September marks National Preparedness Month, a time when communities, businesses, and government agencies across the nation focus on building resilience and readiness for potential emergencies. For the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), preparedness isn't just a monthly focus; it's a year-round mission. Through its Oil Spill Preparedness Division (OSPD), BSEE safeguards America's offshore energy infrastructure while protecting coastal waters and marine environments from the devastating impacts of oil spills.
The Last Line of Defense
Oil spill preparedness provides what experts call "the last line of defense" against the environmental and economic damage oil spills can unleash. Mobilizing an effective, timely response is essential to minimizing harm. As Eric Miller, Deputy Assistant Director for OSPD, puts it, OSPD's mission is to "mitigate the impact of offshore facility oil spills by ensuring energy producers are ready to respond, by performing cutting-edge research and development, and by supporting the National Response System."
This mission is grounded in the landmark legislation of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Lawmakers wrote these laws after learning hard lessons about the catastrophic consequences of unpreparedness. Together with 30 CFR Part 254 and the National Contingency Plan (40 CFR Part 300), they form a regulatory framework designed to ensure that offshore facilities are always ready to meet the challenge.
Three Pillars of Protection
BSEE implements its preparedness program through three interdependent roles:
- Preparedness Verification – reviewing and approving spill response plans, and ensuring operators maintain the people, equipment, and processes to carry them out.
- Ohmsett Testing and Training Facility – the world's premier wave and test tank for oil spill research, training, and equipment evaluation.
Together, these pillars form a comprehensive defense system. They don't just produce contingency plans on paper; they produce real capabilities that can be deployed in the field when every second counts.
Why Surprise Matters: Testing and Exercises
Plans are only as strong as the people and systems that put them into action. That's why BSEE conducts rigorous training programs and equipment inspections, but also something even more valuable: Government-Initiated Unannounced Exercises (GIUEs).
These no-notice drills require offshore operators to stop what they're doing and shift immediately into crisis mode, deploying personnel, equipment, and processes to tackle a hypothetical spill. "It's an honest look," says Miller, "because the planholder must stop everything they're doing and switch to addressing the spill problem we give them." By running these exercises in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and state governments, BSEE can identify gaps in mobilization, training, equipment readiness, and emergency contacts before a real incident tests the system.
Research and Innovation for Tomorrow's Challenges
Preparedness doesn't stand still. America's increasing demand for energy is driving development into new environments, such as the Arctic, the Atlantic, and higher-pressure formations, as well as new offshore renewables like wind and wave energy. Each comes with unique spill risks and technical challenges.
That's why BSEE invests in forward-leaning research and development. As Miller explains, "The technologies and data produced from robust government R&D inform regulatory updates, improve contingency plans, enhance response tools, and support safe and environmentally sustainable operations." This R&D not only reduces spill impacts but also spurs innovation, lowers risks for private research, and strengthens the broader energy economy.
Beyond the Water: Why It Matters
The benefits of preparedness ripple far beyond spill containment. Effective oil spill readiness leads to:
- Healthier coastal and offshore ecosystems, resilient in the face of disruption.
- Increased investor and community confidence, supporting economic stability in energy-producing regions.
- Stronger coastal communities, where jobs and livelihoods are protected from disaster fallout.
- Generational expertise, as knowledge and practices take root in the spill response and emergency management community.
Collaboration in Action
Preparedness is not a solo effort. BSEE works closely with federal agencies, state partners, industry, and environmental organizations to ensure a unified national response framework. When an incident occurs offshore, these relationships ensure that every player knows their role and can act together to safeguard people, the environment, and the economy.
Prepared Every Month of the Year
National Preparedness Month reminds us all of the importance of readiness. But for BSEE's Oil Spill Preparedness Division, this mission never pauses. Through constant planning, training, testing, and research, the division ensures that America's offshore energy sector is not only compliant but also capable.
As Miller sums it up: "It's vital for industry and the government to be ready to respond to an oil spill immediately. That's how we keep ecosystems healthy, communities strong, and energy production stable."