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.