade, and these factors are similarly considered in establishing environmental policy; and, contaminated lands and toxic sites are cleaned up by potentially responsible parties and revitalized. BSEE and EPA work cooperatively to protect the environment using different statutory authorities. BSEE coordinates with the EPA on compliance and enforcement matters related to energy development on the OCS, including facility inspections and enforcement of permit violations as they pertain to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).

Year	Parties	Type	Title
2021	DOI/EPA	MOU	Coordination of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Issuance and Enforcement with Outer Continental Shelf Activities
1994	MMS/USCG/EPA	MOU	Jurisdictional Responsibilities for Offshore Facilities, including Pipelines
1993	MMS/EPA	MOA	Coordinating EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Compliance Program with the MMS Offshore Inspection Program in the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Region (EPA Region 10)
1989	MMS/EPA	MOA	Coordinating National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Compliance with MMS Offshore Inspection Program in the Gulf of Mexico Region (EPA Region 6)
1989	MMS/EPA	MOA	Coordinating National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Compliance with MMS Offshore Inspection Program Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Region (EPA Region 9)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

NASA drives advances in science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration to enhance knowledge, education, innovation, economic vitality and stewardship of Earth. BSEE and NASA collaborate to capitalize on the best risk management approaches from the aeronautics industry to inform stakeholders and further strengthen worker and environmental safety protections on the OCS.

State Partnerships

The State of Alaska

Year	Parties	Type	Title
2018	BSEE/Alaska	MOU	Shared State/Federal Inspection Oversight of Northstar Production Island
1986	MMS/Alaska	MOA	Transferring to the State of Alaska Nonproprietary OCS Well Samples

The State of California

Year	Parties	Type	Title
2022	BSEE/California	MOU	California Offshore Oil Spill Planning, Preparedness, and Response
1999	MMS/California	MOA	Offshore California Pipeline Inspection Survey (OCPIS) Plan Process and Procedure
1983	MMS/California	MOU	Concerning Offshore Notification

The State of Louisiana

Year	Parties	Type	Title
2022	BSEE/Louisiana	MOU	Louisiana Offshore Oil Spill Planning, Preparedness, and Response

Committees and Groups

Alaska Research Library and Information Services (ARLIS)

ARLIS serves as a repository for research and information on Alaska’s natural and cultural resources.

Year	Parties	Type	Title
2008	ARLIS	MOU	The Organization and Operation of ARLIS