Accession Number:

ADA551827

Title:

Deepwater Horizon: Coast Guard and Interior Could Improve Their Offshore Energy Inspection Programs

Descriptive Note:

Congressional testimony

Corporate Author:

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Caldwell, Stephen L.
• Rusco, Frank

Report Date:

2011-11-02

Pagination or Media Count:

23.0

Abstract:

The April 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon, a mobile offshore drilling unit MODU, showed that the consequences of an incident on an offshore energy facility can be significant. A key way to ensure that offshore energy facilities are meeting applicable security, safety, and production standards is through conducting periodic inspections of the facilities. The Coast Guard and the Department of the Interior Interior share oversight responsibility for offshore energy facilities. The Coast Guard is to conduct security inspections of such facilities, whereas based on an agreement between the two agencies, Interior is to conduct safety compliance inspections on some offshore facilities on behalf of the Coast Guard as well as its own inspections to verify production. This testimony addresses the following 1 the extent to which the Coast Guard has conducted security inspections of offshore energy facilities, and what additional actions are needed 2 the extent to which Interior has conducted inspections of offshore energy facilities, including those on behalf of the Coast Guard, and challenges it faces in conducting such inspections and 3 the Coast Guards oversight authority of MODUs. This testimony is based on GAO products issued from September 2008 through October 2011. GAO has previously recommended that the Coast Guard develop policies and procedures to monitor and track annual security inspections for offshore energy facilities and that Interior address its human capital challenges. The Coast Guard and Interior agreed.

Descriptors:

• *COAST GUARD
• *CRUDE OIL
• *FACILITIES
• *INSPECTION
• *NATURAL GAS
• *OFFSHORE
• *SAFETY
• *SECURITY
• AGREEMENTS
• AUDITING
• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
• FEDERAL LAW
• MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND CONTROL
• MEXICO GULF
• MONITORING
• OFFSHORE DRILLING
• POLICIES
• PRODUCTION
• REGULATIONS
• REQUIREMENTS

Subject Categories:

• Administration and Management
• Physical and Dynamic Oceanography
• Mining Engineering

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE