Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) are formal documents that provide clarification, description, or interpretation of a regulation or OCS standard; provide guidelines on the implementation of a special lease stipulation or regional requirement; provide a better understanding of the scope and meaning of a regulation by explaining BSEE interpretation of a requirement; or transmit administrative information such as current telephone listings and a change in BSEE personnel or office address. Letters to Lessees and Operators (LTLs) and Information to Lessees and Operators (ITLs) are also formal documents that provide additional information and clarification, or interpretation of a regulation, OCS standard, or regional requirement, or provide a better understanding of the scope and meaning of a regulation by explaining BSEE interpretation of a requirement.
To view expired or superseded NTLs, select a different NTL status and select submit.
On April 27, 2016, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) issued Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) No. 2016-N03, Reporting Requirements for Decommissioning Expenditures on the OCS, to provide guidance and clarification regarding regulatory requirements pertaining to the submission of certified decommissioning expenditure summaries following the permanent plugging of any well, removal of any platform or other facility, and clearance and verification of any site. BSEE amended its regulations addressing decommissioning expenditure reporting, effective December 16, 2016, by including requirements for the submittal of certified summaries of decommissioning expenditures for right-of-way (ROW) and lease term pipelines. The additional requirements concerning the submission of certified decommissioning expenditures summaries are found at 30 CFR 250.1704(i).1 As a practical matter, BSEE recognizes, and prefers, that the operator submit the required summary of decommissioning costs on behalf of the lessees, the owners of operating rights, or the pipeline ROW holders. The summaries must be submitted within 120 days after completion of each decommissioning activity.
Provides guidance and clarification regarding submission of certified decommissioning cost expenditure summaries following permanent plugging of any well, removal of any platform or other facility, clearance and verification of any site, and decommissioning of pipeline segments.
The purpose of this Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is to provide updated information regarding BSEE’s assessment of civil penalties for violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and its implementing regulations. This NTL replaces NTL No. 2016-N05. Effective February 3, 2017, the maximum civil penalty amount will increase to $42,704 per day per violation in accordance with the authorities described below. BSEE has revised the Civil Penalty Assessment Matrix below to reflect the increased maximum civil penalty amount per day per violation. The increase in the OCSLA maximum civil penalty amount and the revised Civil Penalty Assessment Matrix apply to civil penalties assessed on and after February 3, 2017, even when the associated violation(s) predates February 3, 2017.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) provides updated guidance for requesting approval to flare or vent natural gas and clarification on the discretionary authority of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) for approving such requests. This NTL also updates BSEE contact information for requesting such approvals. It supersedes NTL No. 201 l-N02, dated February 8, 2011.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL Nos. 2010-G02, 2010-P03, and related guidance on this subject. Pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is issuing this NTL to clarify and provide more detail about how to submit well records required by the Records and Reporting regulations at 30 CFR 250.740 – 250.745 (new section numbers as of July 28, 2016) for all OCS.
Clarify how to submit well records to BSEE with appropriate dates, locations, and region-specific requirements, using the eWell electronic well permitting system
Due to fiscal year-end closeout, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) will disable the Fees for Services Refund Request Form from 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday, September 9, 2016, to 9:00 a.m. Monday, October 3, 2016.
The purpose of this Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is to provide updated information regarding BSEE’s assessment of civil penalties for violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). This NTL replaces NTL No. 2011-N06. Effective July 28, 2016, the maximum civil penalty amount will increase to $42,017 per day per violation in accordance with the authorities described below. BSEE has revised the Civil Penalty Assessment Matrix below to reflect the increased maximum civil penalty amount per day per violation. The increase in the OCSLA maximum civil penalty amount and the revised Civil Penalty Assessment Matrix apply to civil penalties assessed on and after July 28, 2016, even when the associated violation(s) predates July 28, 2016.
Remains Active past Expiration Date due to Continuing Resolution for Appropriations. The purpose of this NTL is to inform you that the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) will collect inspection fees from you for FY 2016 as required by Division G, Section 107 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113), on behalf of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).
ONRR will collect inspection fees from the designated operator of facilities above the waterline, excluding drilling rigs that were in place at the start of FY 2016. For drilling rigs (see definition), ONRR will collect inspection fees for all inspections completed during FY 2016, commencing on the first day of the Federal fiscal year (October 1, 2015). All subsea completions are counted as wells delivering production to a central facility and not as individual facilities requiring a separate inspection fee. Please note that ONRR has already invoiced the designated operators of facilities above the waterline, and for inspections of drilling rigs that have occurred through April 2016.
In addition, prior NTLs on this topic included a statement that structures in State waters that have bottom-founded wells in Federal waters are not subject to the inspection fee. Based on further review and interpretation of the appropriations language, this statement has been removed and the determination made that such structures are subject to the applicable inspection fees.
Describes process for regulated entities to use electronic methods for responding to INCs, request time extensions, and rescissions with curative measures undertaken in lieu of submitting paper copies if INCS and letters.
This Notice To Lessees (NTL) will supersede NTL 2015-N01. This NTL provides:
Notification of the approaching March 31st deadline to submit Form BSEE-0131, Performance Measures Data, for the prior calendar year;
The website to obtain Form BSEE-0131 and instructions on how to fill out the form, how to submit it, and more information about the OCS Performance Measures Program; and
Clarification on how to report hours worked on Form BSEE-0131.
Due to fiscal year-end closeout, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) will disable the Fees for Services Refund Request Form from 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday, September 11, 2015, to 9:00 a.m. Thursday, October 1, 2015.
In addition, BSEE will disable Pay.Gov forms and payment options for eWell, online ordering and public information systems from 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday September 25, 2015, to 9:00 a.m. Thursday, October 1, 2015. September 25th is the final day for accepting payments.
This NTL provides guidance and clarification of the regulations related to cementing requirements and the steps necessary to address indications or identification of an inadequate cement job.
Clarifies regulations for cementing requirements and the steps necessary to address indications of inadequate cement job.
Effective June 1, 2015, the U.S. Treasury lowered the maximum dollar amount allowed for a credit card collection. The maximum amount that can be charged to a credit cared in one day has been lowered from $49,999.99 to $24,999.99; this change affects Pay.gov credit card payments. The ACH (electronic check) remittance is to be used for payments greater than $24,999.99.
Lowers amount that can charged on credit card transactions for purposes of paying fees to BSEE.
This NTL supersedes NTL No. 2011-G01. It provides guidance on using either e-mail or the eWell Permitting and Reporting System to report hurricane and tropical storm effects information, specifies the information included in the various hurricane and tropical storm reports, and makes minor administrative amendments.
Guidance on how to submit records of evacuation results, production shut-in measures, facility damages, and pollution reports, both via email and electronically.
Active
General Requirements, Hurricane and Tropical Storm Effects Reports
This NTL is issued pursuant to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s regulations under 30 CRF 250.103 and 30 CFR 250.180(e). It provides guidance and clarification in response to recent questions from the offshore oil and gas industry regarding the granting of more than 180 days between drilling operations on leases continued beyond their primary terms.
This National Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) provides information and guidance about the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) electronic Production Facility Safety System Application submittal and tracking system.
Provides option to submit electronic records of production system safety compliance data to Gulf Region.
This NTL, which supersedes NTL 2013-G-01 , provides guidance and clarification for:
Outfitting all MODUs with multiple Global Positioning System (GPS) transponders;
Providing the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) real-time GPS location data; and
Notifying BSEE how you will provide access to real-time GPS location data and information about any instance when a MODU moves off location in a storm event.
This NTL is being issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103, and 250.300, to provide information on the Offshore Operators Committee (OOC) marine trash and debris awareness training video and slide show. This NTL also provides the mailing and email addresses for submitting annual training reports. This NTL supersedes and replaces NTL No. 2012-GO1, effective January 1, 2012, on this subject and applies to all existing and future oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico OCS unless and until expressly superseded.
Provides BSEE email and physical address to submit annual training reports for prevention of marine debris discharge from platforms and vessels in ocean waters
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) provides notification of a change of address for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Headquarters Offices from Herndon, VA to Sterling, VA. Phone numbers for this office remain unchanged. This NTL also clarifies that, until BSEE revises, reissues, or withdraws published NTLs that reference the former BSEE Headquarters Offices at 381 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170, such references shall be deemed to apply to its office at 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166.
Address change of BSEE Headquarters from 381 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170 to 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166.
Active
Administrative / Office and Program Contact Information
This NTL provides guidance on BSEE's interpretation of 30 CFR 250.132(a)(2), which requires lessees and operators to provide helicopter landing sites and refueling facilities to helicopters BSEE uses to regulate offshore operations.
Explains regulations authorizing emergency landings and refueling requirements of BSEE helicopters at lessee platforms in GOM.
This NTL is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and superseded NTL No. 2007-G12, Contact with District Offices and Pipeline Section Outside Regular Work Hours, effective April 4, 2007. It updates the New Orleans, Houma, Lake Charles, and Lake Jackson District Offices addresses and also the Pipeline Section Address for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR). Lastly, it also restates the after-hours flaring/venting contact information for the Resource Conservation Section (previously named the Rate Control Section) contained in NTL No. 2012-N04, Flaring and Venting Requests, in order to consolidate the BSEE GOMR after-hours contacts into a single NTL.
Updates contact information at district offices and pipeline section, and how to contact BSEE with after hours request for venting and flaring of gas.
This NTL supersedes NTL 2008-G22, effective November 19, 2008 and provides schedules for release of well data and information that is submitted to BSEE as described in NTL 2010-G02, effective March 3, 2010.
Announces release of well geological data and interpreted geological and geophysical information as provided at 30 CFR 250.197(b) for current leases and those no longer in effect.
This national NTL eliminates the expiration dates on certain existing NTLs published on the BSEE website. This NTL also clarifies that, until BSEE revises, reissues, or withdraws the published NTLs, they will continue to apply regardless of any stated expiration dates.
Clarifies policy that prior NTLs will not automatically expire until BSEE issues a superseding NTL, or the NTL is expressly revised or withdrawn. Existing NTLs will continue in effect regardless of their expiration date.
This NTL supersedes NTL No. 2007-G15, effective May 14, 2007. This NTL updates the information and guidance about obtaining access to the eWell Permitting and Reporting System (eWell) and attaches and updated eWell Permitting and Reporting System Application Manual. (See NTL No. 2014-N03A for the manual).
Updates for e-Well Permitting and Reporting System and Manual, with availability of e-Well access for Alaskan and Pacific regions with secure website applications in lieu of paper forms.
This NTL provides new addresses for the New Orleans and Houma District offices (Office of District Field Operations) as well as the address and contact information for the recently formed Measurement Inspection Office (Office of Production and Development).
Provides new address and telephone information for the Houma and New Orleans District Offices, and the Measurement Inspection Unit.
Active
Administrative / Office and Program Contact Information
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes BOEM NTL No. 2012-GOl on this subject. It provides a new schedule for the drilling window program, and a website address for a map that shows the areas covered by the drilling window program.
Describes process for regulated entities to use electronic methods for responding to INCs, request Describes new schedule and drilling window program for eastern Gulf of Mexico, with website address for maps showing lease sales in affected areas of the drilling windows program approved after consultation with the U.S. Air Force.
Due to fiscal year-end closeout, the Bureau ofOcean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau ofSafety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) will disable Pay.Gov forms from 12:01 am., Eastern Time, Friday, September 21, 2012, to 12:01 a.m., Monday, October 1, 2012.
Offers guidance on procedures to follow when required to install flare/vent meters at your facility. Clarifies that current regulations do not mandate metering of lease use gas and that estimates of lease gas volumes may be reported as such.
The purpose ofthis Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is to inform you that the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) will be collecting inspection fees from you for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 as required by Division E, Title 1, Section 109 ofthe Fiscal Year 2012 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, on behalf of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).
Describes inspections to conduct and reports to prepare to address known and potential damages to OCS facilities including platforms, subsea production safety systems, and pipelines caused by Hurricane Isaac before striking land on Aug. 29, 2012.
Active
Hurricane and Tropical Storm Effects Reports, Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way, Plans and Information, Platforms and Structures
Notifies lessees and operators that BOEM and BSEE may be required, in a writing, to conduct archeological surveys and submit results to the appropriate agencies; provides guidance on how to conduct these surveys and prepare reports.
Rescinded
Archeological Surveys at 30 CFR 550.105 (Now BOEM)
This Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) rescinds NTL 2008-N04 and hereby notifies you of relevant information about BOEMRE Form MMS-131, Performance Measures Data Form.
Clarifies the definitions of sidetrack and bypass wells, and provides guidance for naming subsea well completions; makes minor formatting changes and includes guidance document statement.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 2006-P04, Well Records Submittal; Elimination of Paper Copy Data Submittals. In this NTL, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE), formerly Minerals Management Service (MMS), Pacific OCS Region (POCSR) defines the procedures on how lessees/operators submit well records required by 30 CFR 250.468 and 469 and clarifies the specific well records you must submit, the required submittal dates of the various well records, and the correct locations where you must send these well records. Additionally, this NTL now requires that Lessees and Operators submit digital Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) well log data.
Notifies lessees and operators that BOEM and BSEE may be required, in a writing, to conduct Notifies POCS lessees and operators of policy allowing for limited suspension of certain testing requirements for standby flaring equipment and pressure safety relief values when such tests coincide with an emergency health event that activates local air emission abatement measures. These measures include shutdown or suspension of industrial sources as identified by the state of California. MMs authorizes pre-approval of suspensions of testing standby equipment and safety relief valves during or in anticipation of 2nd or 3rd stage episodes to reduce air pollution.
Active
Plans and Information, Pollution Prevention and Control
Provides notice of inspection results and discovery of bypass around natural gas royalty meter, and need to make lessees aware of policies regarding proving/calibration and site security requirements of various meter/tank status classifications such as active, inactive, terminated.
Active
Production Measurement, Surface Commingling & Security
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL Nos. 2006-G16 and 2006-G16 Addendum 1 on this subject. In this new NTL, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) defines the procedures on how lessees/operators submit well records required by 30 CFR 250.468 and 469, and clarifies the specific well records you must submit, the required submittal dates of the various well records, and the correct locations where you must send these well records. Additionally, this NTL now requires that Lessees and Operators submit digital Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) well log data.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) provides guidance on evaluating and managing wells that have casing pressure and supersedes the Letter to Lessees and Operators (LTL) titled Policy Concerning Sustained Casing Pressure, dated January 13, 1994, and NTL No. 2005-G09, Static Casing Pressure Less than 100 psig, effective June 1, 2005. The policy changes set forth in this NTL significantly reduce the paperwork burden concerning the reporting of casing pressure conditions, the number of departure requests, and the frequency of casing pressure diagnostic testing.
This NTL is being issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 to provide information on the marine trash and debris awareness training video and slide show, and both postal and email addresses for submitting annual training reports. This NTL supersedes and replaces NTL No. 2007-G03, effective February 7, 2007, on this subject and applies to all existing and future oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico OCS.
This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) supersedes NTL No. 2003-G03, effective January 23, 2003, and is being issued to provide for remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys in three additional grid areas and to make minor technical amendments. The NTL provides guidance with regard to ROV surveys and reports in deepwater areas (water depths greater than 400 meters) of the Gulf of Mexico.
