30 CFR 550 Subpart B

§ 550.200

30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

be made available to the public or for
limited inspection; parts 551, 552; and
the Freedom of Information Act (5
U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations at 43 CFR part 2.
(c) The Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 requires us to inform the public
that an agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid
OMB control number.
30 CFR subpart, title and/or BOEM Form (OMB Control No.)

Reasons for collecting information and how used

(1) Subpart A, General (1010–0114), including Forms BOEM–
1123, Designation of Operator and BOEM–1832, Notification
of Incidents of Noncompliance.

To inform BOEM of actions taken to comply with general requirements on the OCS. To ensure that operations on the
OCS meet statutory and regulatory requirements, are safe
and protect the environment, and result in diligent exploration, development, and production on OCS leases. To support the unproved and proved reserve estimation, resource
assessment, and fair market value determinations.
To inform BOEM, States, and the public of planned exploration, development, and production operations on the OCS.
To ensure that operations on the OCS are planned to comply with statutory and regulatory requirements, will be safe
and protect the human, marine, and coastal environment,
and will result in diligent exploration, development, and production of leases.
To inform BOEM of measures to be taken to prevent air pollution. To ensure that appropriate measures are taken to prevent air pollution.
To provide BOEM with information regarding the design, installation, and operation of pipelines on the OCS. To ensure
that pipeline operations are safe and protect the human, marine, and coastal environment.
To inform BOEM of production rates for hydrocarbons produced on the OCS. To ensure economic maximization of ultimate hydrocarbon recovery.

(2) Subpart B, Exploration and Development and Production
Plans (1010–0151), including Forms BOEM–0137, OCS Plan
Information Form; BOEM–0138, EP Air Quality Screening
Checklist; BOEM–0139, DOCD Air Quality Screening Checklist; BOEM–0141, ROV Survey Report Form; and BOEM–
0142, Environmental Impact Analysis Worksheet.
(3) Subpart C, Pollution Prevention and Control (1010–0057) ...

(4) Subpart J, Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way (1010–
0050), including Form BOEM–2030, Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS) Pipeline Right-of-Way Grant Bond.
(5) Subpart K, Oil and Gas Production Rates (1010–0041), including Forms BOEM–0127, Sensitive Reservoir Information
Report and BOEM–0140, Bottomhole Pressure Survey Report.
(6) Subpart N, Remedies and Penalties .....................................

[76 FR 64623, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 80
FR 57096, Sept. 22, 2015]

Subpart B—Plans and Information
GENERAL INFORMATION
§ 550.200

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(d) Send comments regarding any aspect of the collections of information
under this part, including suggestions
for reducing the burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer,
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA
20166.
(e) BOEM is collecting this information for the reasons given in the following table:

Definitions.

Acronyms and terms used in this subpart have the following meanings:
(a) Acronyms used frequently in this
subpart are listed alphabetically below:
BOEM means Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
BSEE means Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement.
CID means Conservation Information
Document.
CZMA means Coastal Zone Management Act.

The requirements in subpart N are exempt from the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 according to 5 CFR 1320.4.

DOCD means Development Operations Coordination Document.
DPP means Development and Production Plan.
DWOP means Deepwater Operations
Plan.
EIA means Environmental Impact
Analysis.
EP means Exploration Plan.
IOP means Integrated Operations
Plan.
NPDES means National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System.
NTL means Notice to Lessees and Operators.
OCS means Outer Continental Shelf.
(b) Terms used in this subpart are
listed alphabetically below:

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Ocean Energy Management, Interior

§ 550.201

Amendment means a change you make
to an EP, DPP, or DOCD that is pending before BOEM for a decision (see
§§ 550.232(d) and 550.267(d)).
Modification means a change required
by the Regional Supervisor to an EP,
DPP, or DOCD (see § 550.233(b)(2) and
§ 550.270(b)(2)) that is pending before
BOEM for a decision because the OCS
plan is inconsistent with applicable requirements.
New or unusual technology means
equipment or procedures that:
(1) Have not been used previously or
extensively in a BOEM OCS Region;
(2) Have not been used previously
under the anticipated operating conditions; or
(3) Have operating characteristics
that are outside the performance parameters established by this part.
Non-conventional production or completion technology includes, but is not limited to, floating production systems,
tension leg platforms, spars, floating
production, storage, and offloading systems, guyed towers, compliant towers,
subsea manifolds, and other subsea production components that rely on a remote site or host facility for utility
and well control services.

[76 FR 64623, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81
FR 46565, July 15, 2016]

§ 550.201 What plans and information
must I submit before I conduct any
activities on my lease or unit?
(a) Plans and documents. Before you
conduct the activities on your lease or
unit listed in the following table, you
must submit, and BOEM must approve,
the listed plans and documents. Your
plans and documents may cover one or
more leases or units.

You must submit a(n) . . .

Before you . . .

(1) Exploration Plan (EP),
(2) Development and Production Plan
(DPP),
(3) Development Operations Coordination
Document (DOCD),
(4) BSEE approved Deepwater Operations
Plan (DWOP),

Conduct any exploration activities on a lease or unit.
Conduct any development and production activities on a lease or unit in any OCS
area other than the Western Gulf of Mexico.
Conduct any development and production activities on a lease or unit in the Western GOM.
Conduct post-drilling installation activities in any water depth associated with a development project that will involve the use of a non-conventional production or
completion technology.
Commence production from development projects in water depths greater than
1,312 feet (400 meters).
Conduct geological or geophysical (G&G) exploration or a development G&G activity (see definitions under § 550.105) on your lease or unit when:
(i) It will result in a physical penetration of the seabed greater than 500 feet (152
meters);
(ii) It will involve the use of explosives;
(iii) The Regional Director determines that it might have a significant adverse effect
on the human, marine, or coastal environment; or
(iv) The Regional Supervisor, after reviewing a notice under § 550.209, determines
that an EP, DPP, or DOCD is necessary.

(5) Conservation Information Document
(CID),
(6) EP, DPP, or DOCD,

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Offshore vehicle means a vehicle that
is capable of being driven on ice.
Resubmitted OCS plan means an EP,
DPP, or DOCD that contains changes
you make to an OCS plan that BOEM
has
disapproved
(see
§§ 550.234(b),
550.272(a), and 550.273(b)).
Revised OCS plan means an EP, DPP,
or DOCD that proposes changes to an
approved OCS plan, such as those in
the location of a well or platform, type
of drilling unit, or location of the onshore support base (see § 550.283(a)).
Supplemental OCS plan means an EP,
DPP, or DOCD that proposes the addition to an approved OCS plan of an activity that requires approval of an application or permit (see § 550.283(b)).

(b) Submitting additional information.
On a case-by-case basis, the Regional
Supervisor may require you to submit
additional information if the Regional
Supervisor determines that it is necessary to evaluate your proposed plan
or document.

(c) Limiting information. The Regional
Director may limit the amount of information or analyses that you otherwise must provide in your proposed
plan or document under this subpart
when:

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§ 550.202

30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

(1) Sufficient applicable information
or analysis is readily available to
BOEM;
(2) Other coastal or marine resources
are not present or affected;
(3) Other factors such as technological advances affect information
needs; or
(4) Information is not necessary or
required for a State to determine consistency with their CZMA Plan.
(d) Referencing. In preparing your
proposed plan or document, you may
reference information and data discussed in other plans or documents you
previously submitted or that are otherwise readily available to BOEM.

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§ 550.202 What criteria must the Exploration Plan (EP), Development and
Production Plan (DPP), or Development Operations Coordination Document (DOCD) meet?
Your EP, DPP, or DOCD must demonstrate that you have planned and are
prepared to conduct the proposed activities in a manner that:
(a) Conforms to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act as amended
(Act), applicable implementing regulations, lease provisions and stipulations,
and other Federal laws;
(b) Is safe;
(c) Conforms to sound conservation
practices and protects the rights of the
lessor;
(d) Does not unreasonably interfere
with other uses of the OCS, including
those involved with National security
or defense; and
(e) Does not cause undue or serious
harm or damage to the human, marine,
or coastal environment.
§ 550.203 Where can wells be located
under an EP, DPP, or DOCD?
The Regional Supervisor reviews and
approves proposed well location and
spacing under an EP, DPP, or DOCD. In
deciding whether to approve a proposed
well location and spacing, the Regional
Supervisor will consider factors including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Protecting correlative rights;
(b) Protecting Federal royalty interests;
(c) Recovering optimum resources;
(d) Number of wells that can be economically drilled for proper reservoir
management;

(e) Location of drilling units and
platforms;
(f) Extent and thickness of the reservoir;
(g) Geologic and other reservoir characteristics;
(h) Minimizing environmental risk;
(i) Preventing unreasonable interference with other uses of the OCS; and
(j) Drilling of unnecessary wells.
§ 550.204 When must I submit my IOP
for proposed Arctic exploratory
drilling operations and what must
the IOP include?
If you propose exploratory drilling
activities on the Arctic OCS, you must
submit an Integrated Operations Plan
(IOP) to the Regional Supervisor at
least 90 days prior to filing your EP.
Your IOP must describe how your exploratory drilling program will be designed and conducted in an integrated
manner that accounts for Arctic OCS
conditions and include the following
information:
(a) A description of how all vessels
and equipment will be designed, built,
and/or modified to account for Arctic
OCS conditions;
(b) A schedule of your exploratory
drilling program, including contractor
work on critical components of your
program;
(c) A description of your mobilization
and demobilization operations, including tow plans that account for Arctic
OCS conditions, as well as your general
maintenance schedule for vessels and
equipment;
(d) A description of your exploratory
drilling
program
objectives
and
timelines for each objective, including
general plans for abandonment of the
well(s), such as:
(1) Contingency plans for temporary
abandonment in the event of ice encroachment at the drill site;
(2) Plans for permanent abandonment; and
(3) Plans for temporary seasonal
abandonment.
(e) A description of your weather and
ice forecasting capabilities for all
phases of the exploration program, including a description of how you would
respond to and manage ice hazards and
weather events;
(f) A description of work to be performed by contractors supporting your

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Ocean Energy Management, Interior

§ 550.208

exploration drilling program (including
mobilization and demobilization), including:
(1) How such work will be designed or
modified to account for Arctic OCS
conditions; and
(2) Your concepts for contractor management, oversight, and risk management.
(g) A description of how you will ensure operational safety while working
in Arctic OCS conditions, including but
not limited to:
(1) The safety principles that you intend to apply to yourself and your contractors;
(2) The accountability structure
within your organization for implementing such principles;
(3) How you will communicate such
principles to your employees and contractors; and
(4) How you will determine successful
implementation of such principles.
(h) Information regarding your preparations and plans for staging of oil
spill response assets;
(i) A description of your efforts to
minimize impacts of your exploratory
drilling operations on local community
infrastructure, including but not limited to housing, energy supplies, and
services; and
(j) A description of whether and to
what extent your project will rely on
local community workforce and spill
cleanup response capacity.
[81 FR 46565, July 15, 2016]

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§ 550.205

[Reserved]

§ 550.206 How do I submit the IOP, EP,
DPP, or DOCD?
(a) Number of copies. When you submit
an IOP, EP, DPP, or DOCD to BOEM,
you must provide:
(1) Four copies that contain all required information (proprietary copies);
(2) Eight copies for public distribution (public information copies) that
omit information that you assert is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5
U.S.C. 552) and the implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2); and
(3) Any additional copies that may be
necessary to facilitate review of the
IOP, EP, DPP, or DOCD by certain af-

fected States and other reviewing entities.
(b) Electronic submission. You may
submit part or all of your IOP, EP,
DPP, or DOCD and its accompanying
information electronically. If you prefer to submit your IOP, EP, DPP, or
DOCD electronically, ask the Regional
Supervisor for further guidance.
(c) Withdrawal after submission. You
may withdraw your proposed IOP, EP,
DPP, or DOCD at any time for any reason. Notify the appropriate BOEM OCS
Region if you do.
[81 FR 46565, July 15, 2016]

ANCILLARY ACTIVITIES
§ 550.207 What ancillary activities may
I conduct?
Before or after you submit an EP,
DPP, or DOCD to BOEM, you may
elect, the regulations in this part may
require, or the Regional Supervisor
may direct you to conduct ancillary
activities. Ancillary activities include:
(a) Geological and geophysical (G&G)
explorations and development G&G activities;
(b) Geological and high-resolution
geophysical,
geotechnical,
archaeological, biological, physical oceanographic,
meteorological,
socioeconomic, or other surveys; or
(c) Studies that model potential oil
and hazardous substance spills, drilling
muds and cuttings discharges, projected air emissions, or potential hydrogen sulfide (H2S) releases.
§ 550.208 If I conduct ancillary activities, what notices must I provide?
At least 30 calendar days before you
conduct any G&G exploration or development G&G activity (see § 550.207(a)),
you must notify the Regional Supervisor in writing.
(a) When you prepare the notice, you
must:
(1) Sign and date the notice;
(2) Provide the names of the vessel,
its operator, and the person(s) in
charge; the specific type(s) of operations you will conduct; and the instrumentation/techniques and vessel
navigation system you will use;
(3) Provide expected start and completion dates and the location of the
activity; and

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§ 550.209

30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

(4) Describe the potential adverse environmental effects of the proposed activity and any mitigation to eliminate
or minimize these effects on the marine, coastal, and human environment.
(b) The Regional Supervisor may require you to:
(1) Give written notice to BOEM at
least 15 calendar days before you conduct any other ancillary activity (see
§ 550.207(b) and (c)) in addition to those
listed in § 550.207(a); and
(2) Notify other users of the OCS before you conduct any ancillary activity.
§ 550.209 What is the BOEM review
process for the notice?
The Regional Supervisor will review
any notice required under § 550.208(a)
and (b)(1) to ensure that your ancillary
activity complies with the performance
standards listed in § 550.202(a), (b), (d),
and (e). The Regional Supervisor may
notify you that your ancillary activity
does not comply with those standards.
In such a case, the Regional Supervisor
will require you to submit an EP, DPP,
or DOCD and you may not start your
ancillary activity until the Regional
Supervisor approves the EP, DPP, or
DOCD.

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§ 550.210 If I conduct ancillary activities, what reporting and data/information
retention
requirements
must I satisfy?
(a) Reporting. The Regional Supervisor may require you to prepare and
submit reports that summarize and
analyze data or information obtained
or derived from your ancillary activities. When applicable, BOEM will protect and disclose the data and information in these reports in accordance
with § 550.197(b).
(b) Data and information retention.
You must retain copies of all original
data and information, including navigation data, obtained or derived from
your G&G explorations and development G&G activities (see § 550.207(a)),
including any such data and information you obtained from previous leaseholders or unit operators. You must
submit such data and information to
BOEM for inspection and possible retention upon request at any time before lease or unit termination. When

applicable, BOEM will protect and disclose such submitted data and information in accordance with § 550.197(b).
CONTENTS OF EXPLORATION PLANS (EP)
§ 550.211

What must the EP include?

Your EP must include the following:
(a) Description, objectives, and schedule. A description, discussion of the objectives, and tentative schedule (from
start to completion) of the exploration
activities that you propose to undertake. Examples of exploration activities include exploration drilling, well
test flaring, installing a well protection structure, and temporary well
abandonment.
(b) Location. A map showing the surface location and water depth of each
proposed well and the locations of all
associated drilling unit anchors.
(c) Drilling unit. A description of the
drilling unit and associated equipment
you will use to conduct your proposed
exploration activities, including a brief
description of its important safety and
pollution prevention features, and a
table indicating the type and the estimated maximum quantity of fuels, oil,
and lubricants that will be stored on
the facility (see definition of ‘‘facility’’
under § 550.105(3)).
(d) Service fee. You must include payment of the service fee listed in
§ 550.125.
§ 550.212 What information must accompany the EP?
The following information must accompany your EP:
(a) General information required by
§ 550.213;
(b) Geological and geophysical (G&G)
information required by § 550.214;
(c) Hydrogen sulfide information required by § 550.215;
(d) Biological, physical, and socioeconomic information required by
§ 550.216;
(e) Solid and liquid wastes and discharges information and cooling water
intake
information
required
by
§ 550.217;
(f) Air emissions information required by § 550.218;
(g) Oil and hazardous substance spills
information required by § 550.219;

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§ 550.214

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(h) Alaska planning information required by § 550.220;
(i) Environmental monitoring information required by § 550.221;
(j) Lease stipulations information required by § 550.222;
(k) Mitigation measures information
required by § 550.223;
(l) Support vessels and aircraft information required by § 550.224;
(m) Onshore support facilities information required by § 550.225;
(n) Coastal zone management information required by § 550.226;
(o) Environmental impact analysis
information required by § 550.227; and
(p) Administrative information required by § 550.228.
§ 550.213 What general information
must accompany the EP?
The following general information
must accompany your EP:
(a) Applications and permits. A listing,
including filing or approval status, of
the Federal, State, and local application approvals or permits you must obtain to conduct your proposed exploration activities.
(b) Drilling fluids. A table showing the
projected amount, discharge rate, and
chemical constituents for each type
(i.e., water-based, oil-based, syntheticbased) of drilling fluid you plan to use
to drill your proposed exploration
wells.
(c) Chemical products. A table showing
the name and brief description, quantities to be stored, storage method, and
rates of usage of the chemical products
you will use to conduct your proposed
exploration activities. List only those
chemical products you will store or use
in quantities greater than the amounts
defined as Reportable Quantities in 40
CFR part 302, or amounts specified by
the Regional Supervisor.
(d) New or unusual technology. A description and discussion of any new or
unusual technology (see definition
under § 550.200) you will use to carry
out your proposed exploration activities. In the public information copies of
your EP, you may exclude any proprietary information from this description. In that case, include a brief discussion of the general subject matter
of the omitted information. If you will
not use any new or unusual technology

to carry out your proposed exploration
activities, include a statement so indicating.
(e) Bonds, oil spill financial responsibility, and well control statements. Statements attesting that:
(1) The activities and facilities proposed in your EP are or will be covered
by an appropriate bond under 30 CFR
part 556, subpart I;
(2) You have demonstrated or will
demonstrate oil spill financial responsibility for facilities proposed in your
EP according to 30 CFR part 553; and
(3) You have or will have the financial capability to drill a relief well and
conduct other emergency well control
operations.
(f) Suspensions of operations. A brief
discussion of any suspensions of operations that you anticipate may be necessary in the course of conducting your
activities under the EP.
(g) Blowout scenario. A scenario for
the potential blowout of the proposed
well in your EP that you expect will
have the highest volume of liquid hydrocarbons. Include the estimated flow
rate, total volume, and maximum duration of the potential blowout. Also, discuss the potential for the well to bridge
over, the likelihood for surface intervention to stop the blowout, the availability of a rig to drill a relief well, and
rig package constraints. Estimate the
time it would take to drill a relief well.
(h) Contact. The name, address (email address, if available), and telephone number of the person with whom
the Regional Supervisor and any affected State(s) can communicate about
your EP.
§ 550.214 What geological and geophysical (G&G) information must
accompany the EP?
The following G&G information must
accompany your EP:
(a) Geological description. A geological
description of the prospect(s).
(b) Structure contour maps. Current
structure contour maps (depth-based,
expressed in feet subsea) drawn on the
top of each prospective hydrocarbonbearing reservoir showing the locations
of proposed wells.
(c) Two-dimensional (2–D) or three-dimensional (3–D) seismic lines. Copies of
migrated and annotated 2–D or 3–D

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§ 550.215

30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

seismic lines (with depth scale) intersecting at or near your proposed well
locations. You are not required to conduct both 2–D and 3–D seismic surveys
if you choose to conduct only one type
of survey. If you have conducted both
types of surveys, the Regional Supervisor may instruct you to submit the
results of both surveys. You must interpret and display this information.
Because of its volume, provide this information as an enclosure to only one
proprietary copy of your EP.
(d) Geological cross-sections. Interpreted geological cross-sections showing the location and depth of each proposed well.
(e) Shallow hazards report. A shallow
hazards report based on information
obtained from a high-resolution geophysical survey, or a reference to such
report if you have already submitted it
to the Regional Supervisor.
(f) Shallow hazards assessment. For
each proposed well, an assessment of
any seafloor and subsurface geological
and manmade features and conditions
that may adversely affect your proposed drilling operations.
(g) High-resolution seismic lines. A
copy of the high-resolution survey line
closest to each of your proposed well
locations. Because of its volume, provide this information as an enclosure
to only one proprietary copy of your
EP. You are not required to provide
this information if the surface location
of your proposed well has been approved in a previously submitted EP,
DPP, or DOCD.
(h) Stratigraphic column. A generalized biostratigraphic/lithostratigraphic
column from the surface to the total
depth of the prospect.
(i) Time-versus-depth chart. A seismic
travel time-versus-depth chart based
on the appropriate velocity analysis in
the area of interpretation and specifying the geodetic datum.
(j) Geochemical information. A copy of
any geochemical reports you used or
generated.
(k) Future G&G activities. A brief description of the types of G&G explorations and development G&G activities you may conduct for lease or unit
purposes after your EP is approved.

§ 550.215 What hydrogen sulfide (H 2S)
information must accompany the
EP?
The following H2S information, as applicable, must accompany your EP:
(a) Concentration. The estimated concentration of any H2S you might encounter while you conduct your proposed exploration activities.
(b) Classification. Under 30 CFR
250.490(c), a request that the BSEE Regional Supervisor classify the area of
your proposed exploration activities as
either H2S absent, H2S present, or H2S
unknown. Provide sufficient information to justify your request.
(c) H2S Contingency Plan. If you ask
the Regional Supervisor to classify the
area of your proposed exploration activities as either H2S present or H2S
unknown, an H2S Contingency Plan
prepared under 30 CFR 250.490(f), or a
reference to an approved or submitted
H2S Contingency Plan that covers the
proposed exploration activities.
(d) Modeling report. If you modeled a
potential H2S release when developing
your EP, modeling report or the modeling results, or a reference to such report or results if you have already submitted it to the Regional Supervisor.
(1) The analysis in the modeling report must be specific to the particular
site of your proposed exploration activities, and must consider any nearby
human-occupied OCS facilities, shipping lanes, fishery areas, and other
points where humans may be subject to
potential exposure from an H2S release
from your proposed exploration activities.
(2) If any H2S emissions are projected
to affect an onshore location in concentrations greater than 10 parts per
million, the modeling analysis must be
consistent with the Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) risk management plan methodologies outlined
in 40 CFR part 68.
§ 550.216 What biological, physical,
and
socioeconomic
information
must accompany the EP?
If you obtain the following information in developing your EP, or if the
Regional Supervisor requires you to
obtain it, you must include a report, or
the information obtained, or a reference to such a report or information

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Ocean Energy Management, Interior

§ 550.218

if you have already submitted it to the
Regional Supervisor, as accompanying
information:
(a) Biological environment reports.
Site-specific
information
on
chemosynthetic communities, federally listed threatened or endangered
species, marine mammals protected
under the Marine Mammal Protection
Act (MMPA), sensitive underwater features, marine sanctuaries, critical
habitat designated under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), or other areas
of biological concern.
(b) Physical environment reports. Sitespecific
meteorological,
physical
oceanographic, geotechnical reports, or
archaeological reports (if required
under § 550.194).
(c) Socioeconomic study reports. Socioeconomic information regarding your
proposed exploration activities.

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§ 550.217 What solid and liquid wastes
and discharges information and
cooling water intake information
must accompany the EP?
The following solid and liquid wastes
and discharges information and cooling
water intake information must accompany your EP:
(a) Projected wastes. A table providing
the name, brief description, projected
quantity, and composition of solid and
liquid wastes (such as spent drilling
fluids, drill cuttings, trash, sanitary
and domestic wastes, and chemical
product wastes) likely to be generated
by your proposed exploration activities. Describe:
(1) The methods you used for determining this information; and
(2) Your plans for treating, storing,
and downhole disposal of these wastes
at your drilling location(s).
(b) Projected ocean discharges. If any
of your solid and liquid wastes will be
discharged overboard, or are planned
discharges from manmade islands:
(1) A table showing the name, projected amount, and rate of discharge
for each waste type; and
(2) A description of the discharge
method (such as shunting through a
downpipe, etc.) you will use.
(c) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. (1) A discussion of how you will comply with
the provisions of the applicable general

NPDES permit that covers your proposed exploration activities; or
(2) A copy of your application for an
individual NPDES permit. Briefly describe the major discharges and methods you will use for compliance.
(d) Modeling report. The modeling report or the modeling results (if you
modeled the discharges of your projected solid or liquid wastes when developing your EP), or a reference to
such report or results if you have already submitted it to the Regional Supervisor.
(e) Projected cooling water intake. A
table for each cooling water intake
structure likely to be used by your proposed exploration activities that includes a brief description of the cooling
water intake structure, daily water intake rate, water intake through screen
velocity, percentage of water intake
used for cooling water, mitigation
measures for reducing impingement
and entrainment of aquatic organisms,
and biofouling prevention measures.
§ 550.218 What air emissions information must accompany the EP?
The following air emissions information, as applicable, must accompany
your EP:
(a) Projected emissions. Tables showing
the projected emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter in the
form of PM10 and PM2.5 when applicable, nitrogen oxides (NOX), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOC) that will be generated by
your proposed exploration activities.
(1) For each source on or associated
with the drilling unit (including well
test flaring and well protection structure installation), you must list:
(i) The projected peak hourly emissions;
(ii) The total annual emissions in
tons per year;
(iii) Emissions over the duration of
the proposed exploration activities;
(iv) The frequency and duration of
emissions; and
(v) The total of all emissions listed in
paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iv) of this
section.
(2) You must provide the basis for all
calculations, including engine size and
rating, and applicable operational information.

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§ 550.219

30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

(3) You must base the projected emissions on the maximum rated capacity
of the equipment on the proposed drilling unit under its physical and operational design.
(4) If the specific drilling unit has not
yet been determined, you must use the
maximum emission estimates for the
type of drilling unit you will use.
(b) Emission reduction measures. A description of any proposed emission reduction measures, including the affected source(s), the emission reduction control technologies or procedures, the quantity of reductions to be
achieved, and any monitoring system
you propose to use to measure emissions.
(c) Processes, equipment, fuels, and
combustibles. A description of processes,
processing
equipment,
combustion
equipment, fuels, and storage units.
You must include the characteristics
and the frequency, duration, and maximum burn rate of any well test fluids
to be burned.
(d) Distance to shore. Identification of
the distance of your drilling unit from
the mean high water mark (mean higher high water mark on the Pacific
coast) of the adjacent State.
(e) Non-exempt drilling units. A description of how you will comply with
§ 550.303 when the projected emissions
of SO2, PM, NOX, CO, or VOC, that will
be generated by your proposed exploration activities, are greater than the
respective
emission
exemption
amounts ‘‘E’’ calculated using the formulas in § 550.303(d). When BOEM requires air quality modeling, you must
use the guidelines in Appendix W of 40
CFR part 51 with a model approved by
the Director. Submit the best available
meteorological information and data
consistent with the model(s) used.
(f) Modeling report. A modeling report
or the modeling results (if § 550.303 requires you to use an approved air quality model to model projected air emissions in developing your EP), or a reference to such a report or results if you
have already submitted it to the Regional Supervisor.

§ 550.219 What oil and hazardous substance spills information must accompany the EP?
The following information regarding
potential spills of oil (see definition
under 30 CFR 254.6) and hazardous substances (see definition under 40 CFR
part 116) as applicable, must accompany your EP:
(a) Oil spill response planning. The material required under paragraph (a)(1)
or (a)(2) of this section:
(1) An Oil Spill Response Plan
(OSRP) for the facilities you will use to
conduct your exploration activities
prepared according to the requirements
of 30 CFR part 254, subpart B; or
(2) Reference to your approved regional OSRP (see 30 CFR 254.3) to include:
(i) A discussion of your regional
OSRP;
(ii) The location of your primary oil
spill equipment base and staging area;
(iii) The name(s) of your oil spill removal organization(s) for both equipment and personnel;
(iv) The calculated volume of your
worst case discharge scenario (see 30
CFR 254.26(a)), and a comparison of the
appropriate worst case discharge scenario in your approved regional OSRP
with the worst case discharge scenario
that could result from your proposed
exploration activities; and
(v) A description of the worst case
discharge scenario that could result
from your proposed exploration activities (see 30 CFR 254.26(b), (c), (d), and
(e)).
(b) Modeling report. If you model a potential oil or hazardous substance spill
in developing your EP, a modeling report or the modeling results, or a reference to such report or results if you
have already submitted it to the Regional Supervisor.
§ 550.220 If I propose activities in the
Alaska OCS Region, what planning
information must accompany the
EP?
If you propose exploration activities
in the Alaska OCS Region, the following planning information must accompany your EP:
(a) Emergency plans. A description of
your emergency plans to respond to a
fire, explosion, personnel evacuation,

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Ocean Energy Management, Interior

§ 550.221

or loss of well control, as well as a loss
or disablement of a drilling unit, and
loss of or damage to a support vessel,
offshore vehicle, or aircraft.
(b) Critical operations and curtailment
procedures. Critical operations and curtailment procedures for your exploration activities. The procedures must
identify ice conditions, weather, and
other constraints under which the exploration activities will either be curtailed or not proceed.
(c) If you propose exploration activities on the Arctic OCS, the following
planning information must also accompany your EP:
(1) Suitability for Arctic OCS conditions. A description of how your exploratory drilling activities will be designed and conducted in a manner that
accounts for Arctic OCS conditions and
how such activities will be managed
and overseen as an integrated endeavor.
(2) Ice and weather management. A description of your weather and ice forecasting and management plans for all
phases of your exploratory drilling activities, including:
(i) A description of how you will respond to and manage ice hazards and
weather events;
(ii) Your ice and weather alert procedures;
(iii) Your procedures and thresholds
for activating your ice and weather
management system(s); and
(iv) Confirmation that you will operate ice and weather management and
alert systems continuously throughout
the planned operations, including mobilization and demobilization operations to and from the Arctic OCS.
(3) Source control and containment
equipment capabilities. A general description of how you will comply with
§ 250.471 of this title.
(4) Deployment of a relief well rig. A
general description of how you will
comply with § 250.472 of this title, including a description of the relief well
rig, the anticipated staging area of the
relief well rig, an estimate of the time
it would take for the relief well rig to
arrive at the site of a loss of well control, how you would drill a relief well if
necessary, and the approximate timeframe to complete relief well operations.

(5) Resource-sharing. Any agreements
you have with third parties for the
sharing of assets or the provision of
mutual aid in the event of an oil spill
or other emergency.
(6) Anticipated end of seasonal operations dates. Your projected end of season dates, and the information used to
identify those dates, for:
(i) The completion of on-site operations, which is contingent upon your
capability in terms of equipment and
procedures to manage and mitigate
risks associated with Arctic OCS conditions; and
(ii) The termination of drilling operations consistent with the relief rig
planning requirements under § 250.472 of
this title and with your estimated
timeframe under paragraph (c)(4) of
this section for completion of relief
well operations.
[76 FR 64623, Oct. 18, 2011, as amended at 81
FR 46565, July 15, 2016]

§ 550.221 What environmental monitoring information must accompany
the EP?
The following environmental monitoring information, as applicable, must
accompany your EP:
(a) Monitoring systems. A description
of any existing and planned monitoring
systems that are measuring, or will
measure, environmental conditions or
will provide project-specific data or information on the impacts of your exploration activities.
(b) Incidental takes. If there is reason
to believe that protected species may
be incidentally taken by planned exploration activities, you must describe
how you will monitor for incidental
take of:
(1) Threatened and endangered species listed under the ESA; and
(2) Marine mammals, as appropriate,
if you have not already received authorization for incidental take as may
be necessary under the MMPA.
(c) Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). If you propose to conduct exploration activities
within the protective zones of the
FGBNMS, a description of your provisions for monitoring the impacts of an
oil spill on the environmentally sensitive resources at the FGBNMS.

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30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

§ 550.222 What lease stipulations information must accompany the EP?
A description of the measures you
took, or will take, to satisfy the conditions of lease stipulations related to
your proposed exploration activities
must accompany your EP.

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§ 550.223 What mitigation measures information must accompany the EP?
(a) If you propose to use any measures beyond those required by the regulations in this part to minimize or
mitigate environmental impacts from
your proposed exploration activities, a
description of the measures you will
use must accompany your EP.
(b) If there is reason to believe that
protected species may be incidentally
taken by planned exploration activities, you must include mitigation
measures designed to avoid or minimize the incidental take of:
(1) Threatened and endangered species listed under the ESA; and
(2) Marine mammals, as appropriate,
if you have not already received authorization for incidental take as may
be necessary under the MMPA.
§ 550.224 What information on support
vessels, offshore vehicles, and aircraft you will use must accompany
the EP?
The following information on the
support vessels, offshore vehicles, and
aircraft you will use must accompany
your EP:
(a) General. A description of the crew
boats, supply boats, anchor handling
vessels, tug boats, barges, ice management vessels, other vessels, offshore vehicles, and aircraft you will use to support your exploration activities. The
description of vessels and offshore vehicles must estimate the storage capacity of their fuel tanks and the frequency of their visits to your drilling
unit.
(b) Air emissions. A table showing the
source, composition, frequency, and duration of the air emissions likely to be
generated by the support vessels, offshore vehicles, and aircraft you will
use that will operate within 25 miles of
your drilling unit.
(c) Drilling fluids and chemical products transportation. A description of the
transportation method and quantities

of drilling fluids and chemical products
(see § 550.213(b) and (c)) you will transport from the onshore support facilities
you will use to your drilling unit.
(d) Solid and liquid wastes transportation. A description of the transportation method and a brief description
of the composition, quantities, and destination(s) of solid and liquid wastes
(see § 550.217(a)) you will transport from
your drilling unit.
(e) Vicinity map. A map showing the
location of your proposed exploration
activities relative to the shoreline. The
map must depict the primary route(s)
the support vessels and aircraft will
use when traveling between the onshore support facilities you will use
and your drilling unit.
§ 550.225 What information on the onshore support facilities you will use
must accompany the EP?
The following information on the onshore support facilities you will use
must accompany your EP:
(a) General. A description of the onshore facilities you will use to provide
supply and service support for your
proposed exploration activities (e.g.,
service bases and mud company docks).
(1) Indicate whether the onshore support facilities are existing, to be constructed, or to be expanded.
(2) If the onshore support facilities
are, or will be, located in areas not adjacent to the Western GOM, provide a
timetable for acquiring lands (including rights-of-way and easements) and
constructing or expanding the facilities. Describe any State or Federal permits or approvals (dredging, filling,
etc.) that would be required for constructing or expanding them.
(b) Air emissions. A description of the
source, composition, frequency, and duration of the air emissions (attributable to your proposed exploration activities) likely to be generated by the
onshore support facilities you will use.
(c) Unusual solid and liquid wastes. A
description of the quantity, composition, and method of disposal of any unusual solid and liquid wastes (attributable to your proposed exploration activities) likely to be generated by the
onshore support facilities you will use.
Unusual wastes are those wastes not
specifically addressed in the relevant

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National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
(d) Waste disposal. A description of
the onshore facilities you will use to
store and dispose of solid and liquid
wastes generated by your proposed exploration activities (see § 550.217) and
the types and quantities of such
wastes.

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§ 550.226 What Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) information must
accompany the EP?
The following CZMA information
must accompany your EP:
(a) Consistency certification. A copy of
your consistency certification under
section 307(c)(3)(B) of the CZMA (16
U.S.C. 1456(c)(3)(B)) and 15 CFR
930.76(d) stating that the proposed exploration activities described in detail
in this EP comply with (name of
State(s)) approved coastal management
program(s) and will be conducted in a
manner that is consistent with such
program(s); and
(b) Other information. ‘‘Information’’
as required by 15 CFR 930.76(a) and 15
CFR 930.58(a)(2)) and ‘‘Analysis’’ as required by 15 CFR 930.58(a)(3).
§ 550.227 What environmental impact
analysis (EIA) information must accompany the EP?
The following EIA information must
accompany your EP:
(a) General requirements. Your EIA
must:
(1) Assess the potential environmental impacts of your proposed exploration activities;
(2) Be project specific; and
(3) Be as detailed as necessary to assist the Regional Supervisor in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and other relevant
Federal laws such as the ESA and the
MMPA.
(b) Resources, conditions, and activities.
Your EIA must describe those resources, conditions, and activities listed below that could be affected by your
proposed exploration activities, or that
could affect the construction and operation of facilities or structures, or the
activities proposed in your EP.
(1) Meteorology, oceanography, geology, and shallow geological or manmade hazards;

(2) Air and water quality;
(3) Benthic communities, marine
mammals, sea turtles, coastal and marine birds, fish and shellfish, and plant
life;
(4) Threatened or endangered species
and their critical habitat as defined by
the Endangered Species Act of 1973;
(5) Sensitive biological resources or
habitats such as essential fish habitat,
refuges, preserves, special management
areas identified in coastal management
programs, sanctuaries, rookeries, and
calving grounds;
(6) Archaeological resources;
(7) Socioeconomic resources including employment, existing offshore and
coastal infrastructure (including major
sources of supplies, services, energy,
and water), land use, subsistence resources and harvest practices, recreation, recreational and commercial
fishing (including typical fishing seasons, location, and type), minority and
lower income groups, and coastal zone
management programs;
(8) Coastal and marine uses such as
military activities, shipping, and mineral exploration or development; and
(9) Other resources, conditions, and
activities identified by the Regional
Supervisor.
(c) Environmental impacts. Your EIA
must:
(1) Analyze the potential direct and
indirect impacts (including those from
accidents, cooling water intake structures, and those identified in relevant
ESA biological opinions such as, but
not limited to, those from noise, vessel
collisions, and marine trash and debris)
that your proposed exploration activities will have on the identified resources, conditions, and activities;
(2) Analyze any potential cumulative
impacts from other activities to those
identified resources, conditions, and
activities potentially impacted by your
proposed exploration activities;
(3) Describe the type, severity, and
duration of these potential impacts and
their biological, physical, and other
consequences and implications;
(4) Describe potential measures to
minimize or mitigate these potential
impacts; and
(5) Summarize the information you
incorporate by reference.

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30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

(d) Consultation. Your EIA must include a list of agencies and persons
with whom you consulted, or with
whom you will be consulting, regarding
potential impacts associated with your
proposed exploration activities.
(e) References cited. Your EIA must
include a list of the references that you
cite in the EIA.
§ 550.228 What administrative information must accompany the EP?
The following administrative information must accompany your EP:
(a) Exempted information description
(public information copies only). A description of the general subject matter
of the proprietary information that is
included in the proprietary copies of
your EP or its accompanying information.
(b) Bibliography. (1) If you reference a
previously submitted EP, DPP, DOCD,
study report, survey report, or other
material in your EP or its accompanying information, a list of the referenced material; and
(2) The location(s) where the Regional Supervisor can inspect the cited
referenced material if you have not
submitted it.
REVIEW AND DECISION PROCESS FOR THE
EP

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§ 550.231 After receiving the EP, what
will BOEM do?
(a) Determine whether deemed submitted. Within 15 working days after receiving your proposed EP and its accompanying information, the Regional
Supervisor will review your submission
and deem your EP submitted if:
(1) The submitted information, including the information that must accompany the EP (refer to the list in
§ 550.212), fulfills requirements and is
sufficiently accurate;
(2) You have provided all needed additional information (see § 550.201(b));
and
(3) You have provided the required
number of copies (see § 550.206(a)).
(b) Identify problems and deficiencies.
If the Regional Supervisor determines
that you have not met one or more of
the conditions in paragraph (a) of this
section, the Regional Supervisor will
notify you of the problem or deficiency

within 15 working days after the Regional Supervisor receives your EP and
its accompanying information. The Regional Supervisor will not deem your
EP submitted until you have corrected
all problems or deficiencies identified
in the notice.
(c) Deemed submitted notification. The
Regional Supervisor will notify you
when the EP is deemed submitted.
§ 550.232 What actions will BOEM take
after the EP is deemed submitted?
(a) State and CZMA consistency reviews. Within 2 working days after
deeming your EP submitted under
§ 550.231, the Regional Supervisor will
use receipted mail or alternative method to send a public information copy of
the EP and its accompanying information to the following:
(1) The Governor of each affected State.
The Governor has 21 calendar days
after receiving your deemed-submitted
EP to submit comments. The Regional
Supervisor will not consider comments
received after the deadline.
(2) The CZMA agency of each affected
State. The CZMA consistency review
period under section 307(c)(3)(B)(ii) of
the CZMA (16 U.S.C. 1456(c)(3)(B)(ii))
and 15 CFR 930.78 begins when the
State’s CZMA agency receives a copy
of your deemed-submitted EP, consistency certification, and required necessary data and information (see 15
CFR 930.77(a)(1)).
(b) BOEM compliance review. The Regional Supervisor will review the exploration activities described in your
proposed EP to ensure that they conform to the performance standards in
§ 550.202.
(c) BOEM environmental impact evaluation. The Regional Supervisor will
evaluate the environmental impacts of
the activities described in your proposed EP and prepare environmental
documentation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500
through 1508).
(d) Amendments. During the review of
your proposed EP, the Regional Supervisor may require you, or you may
elect, to change your EP. If you elect
to amend your EP, the Regional Supervisor may determine that your EP, as

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amended, is subject to the requirements of § 550.231.
§ 550.233 What decisions will BOEM
make on the EP and within what
timeframe?
(a) Timeframe. The Regional Supervisor will take one of the actions
shown in the table in paragraph (b) of
The regional
supervisor will . . .

If . . .

And then . . .

(1) Approve your EP,

It complies with all applicable requirements,

(2) Require you to modify
your proposed EP,

The Regional Supervisor finds that it is inconsistent with the lease, the Act, the regulations
prescribed under the Act, or other Federal
laws,
Your proposed activities would probably cause
serious harm or damage to life (including fish
or other aquatic life); property; any mineral (in
areas leased or not leased); the National security or defense; or the marine, coastal, or
human environment; and you cannot modify
your proposed activities to avoid such condition(s),

The Regional Supervisor will notify you in writing
of the decision and may require you to meet
certain conditions, including those to provide
monitoring information.
The Regional Supervisor will notify you in writing
of the decision and describe the modifications
you must make to your proposed EP to ensure
it complies with all applicable requirements.
(i) The Regional Supervisor will notify you in writing of the decision and describe the reason(s)
for disapproving your EP.
(ii) BOEM may cancel your lease and compensate you under 43 U.S.C. 1334(a)(2)(C)
and
the
implementing
regulations
in
§§ 550.182, 550.184, and 550.185 and 30
CFR 556.77.

(3) Disapprove your EP,

§ 550.234 How do I submit a modified
EP or resubmit a disapproved EP,
and when will BOEM make a decision?

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this section within 30 calendar days
after the Regional Supervisor deems
your EP submitted under § 550.231, or
receives the last amendment to your
proposed EP, whichever occurs later.
(b) BOEM decision. By the deadline in
paragraph (a) of this section, the Regional Supervisor will take one of the
following actions:

(a) Modified EP. If the Regional Supervisor requires you to modify your
proposed EP under § 550.233(b)(2), you
must submit the modification(s) to the
Regional Supervisor in the same manner as for a new EP. You need submit
only information related to the proposed modification(s).
(b) Resubmitted EP. If the Regional
Supervisor disapproves your EP under
§ 550.233(b)(3), you may resubmit the
disapproved EP if there is a change in
the conditions that were the basis of
its disapproval.
(c) BOEM review and timeframe. The
Regional Supervisor will use the performance standards in § 550.202 to either approve, require you to further
modify, or disapprove your modified or
resubmitted EP. The Regional Supervisor will make a decision within 30
calendar days after the Regional Supervisor deems your modified or resubmitted EP to be submitted, or receives
the last amendment to your modified
or resubmitted EP, whichever occurs
later.

§ 550.235 If a State objects to the EP’s
coastal zone consistency certification, what can I do?
If an affected State objects to the
coastal zone consistency certification
accompanying your proposed EP within
the
timeframe
prescribed
in
§ 550.233(a) or § 550.234(c), you may do
one of the following:
(a) Amend your EP. Amend your EP
to accommodate the State’s objection
and submit the amendment to the Regional Supervisor for approval. The
amendment needs to only address information related to the State’s objection.
(b) Appeal. Appeal the State’s objection to the Secretary of Commerce
using the procedures in 15 CFR part
930, subpart H. The Secretary of Commerce will either:
(1) Grant your appeal by finding,
under section 307(c)(3)(B)(iii) of the
CZMA (16 U.S.C. 1456(c)(3)(B)(iii)), that
each activity described in detail in
your EP is consistent with the objectives of the CZMA, or is otherwise necessary in the interest of National security; or
(2) Deny your appeal, in which case
you may amend your EP as described
in paragraph (a) of this section.

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30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

(c) Withdraw your EP. Withdraw your
EP if you decide not to conduct your
proposed exploration activities.
CONTENTS OF DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION PLANS (DPP) AND DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS COORDINATION DOCUMENTS (DOCD)

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§ 550.241 What must the DPP or DOCD
include?
Your DPP or DOCD must include the
following:
(a) Description, objectives, and schedule. A description, discussion of the objectives, and tentative schedule (from
start to completion) of the development and production activities you
propose to undertake. Examples of development and production activities
include:
(1) Development drilling;
(2) Well test flaring;
(3) Installation of production platforms, satellite structures, subsea
wellheads and manifolds, and lease
term pipelines (see definition at
§ 550.105); and
(4) Installation of production facilities and conduct of production operations.
(b) Location. The location and water
depth of each of your proposed wells
and production facilities. Include a
map showing the surface and bottomhole location and water depth of each
proposed well, the surface location of
each production facility, and the locations of all associated drilling unit and
construction barge anchors.
(c) Drilling unit. A description of the
drilling unit and associated equipment
you will use to conduct your proposed
development drilling activities. Include
a brief description of its important
safety and pollution prevention features, and a table indicating the type
and the estimated maximum quantity
of fuels and oil that will be stored on
the facility (see definition of ‘‘facility
(3)’’ under § 550.105).
(d) Production facilities. A description
of the production platforms, satellite
structures, subsea wellheads and manifolds, lease term pipelines (see definition at § 550.105), production facilities,
umbilicals, and other facilities you will
use to conduct your proposed development and production activities. Include

a brief description of their important
safety and pollution prevention features, and a table indicating the type
and the estimated maximum quantity
of fuels and oil that will be stored on
the facility (see definition of ‘‘facility
(3)’’ under § 550.105).
(e) Service fee. You must include payment of the service fee listed in
§ 550.125.
§ 550.242 What information must accompany the DPP or DOCD?
The following information must accompany your DPP or DOCD.
(a) General information required by
§ 550.243;
(b) G&G information required by
§ 550.244;
(c) Hydrogen sulfide information required by § 550.245;
(d) Mineral resource conservation information required by § 550.246;
(e) Biological, physical, and socioeconomic information required by
§ 550.247;
(f) Solid and liquid wastes and discharges information and cooling water
intake
information
required
by
§ 550.248;
(g) Air emissions information required by § 550.249;
(h) Oil and hazardous substance spills
information required by § 550.250;
(i) Alaska planning information required by § 550.251;
(j) Environmental monitoring information required by § 550.252;
(k) Lease stipulations information
required by § 550.253;
(l) Mitigation measures information
required by § 550.254;
(m) Decommissioning information required by § 550.255;
(n) Related facilities and operations
information required by § 550.256;
(o) Support vessels and aircraft information required by § 550.257;
(p) Onshore support facilities information required by § 550.258;
(q) Sulphur operations information
required by § 550.259;
(r) Coastal zone management information required by § 550.260;
(s) Environmental impact analysis
information required by § 550.261; and
(t) Administrative information required by § 550.262.

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§ 550.244

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§ 550.243 What general information
must accompany the DPP or
DOCD?
The following general information
must accompany your DPP or DOCD:
(a) Applications and permits. A listing,
including filing or approval status, of
the Federal, State, and local application approvals or permits you must obtain to carry out your proposed development and production activities.
(b) Drilling fluids. A table showing the
projected amount, discharge rate, and
chemical constituents for each type
(i.e., water based, oil based, synthetic
based) of drilling fluid you plan to use
to drill your proposed development
wells.
(c) Production. The following production information:
(1) Estimates of the average and peak
rates of production for each type of
production and the life of the reservoir(s) you intend to produce; and
(2) The chemical and physical characteristics of the produced oil (see definition under 30 CFR 254.6) that you will
handle or store at the facilities you
will use to conduct your proposed development and production activities.
(d) Chemical products. A table showing
the name and brief description, quantities to be stored, storage method, and
rates of usage of the chemical products
you will use to conduct your proposed
development and production activities.
You need list only those chemical products you will store or use in quantities
greater than the amounts defined as
Reportable Quantities in 40 CFR part
302, or amounts specified by the Regional Supervisor.
(e) New or unusual technology. A description and discussion of any new or
unusual technology (see definition
under § 550.200) you will use to carry
out your proposed development and
production activities. In the public information copies of your DPP or
DOCD, you may exclude any proprietary information from this description. In that case, include a brief discussion of the general subject matter
of the omitted information. If you will
not use any new or unusual technology
to carry out your proposed development and production activities, include
a statement so indicating.

(f) Bonds, oil spill financial responsibility, and well control statements. Statements attesting that:
(1) The activities and facilities proposed in your DPP or DOCD are or will
be covered by an appropriate bond
under 30 CFR part 556, subpart I;
(2) You have demonstrated or will
demonstrate oil spill financial responsibility for facilities proposed in your
DPP or DOCD, according to 30 CFR
part 553; and
(3) You have or will have the financial capability to drill a relief well and
conduct other emergency well control
operations.
(g) Suspensions of production or operations. A brief discussion of any suspensions of production or suspensions of
operations that you anticipate may be
necessary in the course of conducting
your activities under the DPP or
DOCD.
(h) Blowout scenario. A scenario for a
potential blowout of the proposed well
in your DPP or DOCD that you expect
will have the highest volume of liquid
hydrocarbons. Include the estimated
flow rate, total volume, and maximum
duration of the potential blowout.
Also, discuss the potential for the well
to bridge over, the likelihood for surface intervention to stop the blowout,
the availability of a rig to drill a relief
well, and rig package constraints. Estimate the time it would take to drill a
relief well.
(i) Contact. The name, mailing address, (e-mail address if available), and
telephone number of the person with
whom the Regional Supervisor and the
affected State(s) can communicate
about your DPP or DOCD.
§ 550.244 What geological and geophysical (G&G) information must
accompany the DPP or DOCD?
The following G&G information must
accompany your DPP or DOCD:
(a) Geological description. A geological
description of the prospect(s).
(b) Structure contour maps. Current
structure contour maps (depth-based,
expressed in feet subsea) showing
depths of expected productive formations and the locations of proposed
wells.
(c) Two dimensional (2–D) or three-dimensional (3–D) seismic lines. Copies of

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§ 550.245

30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

migrated and annotated 2–D or 3–D
seismic lines (with depth scale) intersecting at or near your proposed well
locations. You are not required to conduct both 2–D and 3–D seismic surveys
if you choose to conduct only one type
of survey. If you have conducted both
types of surveys, the Regional Supervisor may instruct you to submit the
results of both surveys. You must interpret and display this information.
Provide this information as an enclosure to only one proprietary copy of
your DPP or DOCD.
(d) Geological cross-sections. Interpreted geological cross-sections showing the depths of expected productive
formations.
(e) Shallow hazards report. A shallow
hazards report based on information
obtained from a high-resolution geophysical survey, or a reference to such
report if you have already submitted it
to the Regional Supervisor.
(f) Shallow hazards assessment. For
each proposed well, an assessment of
any seafloor and subsurface geologic
and manmade features and conditions
that may adversely affect your proposed drilling operations.
(g) High resolution seismic lines. A copy
of the high-resolution survey line closest to each of your proposed well locations. Because of its volume, provide
this information as an enclosure to
only one proprietary copy of your DPP
or DOCD. You are not required to provide this information if the surface location of your proposed well has been
approved in a previously submitted EP,
DPP, or DOCD.
(h) Stratigraphic column. A generalized biostratigraphic/lithostratigraphic
column from the surface to the total
depth of each proposed well.
(i) Time-versus-depth chart. A seismic
travel time-versus-depth chart based
on the appropriate velocity analysis in
the area of interpretation and specifying the geodetic datum.
(j) Geochemical information. A copy of
any geochemical reports you used or
generated.
(k) Future G&G activities. A brief description of the G&G explorations and
development G&G activities that you
may conduct for lease or unit purposes
after your DPP or DOCD is approved.

§ 550.245 What hydrogen sulfide (H 2S)
information must accompany the
DPP or DOCD?
The following H2S information, as applicable, must accompany your DPP or
DOCD:
(a) Concentration. The estimated concentration of any H2S you might encounter or handle while you conduct
your proposed development and production activities.
(b) Classification. Under 30 CFR
250.490(c), a request that the Regional
Supervisor classify the area of your
proposed development and production
activities as either H2S absent, H2S
present, or H2S unknown. Provide sufficient information to justify your request.
(c) H 2S Contingency Plan. If you request that the Regional Supervisor
classify the area of your proposed development and production activities as
either H2S present or H2S unknown, an
H2S Contingency Plan prepared under
30 CFR 250.490(f), or a reference to an
approved or submitted H2S Contingency Plan that covers the proposed
development and production activities.
(d) Modeling report. (1) If you have determined or estimated that the concentration of any H2S you may encounter or handle while you conduct your
development and production activities
will be greater than 500 parts per million (ppm), you must:
(i) Model a potential worst case H2S
release from the facilities you will use
to conduct your proposed development
and production activities; and
(ii) Include a modeling report or
modeling results, or a reference to such
report or results if you have already
submitted it to the Regional Supervisor.
(2) The analysis in the modeling report must be specific to the particular
site of your development and production activities, and must consider any
nearby human-occupied OCS facilities,
shipping lanes, fishery areas, and other
points where humans may be subject to
potential exposure from an H2S release
from your proposed activities.
(3) If any H2S emissions are projected
to affect an onshore location in concentrations greater than 10 ppm, the
modeling analysis must be consistent
with the EPA’s risk management plan

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§ 550.248

methodologies outlined in 40 CFR part
68.

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§ 550.246 What mineral resource conservation information must accompany the DPP or DOCD?
The following mineral resource conservation information, as applicable,
must accompany your DPP or DOCD:
(a) Technology and reservoir engineering practices and procedures. A description of the technology and reservoir
engineering practices and procedures
you will use to increase the ultimate
recovery of oil and gas (e.g., secondary,
tertiary, or other enhanced recovery
practices). If you will not use enhanced
recovery practices initially, provide an
explanation of the methods you considered and the reasons why you are not
using them.
(b) Technology and recovery practices
and procedures. A description of the
technology and recovery practices and
procedures you will use to ensure optimum recovery of oil and gas or sulphur.
(c) Reservoir development. A discussion
of exploratory well results, other reservoir data, proposed well spacing,
completion methods, and other relevant well plan information.
§ 550.247 What biological, physical,
and
socioeconomic
information
must accompany the DPP or
DOCD?
If you obtain the following information in developing your DPP or DOCD,
or if the Regional Supervisor requires
you to obtain it, you must include a report, or the information obtained, or a
reference to such a report or information if you have already submitted it
to the Regional Supervisor, as accompanying information:
(a) Biological environment reports.
Site-specific
information
on
chemosynthetic communities, federally listed threatened or endangered
species, marine mammals protected
under the MMPA, sensitive underwater
features, marine sanctuaries, critical
habitat designated under the ESA, or
other areas of biological concern.
(b) Physical environment reports. Sitespecific
meteorological,
physical
oceanographic, geotechnical reports, or
archaeological reports (if required
under § 550.194).

(c) Socioeconomic study reports. Socioeconomic information related to your
proposed development and production
activities.
§ 550.248 What solid and liquid wastes
and discharges information and
cooling water intake information
must accompany the DPP or
DOCD?
The following solid and liquid wastes
and discharges information and cooling
water intake information must accompany your DPP or DOCD:
(a) Projected wastes. A table providing
the name, brief description, projected
quantity, and composition of solid and
liquid wastes (such as spent drilling
fluids, drill cuttings, trash, sanitary
and domestic wastes, produced waters,
and chemical product wastes) likely to
be generated by your proposed development and production activities. Describe:
(1) The methods you used for determining this information; and
(2) Your plans for treating, storing,
and downhole disposal of these wastes
at your facility location(s).
(b) Projected ocean discharges. If any
of your solid and liquid wastes will be
discharged overboard or are planned
discharges from manmade islands:
(1) A table showing the name, projected amount, and rate of discharge
for each waste type; and
(2) A description of the discharge
method (such as shunting through a
downpipe, adding to a produced water
stream, etc.) you will use.
(c) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. (1) A discussion of how you will comply with
the provisions of the applicable general
NPDES permit that covers your proposed development and production activities; or
(2) A copy of your application for an
individual NPDES permit. Briefly describe the major discharges and methods you will use for compliance.
(d) Modeling report. A modeling report
or the modeling results (if you modeled
the discharges of your projected solid
or liquid wastes in developing your
DPP or DOCD), or a reference to such
report or results if you have already
submitted it to the Regional Supervisor.

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§ 550.249

30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

(e) Projected cooling water intake. A
table for each cooling water intake
structure likely to be used by your proposed development and production activities that includes a brief description of the cooling water intake structure, daily water intake rate, water intake through-screen velocity, percentage of water intake used for cooling
water, mitigation measures for reducing impingement and entrainment of
aquatic organisms, and biofouling prevention measures.

pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with CFR

§ 550.249 What air emissions information must accompany the DPP or
DOCD?
The following air emissions information, as applicable, must accompany
your DPP or DOCD:
(a) Projected emissions. Tables showing
the projected emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter in the
form of PM10 and PM2.5 when applicable, nitrogen oxides (NOX), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOC) that will be generated by
your proposed development and production activities.
(1) For each source on or associated
with the facility you will use to conduct your proposed development and
production activities, you must list:
(i) The projected peak hourly emissions;
(ii) The total annual emissions in
tons per year;
(iii) Emissions over the duration of
the proposed development and production activities;
(iv) The frequency and duration of
emissions; and
(v) The total of all emissions listed in
paragraph (a)(1)(i) through (iv) of this
section.
(2) If your proposed production and
development activities would result in
an increase in the emissions of an air
pollutant from your facility to an
amount greater than the amount specified in your previously approved DPP
or DOCD, you must show the revised
emission rates for each source as well
as the incremental change for each
source.
(3) You must provide the basis for all
calculations, including engine size and
rating, and applicable operational information.

(4) You must base the projected emissions on the maximum rated capacity
of the equipment and the maximum
throughput of the facility you will use
to conduct your proposed development
and production activities under its
physical and operational design.
(5) If the specific drilling unit has not
yet been determined, you must use the
maximum emission estimates for the
type of drilling unit you will use.
(b) Emission reduction measures. A description of any proposed emission reduction measures, including the affected source(s), the emission reduction control technologies or procedures, the quantity of reductions to be
achieved, and any monitoring system
you propose to use to measure emissions.
(c) Processes, equipment, fuels, and
combustibles. A description of processes,
processing
equipment,
combustion
equipment, fuels, and storage units.
You must include the frequency, duration, and maximum burn rate of any
flaring activity.
(d) Distance to shore. Identification of
the distance of the site of your proposed development and production activities from the mean high water
mark (mean higher high water mark on
the Pacific coast) of the adjacent
State.
(e) Non-exempt facilities. A description
of how you will comply with § 550.303
when the projected emissions of SO2,
PM, NOX, CO, or VOC that will be generated by your proposed development
and production activities are greater
than the respective emission exemption amounts ‘‘E’’ calculated using the
formulas in § 550.303(d). When BOEM requires air quality modeling, you must
use the guidelines in appendix W of 40
CFR part 51 with a model approved by
the Director. Submit the best available
meteorological information and data
consistent with the model(s) used.
(f) Modeling report. A modeling report
or the modeling results (if § 550.303 requires you to use an approved air quality model to model projected air emissions in developing your DPP or
DOCD), or a reference to such report or
results if you have already submitted
it to the Regional Supervisor.

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§ 550.253

§ 550.250 What oil and hazardous substance spills information must accompany the DPP or DOCD?
The following information regarding
potential spills of oil (see definition
under 30 CFR 254.6) and hazardous substances (see definition under 40 CFR
part 116), as applicable, must accompany your DPP or DOCD:
(a) Oil spill response planning. The material required under paragraph (a)(1)
or (a)(2) of this section:
(1) An Oil Spill Response Plan
(OSRP) for the facilities you will use to
conduct your proposed development
and production activities prepared according to the requirements of 30 CFR
part 254, subpart B; or
(2) Reference to your approved regional OSRP (see 30 CFR 254.3) to include:
(i) A discussion of your regional
OSRP;
(ii) The location of your primary oil
spill equipment base and staging area;
(iii) The name(s) of your oil spill removal organization(s) for both equipment and personnel;
(iv) The calculated volume of your
worst case discharge scenario (see 30
CFR 254.26(a)), and a comparison of the
appropriate worst case discharge scenario in your approved regional OSRP
with the worst case discharge scenario
that could result from your proposed
development and production activities;
and
(v) A description of the worst case oil
spill scenario that could result from
your proposed development and production activities (see 30 CFR 254.26(b), (c),
(d), and (e)).
(b) Modeling report. If you model a potential oil or hazardous substance spill
in developing your DPP or DOCD, a
modeling report or the modeling results, or a reference to such report or
results if you have already submitted
it to the Regional Supervisor.

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§ 550.251 If I propose activities in the
Alaska OCS Region, what planning
information must accompany the
DPP?
If you propose development and production activities in the Alaska OCS
Region, the following planning information must accompany your DPP:

(a) Emergency plans. A description of
your emergency plans to respond to a
blowout, loss or disablement of a drilling unit, and loss of or damage to support craft; and
(b) Critical operations and curtailment
procedures. Critical operations and curtailment procedures for your development and production activities. The
procedures must identify ice conditions, weather, and other constraints
under which the development and production activities will either be curtailed or not proceed.
§ 550.252 What environmental monitoring information must accompany
the DPP or DOCD?
The following environmental monitoring information, as applicable, must
accompany your DPP or DOCD:
(a) Monitoring systems. A description
of any existing and planned monitoring
systems that are measuring, or will
measure, environmental conditions or
will provide project-specific data or information on the impacts of your development and production activities.
(b) Incidental takes. If there is reason
to believe that protected species may
be incidentally taken by planned development and production activities, you
must describe how you will monitor for
incidental take of:
(1) Threatened and endangered species listed under the ESA; and
(2) Marine mammals, as appropriate,
if you have not already received authorization for incidental take of marine mammals as may be necessary
under the MMPA.
(c) Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). If you propose to conduct development and production activities within the protective zones of the FGBNMS, a description of your provisions for monitoring
the impacts of oil spill on the environmentally sensitive resources of the
FGBNMS.
§ 550.253 What lease stipulations information must accompany the DPP or
DOCD?
A description of the measures you
took, or will take, to satisfy the conditions of lease stipulations related to

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§ 550.254

30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

your proposed development and production activities must accompany your
DPP or DOCD.
§ 550.254 What mitigation measures information must accompany the DPP
or DOCD?
(a) If you propose to use any measures beyond those required by the regulations in this part to minimize or
mitigate environmental impacts from
your proposed development and production activities, a description of the
measures you will use must accompany
your DPP or DOCD.
(b) If there is reason to believe that
protected species may be incidentally
taken by planned development and production activities, you must include
mitigation measures designed to avoid
or minimize that incidental take of:
(1) Threatened and endangered species listed under the ESA; and
(2) Marine mammals, as appropriate,
if you have not already received authorization for incidental take as may
be necessary under the MMPA.

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§ 550.255 What decommissioning information must accompany the DPP or
DOCD?
A brief description of how you intend
to decommission your wells, platforms,
pipelines, and other facilities, and
clear your site(s) must accompany
your DPP or DOCD.
§ 550.256 What related facilities and
operations information must accompany the DPP or DOCD?
The following information regarding
facilities and operations directly related to your proposed development
and production activities must accompany your DPP or DOCD.
(a) OCS facilities and operations. A description and location of any of the following that directly relate to your proposed development and production activities:
(1) Drilling units;
(2) Production platforms;
(3) Right-of-way pipelines (including
those that transport chemical products
and produced water); and
(4) Other facilities and operations located on the OCS (regardless of ownership).
(b) Transportation system. A discussion of the transportation system that

you will use to transport your production to shore, including:
(1) Routes of any new pipelines;
(2) Information concerning barges
and shuttle tankers, including the storage capacity of the transport vessel(s),
and the number of transfers that will
take place per year;
(3) Information concerning any intermediate storage or processing facilities;
(4) An estimate of the quantities of
oil, gas, or sulphur to be transported
from your production facilities; and
(5) A description and location of the
primary onshore terminal.
§ 550.257 What information on the support vessels, offshore vehicles, and
aircraft you will use must accompany the DPP or DOCD?
The following information on the
support vessels, offshore vehicles, and
aircraft you will use must accompany
your DPP or DOCD:
(a) General. A description of the crew
boats, supply boats, anchor handling
vessels, tug boats, barges, ice management vessels, other vessels, offshore vehicles, and aircraft you will use to support your development and production
activities. The description of vessels
and offshore vehicles must estimate
the storage capacity of their fuel tanks
and the frequency of their visits to the
facilities you will use to conduct your
proposed development and production
activities.
(b) Air emissions. A table showing the
source, composition, frequency, and duration of the air emissions likely to be
generated by the support vessels, offshore vehicles, and aircraft you will
use that will operate within 25 miles of
the facilities you will use to conduct
your proposed development and production activities.
(c) Drilling fluids and chemical products transportation. A description of the
transportation method and quantities
of drilling fluids and chemical products
(see § 550.243(b) and (d)) you will transport from the onshore support facilities
you will use to the facilities you will
use to conduct your proposed development and production activities.
(d) Solid and liquid wastes transportation. A description of the transportation method and a brief description

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§ 550.261

of the composition, quantities, and destination(s) of solid and liquid wastes
(see § 550.248(a)) you will transport from
the facilities you will use to conduct
your proposed development and production activities.
(e) Vicinity map. A map showing the
location of your proposed development
and production activities relative to
the shoreline. The map must depict the
primary route(s) the support vessels
and aircraft will use when traveling between the onshore support facilities
you will use and the facilities you will
use to conduct your proposed development and production activities.

pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with CFR

§ 550.258 What information on the onshore support facilities you will use
must accompany the DPP or
DOCD?
The following information on the onshore support facilities you will use
must accompany your DPP or DOCD:
(a) General. A description of the onshore facilities you will use to provide
supply and service support for your
proposed development and production
activities (e.g., service bases and mud
company docks).
(1) Indicate whether the onshore support facilities are existing, to be constructed, or to be expanded; and
(2) For DPPs only, provide a timetable for acquiring lands (including
rights-of-way and easements) and constructing or expanding any of the onshore support facilities.
(b) Air emissions. A description of the
source, composition, frequency, and duration of the air emissions (attributable to your proposed development
and production activities) likely to be
generated by the onshore support facilities you will use.
(c) Unusual solid and liquid wastes. A
description of the quantity, composition, and method of disposal of any unusual solid and liquid wastes (attributable to your proposed development
and production activities) likely to be
generated by the onshore support facilities you will use. Unusual wastes
are those wastes not specifically addressed in the relevant National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit.
(d) Waste disposal. A description of
the onshore facilities you will use to

store and dispose of solid and liquid
wastes generated by your proposed development and production activities
(see § 550.248(a)) and the types and
quantities of such wastes.
§ 550.259 What sulphur operations information must accompany the DPP
or DOCD?
If you are proposing to conduct sulphur development and production activities, the following information
must accompany your DPP or DOCD:
(a) Bleedwater. A discussion of the
bleedwater that will be generated by
your proposed sulphur activities, including the measures you will take to
mitigate the potential toxic or thermal
impacts on the environment caused by
the discharge of bleedwater.
(b) Subsidence. An estimate of the degree of subsidence expected at various
stages of your sulphur development
and production activities, and a description of the measures you will take
to mitigate the effects of subsidence on
existing or potential oil and gas production, production platforms, and production facilities, and to protect the
environment.
§ 550.260 What Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) information must
accompany the DPP or DOCD?
The following CZMA information
must accompany your DPP or DOCD:
(a) Consistency certification. A copy of
your consistency certification under
section 307(c)(3)(B) of the CZMA (16
U.S.C. 1456(c)(3)(B)) and 15 CFR 930.76(c)
stating that the proposed development
and production activities described in
detail in this DPP or DOCD comply
with (name of State(s)) approved coastal management program(s) and will be
conducted in a manner that is consistent with such program(s); and
(b) Other information. ‘‘Information’’
as required by 15 CFR 930.76(a) and 15
CFR 930.58(a)(2)) and ‘‘Analysis’’ as required by 15 CFR 930.58(a)(3).
§ 550.261 What environmental impact
analysis (EIA) information must accompany the DPP or DOCD?
The following EIA information must
accompany your DPP or DOCD:
(a) General requirements. Your EIA
must:

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§ 550.262

30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

(1) Assess the potential environmental impacts of your proposed development and production activities;
(2) Be project specific; and
(3) Be as detailed as necessary to assist the Regional Supervisor in complying with the NEPA of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.) and other relevant Federal
laws such as the ESA and the MMPA.
(b) Resources, conditions, and activities.
Your EIA must describe those resources, conditions, and activities listed below that could be affected by your
proposed development and production
activities, or that could affect the construction and operation of facilities or
structures or the activities proposed in
your DPP or DOCD.
(1) Meteorology, oceanography, geology, and shallow geological or manmade hazards;
(2) Air and water quality;
(3) Benthic communities, marine
mammals, sea turtles, coastal and marine birds, fish and shellfish, and plant
life;
(4) Threatened or endangered species
and their critical habitat;
(5) Sensitive biological resources or
habitats such as essential fish habitat,
refuges, preserves, special management
areas identified in coastal management
programs, sanctuaries, rookeries, and
calving grounds;
(6) Archaeological resources;
(7) Socioeconomic resources (including the approximate number, timing,
and duration of employment of persons
engaged in onshore support and construction activities), population (including the approximate number of
people and families added to local onshore areas), existing offshore and onshore infrastructure (including major
sources of supplies, services, energy,
and water), types of contractors or vendors that may place a demand on local
goods and services, land use, subsistence resources and harvest practices,
recreation, recreational and commercial fishing (including seasons, location, and type), minority and lower income groups, and CZMA programs;
(8) Coastal and marine uses such as
military activities, shipping, and mineral exploration or development; and
(9) Other resources, conditions, and
activities identified by the Regional
Supervisor.

(c) Environmental impacts. Your EIA
must:
(1) Analyze the potential direct and
indirect impacts (including those from
accidents, cooling water intake structures, and those identified in relevant
ESA biological opinions such as, but
not limited to, those from noise, vessel
collisions, and marine trash and debris)
that your proposed development and
production activities will have on the
identified resources, conditions, and
activities;
(2) Describe the type, severity, and
duration of these potential impacts and
their biological, physical, and other
consequences and implications;
(3) Describe potential measures to
minimize or mitigate these potential
impacts;
(4) Describe any alternatives to your
proposed development and production
activities that you considered while developing your DPP or DOCD, and compare the potential environmental impacts; and
(5) Summarize the information you
incorporate by reference.
(d) Consultation. Your EIA must include a list of agencies and persons
with whom you consulted, or with
whom you will be consulting, regarding
potential impacts associated with your
proposed development and production
activities.
(e) References cited. Your EIA must
include a list of the references that you
cite in the EIA.
§ 550.262 What administrative information must accompany the DPP or
DOCD?
The following administrative information must accompany your DPP or
DOCD:
(a) Exempted information description
(public information copies only). A description of the general subject matter
of the proprietary information that is
included in the proprietary copies of
your DPP or DOCD or its accompanying information.
(b) Bibliography. (1) If you reference a
previously submitted EP, DPP, DOCD,
study report, survey report, or other
material in your DPP or DOCD or its
accompanying information, a list of
the referenced material; and

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§ 550.267

(2) The location(s) where the Regional Supervisor can inspect the cited
referenced material if you have not
submitted it.
REVIEW AND DECISION PROCESS FOR THE
DPP OR DOCD

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§ 550.266 After receiving the DPP or
DOCD, what will BOEM do?
(a) Determine whether deemed submitted. Within 25 working days after receiving your proposed DPP or DOCD
and its accompanying information, the
Regional Supervisor will deem your
DPP or DOCD submitted if:
(1) The submitted information, including the information that must accompany the DPP or DOCD (refer to
the list in § 550.242), fulfills requirements and is sufficiently accurate;
(2) You have provided all needed additional information (see § 550.201(b));
and
(3) You have provided the required
number of copies (see § 550.206(a)).
(b) Identify problems and deficiencies.
If the Regional Supervisor determines
that you have not met one or more of
the conditions in paragraph (a) of this
section, the Regional Supervisor will
notify you of the problem or deficiency
within 25 working days after the Regional Supervisor receives your DPP or
DOCD and its accompanying information. The Regional Supervisor will not
deem your DPP or DOCD submitted
until you have corrected all problems
or deficiencies identified in the notice.
(c) Deemed submitted notification. The
Regional Supervisor will notify you
when your DPP or DOCD is deemed
submitted.
§ 550.267 What actions will BOEM take
after the DPP or DOCD is deemed
submitted?
(a) State, local government, CZMA consistency, and other reviews. Within 2
working days after the Regional Supervisor deems your DPP or DOCD submitted under § 550.266, the Regional Supervisor will use receipted mail or alternative method to send a public information copy of the DPP or DOCD
and its accompanying information to
the following:
(1) The Governor of each affected State.
The Governor has 60 calendar days
after receiving your deemed-submitted

DPP or DOCD to submit comments and
recommendations. The Regional Supervisor will not consider comments and
recommendations received after the
deadline.
(2) The executive of any affected local
government who requests a copy. The executive of any affected local government has 60 calendar days after receipt
of your deemed-submitted DPP or
DOCD to submit comments and recommendations. The Regional Supervisor will not consider comments and
recommendations received after the
deadline. The executive of any affected
local government must forward all
comments and recommendations to the
respective Governor before submitting
them to the Regional Supervisor.
(3) The CZMA agency of each affected
State. The CZMA consistency review
period under section 307(c)(3)(B)(ii) of
the CZMA (16 U.S.C.1456(c)(3)(B)(ii))
and 15 CFR 930.78 begins when the
States CZMA agency receives a copy of
your deemed-submitted DPP or DOCD,
consistency certification, and required
necessary data/information (see 15 CFR
930.77(a)(1)).
(b) General public. Within 2 working
days after the Regional Supervisor
deems your DPP or DOCD submitted
under § 550.266, the Regional Supervisor
will make a public information copy of
the DPP or DOCD and its accompanying information available for review to any appropriate interstate regional entity and the public at the appropriate BOEM Regional Public Information Office. Any interested Federal
agency or person may submit comments and recommendations to the Regional Supervisor. Comments and recommendations must be received by the
Regional Supervisor within 60 calendar
days after the DPP or DOCD including
its accompanying information is made
available.
(c) BOEM compliance review. The Regional Supervisor will review the development and production activities in
your proposed DPP or DOCD to ensure
that they conform to the performance
standards in § 550.202.
(d) Amendments. During the review of
your proposed DPP or DOCD, the Regional Supervisor may require you, or
you may elect, to change your DPP or
DOCD. If you elect to amend your DPP

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§ 550.268

30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

or DOCD, the Regional Supervisor may
determine that your DPP or DOCD, as
amended, is subject to the requirements of § 550.266.

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§ 550.268 How does BOEM respond to
recommendations?
(a) Governor. The Regional Supervisor
will accept those recommendations
from the Governor that provide a reasonable balance between the National
interest and the well-being of the citizens of each affected State. The Regional Supervisor will explain in writing to the Governor the reasons for rejecting any of his or her recommendations.
(b) Local governments and the public.
The Regional Supervisor may accept
recommendations from the executive
of any affected local government or the
public.
(c) Availability. The Regional Supervisor will make all comments and recommendations available to the public
upon request.
§ 550.269 How will BOEM evaluate the
environmental impacts of the DPP
or DOCD?
The Regional Supervisor will evaluate the environmental impacts of the
activities described in your proposed
DPP or DOCD and prepare environmental documentation under the National
Environmental
Policy
Act
(NEPA) (42 U.S.C.4321 et seq.) and the
implementing regulations (40 CFR
parts 1500 through 1508).
(a) Environmental impact statement
(EIS) declaration. At least once in each
OCS planning area (other than the
Western and Central GOM Planning
Areas), the Director will declare that
the approval of a proposed DPP is a
major Federal action, and BOEM will
prepare an EIS.
(b) Leases or units in the vicinity. Before or immediately after the Director
determines that preparation of an EIS
is required, the Regional Supervisor
may require lessees and operators of
leases or units in the vicinity of the
proposed development and production
activities for which DPPs have not
been approved to submit information
about preliminary plans for their
leases or units.

(c) Draft EIS. The Regional Supervisor will send copies of the draft EIS
to the Governor of each affected State
and to the executive of each affected
local government who requests a copy.
Additionally, when BOEM prepares a
DPP EIS, and the Federally-approved
CZMA program for an affected State
requires a DPP NEPA document for use
in determining consistency, the Regional Supervisor will forward a copy
of the draft EIS to the State’s CZMA
agency. The Regional Supervisor will
also make copies of the draft EIS available to any appropriate Federal agency, interstate regional entity, and the
public.
§ 550.270 What decisions will BOEM
make on the DPP or DOCD and
within what timeframe?
(a) Timeframe. The Regional Supervisor will act on your deemed-submitted DPP or DOCD as follows:
(1) The Regional Supervisor will
make a decision within 60 calendar
days after the latest of the day that:
(i) The comment period provided in
§ 550.267(a)(1), (a)(2), and (b) closes;
(ii) The final EIS for a DPP is released or adopted; or
(iii) The last amendment to your proposed DOCD is received by the Regional Supervisor.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(1)
of this section, BOEM will not approve
your DPP or DOCD until either:
(i) All affected States with approved
CZMA programs concur, or have been
conclusively presumed to concur, with
your DPP or DOCD consistency certification under section 307(c)(3)(B)(i) and
(ii)
of
the
CZMA
(16
U.S.C.
1456(c)(3)(B)(i) and (ii)); or
(ii) The Secretary of Commerce has
made a finding authorized by section
307(c)(3)(B)(iii) of the CZMA (16 U.S.C.
1456(c)(3)(B)(iii)) that each activity described in the DPP or DOCD is consistent with the objectives of the
CZMA, or is otherwise necessary in the
interest of National security.
(b) BOEM decision. By the deadline in
paragraph (a) of this section, the Regional Supervisor will take one of the
following actions:

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Ocean Energy Management, Interior
The regional supervisor will . . .

If . . .

And then . . .

(1) Approve your DPP or
DOCD,

It complies with all applicable
requirements,

(2) Require you to modify your
proposed DPP or DOCD,

It fails to make adequate provisions for safety, environmental protection, or conservation of natural resources or otherwise does
not comply with the lease,
the Act, the regulations prescribed under the Act, or
other Federal laws,
Any of the reasons in
§ 550.271 apply,

The Regional Supervisor will notify you in writing of the decision and may require you to meet certain conditions, including those to provide monitoring information.
The Regional Supervisor will notify you in writing of the decision and describe the modifications you must make to your
proposed DPP or DOCD to ensure it complies with all applicable requirements.

(3) Disapprove your DPP or
DOCD,

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§ 550.272

§ 550.271 For what reasons will BOEM
disapprove the DPP or DOCD?
The Regional Supervisor will disapprove your proposed DPP or DOCD if
one of the four reasons in this section
applies:
(a) Non-compliance. The Regional Supervisor determines that you have
failed to demonstrate that you can
comply with the requirements of the
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as
amended (Act), implementing regulations, or other applicable Federal laws.
(b) No consistency concurrence. (1) An
affected State has not yet issued a
final decision on your coastal zone consistency certification (see 15 CFR
930.78(a)); or
(2) An affected State objects to your
coastal zone consistency certification,
and the Secretary of Commerce, under
section 307(c)(3)(B)(iii) of the CZMA (16
U.S.C. 1456(c)(3)(B)(iii)), has not found
that each activity described in the
DPP or DOCD is consistent with the
objectives of the CZMA or is otherwise
necessary in the interest of National
security.
(3) If the Regional Supervisor disapproved your DPP or DOCD for the
sole reason that an affected State either has not yet issued a final decision
on, or has objected to, your coastal
zone consistency certification (see
paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) in this section), the Regional Supervisor will approve your DPP or DOCD upon receipt
of concurrence by the affected State, at
the time concurrence of the affected
State is conclusively presumed, or
when the Secretary of Commerce

(i) The Regional Supervisor will notify you in writing of the decision and describe the reason(s) for disapproving your
DPP or DOCD; and
(ii) BOEM may cancel your lease and compensate you under
43 U.S.C. 1351(h)(2)(C) and the implementing regulations
in §§ 550.183 through 550.185 and 30 CFR 556.77.

makes a finding authorized by section
307(c)(3)(B)(iii) of the CZMA (16 U.S.C.
1456(c)(3)(B)(iii)) that each activity described in your DPP or DOCD is consistent with the objectives of the
CZMA, or is otherwise necessary in the
interest of National security. In that
event, you do not need to resubmit
your DPP or DOCD for approval under
§ 550.273(b).
(c) National security or defense conflicts. Your proposed activities would
threaten National security or defense.
(d) Exceptional circumstances. The Regional Supervisor determines because
of exceptional geological conditions,
exceptional resource values in the marine or coastal environment, or other
exceptional circumstances that all of
the following apply:
(1) Implementing your DPP or DOCD
would cause serious harm or damage to
life (including fish and other aquatic
life), property, any mineral deposits (in
areas leased or not leased), the National security or defense, or the marine, coastal, or human environment;
(2) The threat of harm or damage will
not disappear or decrease to an acceptable extent within a reasonable period
of time; and
(3) The advantages of disapproving
your DPP or DOCD outweigh the advantages of development and production.
§ 550.272 If a State objects to the DPP’s
or DOCD’s coastal zone consistency
certification, what can I do?
If an affected State objects to the
coastal zone consistency certification

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§ 550.273

30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

accompanying your proposed or disapproved DPP or DOCD, you may do
one of the following:
(a) Amend or resubmit your DPP or
DOCD. Amend or resubmit your DPP
or DOCD to accommodate the State’s
objection and submit the amendment
or resubmittal to the Regional Supervisor for approval. The amendment or
resubmittal needs to only address information related to the State’s objections.
(b) Appeal. Appeal the State’s objection to the Secretary of Commerce
using the procedures in 15 CFR part
930, subpart H. The Secretary of Commerce will either:
(1) Grant your appeal by finding
under section 307(c)(3)(B)(iii) of the
CZMA (16 U.S.C.1456(c)(3)(B)(iii)) that
each activity described in detail in
your DPP or DOCD is consistent with
the objectives of the CZMA, or is otherwise necessary in the interest of National security; or
(2) Deny your appeal, in which case
you may amend or resubmit your DPP
or DOCD, as described in paragraph (a)
of this section.
(c) Withdraw your DPP or DOCD.
Withdraw your DPP or DOCD if you decide not to conduct your proposed development and production activities.

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§ 550.273 How do I submit a modified
DPP or DOCD or resubmit a disapproved DPP or DOCD?
(a) Modified DPP or DOCD. If the Regional Supervisor requires you to modify your proposed DPP or DOCD under
§ 550.270(b)(2), you must submit the
modification(s) to the Regional Supervisor in the same manner as for a new
DPP or DOCD. You need submit only
information related to the proposed
modification(s).
(b) Resubmitted DPP or DOCD. If the
Regional Supervisor disapproves your
DPP or DOCD under § 550.270(b)(3), and
except as provided in § 550.271(b)(3), you
may resubmit the disapproved DPP or
DOCD if there is a change in the conditions that were the basis of its disapproval.
(c) BOEM review and timeframe. The
Regional Supervisor will use the performance standards in § 550.202 to either approve, require you to further
modify, or disapprove your modified or

resubmitted DPP or DOCD. The Regional Supervisor will make a decision
within 60 calendar days after the Regional Supervisor deems your modified
or resubmitted DPP or DOCD to be
submitted, or receives the last amendment to your modified or resubmitted
DPP or DOCD, whichever occurs later.
POST-APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
EP, DPP, AND DOCD
§ 550.280 How must I conduct activities under the approved EP, DPP,
or DOCD?
(a) Compliance. You must conduct all
of your lease and unit activities according to your approved EP, DPP, or
DOCD and any approval conditions. If
you fail to comply with your approved
EP, DPP, or DOCD:
(1) You may be subject to BOEM enforcement action, including civil penalties; and
(2) The lease(s) involved in your EP,
DPP, or DOCD may be forfeited or cancelled under 43 U.S.C. 1334(c) or (d). If
this happens, you will not be entitled
to compensation under § 550.185(b) and
30 CFR 556.77.
(b) Emergencies. Nothing in this subpart or in your approved EP, DPP, or
DOCD relieves you of, or limits your
responsibility to take appropriate
measures to meet emergency situations. In an emergency situation, the
Regional Supervisor may approve or
require departures from your approved
EP, DPP, or DOCD.
§ 550.281 What must I do to conduct
activities under the approved EP,
DPP, or DOCD?
(a) Approvals and permits. Before you
conduct activities under your approved
EP, DPP, or DOCD you must obtain the
following approvals and or permits, as
applicable, from the District Manager
or BSEE Regional Supervisor:
(1) Approval of applications for permits to drill (APDs) (see 30 CFR
250.410);
(2) Approval of production safety systems (see 30 CFR 250.800);
(3) Approval of new platforms and
other structures (or major modifications to platforms and other structures) (see 30 CFR 250.905);

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Ocean Energy Management, Interior

§ 550.283

(4) Approval of applications to install
lease term pipelines (see 30 CFR
250.1007); and
(5) Other permits, as required by applicable law.
(b) Conformance. The activities proposed in these applications and permits
must conform to the activities described in detail in your approved EP,
DPP, or DOCD.
(c) Separate State CZMA consistency
review. APDs, and other applications
for licenses, approvals, or permits to
conduct activities under your approved
EP, DPP, or DOCD including those
identified in paragraph (a) of this section, are not subject to separate State
CZMA consistency review.
(d) Approval restrictions for permits for
activities conducted under EPs. The Regional Supervisor will not approve any
APDs or other applications for licenses, approvals, or permits under
your approved EP until either:
(1) All affected States with approved
coastal zone management programs
concur, or are conclusively presumed
to concur, with the coastal zone consistency certification accompanying
your EP under section 307(c)(3)(B)(i)
and (ii) of the CZMA (16 U.S.C.
1456(c)(3)(B)(i) and (ii)); or
(2) The Secretary of Commerce finds,
under section 307(c)(3)(B)(iii) of the
CZMA (16 U.S.C.1456(c)(3)(B)(iii)) that
each activity covered by the EP is consistent with the objectives of the
CZMA or is otherwise necessary in the
interest of National security;
(3) If an affected State objects to the
coastal zone consistency certification
accompanying your approved EP after
BOEM has approved your EP, you may
either:
(i) Revise your EP to accommodate
the State’s objection and submit the
revision to the Regional Supervisor for
approval; or
(ii) Appeal the State’s objection to
the Secretary of Commerce using the
procedures in 15 CFR part 930, subpart
H. The Secretary of Commerce will either:
(A) Grant your appeal by making the
finding described in paragraph (d)(2) of
this section; or
(B) Deny your appeal, in which case
you may revise your EP as described in
paragraph (d)(3)(i) of this section.

§ 550.282 Do I have to conduct post-approval monitoring?
After approving your EP, DPP, or
DOCD, the Regional Supervisor may direct you to conduct monitoring programs, including monitoring in accordance with the ESA and the MMPA. You
must retain copies of all monitoring
data obtained or derived from your
monitoring programs and make them
available to the BOEM upon request.
The Regional Supervisor may require
you to:
(a) Monitoring plans. Submit monitoring plans for approval before you
begin the work; and
(b) Monitoring reports. Prepare and
submit reports that summarize and
analyze data and information obtained
or derived from your monitoring programs. The Regional Supervisor will
specify requirements for preparing and
submitting these reports.
§ 550.283 When must I revise or supplement the approved EP, DPP, or
DOCD?
(a) Revised OCS plans. You must revise your approved EP, DPP, or DOCD
when you propose to:
(1) Change the type of drilling rig
(e.g., jack-up, platform rig, barge, submersible,
semisubmersible,
or
drillship), production facility (e.g.,
caisson, fixed platform with piles, tension leg platform), or transportation
mode (e.g., pipeline, barge);
(2) Change the surface location of a
well or production platform by a distance more than that specified by the
Regional Supervisor;
(3) Change the type of production or
significantly increase the volume of
production or storage capacity;
(4) Increase the emissions of an air
pollutant to an amount that exceeds
the amount specified in your approved
EP, DPP, or DOCD;
(5) Significantly increase the amount
of solid or liquid wastes to be handled
or discharged;
(6) Request a new H2S area classification, or increase the concentration of
H2S to a concentration greater than
that specified by the Regional Supervisor;
(7) Change the location of your onshore support base either from one

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§ 550.284

30 CFR Ch. V (7–1–17 Edition)

State to another or to a new base or a
base requiring expansion; or
(8) Change any other activity specified by the Regional Supervisor.
(b) Supplemental OCS plans. You must
supplement your approved EP, DPP, or
DOCD when you propose to conduct activities on your lease(s) or unit that require approval of a license or permit
which is not described in your approved
EP, DPP, or DOCD. These types of
changes are called supplemental OCS
plans.
§ 550.284 How will BOEM require revisions to the approved EP, DPP, or
DOCD?
(a) Periodic review. The Regional Supervisor will periodically review the
activities you conduct under your approved EP, DPP, or DOCD and may require you to submit updated information on your activities. The frequency
and extent of this review will be based
on the significance of any changes in
available information and onshore or
offshore conditions affecting, or affected by, the activities in your approved EP, DPP, or DOCD.
(b) Results of review. The Regional Supervisor may require you to revise
your approved EP, DPP, or DOCD based
on this review. In such cases, the Regional Supervisor will inform you of
the reasons for the decision.

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§ 550.285 How do I submit revised and
supplemental
EPs,
DPPs,
and
DOCDs?
(a) Submittal. You must submit to the
Regional Supervisor any revisions and
supplements to approved EPs, DPPs, or
DOCDs for approval, whether you initiate them or the Regional Supervisor
orders them.
(b) Information. Revised and supplemental EPs, DPPs, and DOCDs need include only information related to or affected by the proposed changes, including information on changes in expected
environmental impacts.
(c) Procedures. All supplemental EPs,
DPPs, and DOCDs, and those revised
EPs, DPPs, and DOCDs that the Regional Supervisor determines are likely to result in a significant change in
the impacts previously identified and
evaluated, are subject to all of the procedures under §§ 550.231 through 550.235

for EPs and §§ 550.266 through 550.273 for
DPPs and DOCDs.
§§ 550.286–550.295

[Reserved]

CONSERVATION INFORMATION DOCUMENTS
(CID)
§ 550.296 When and how must I submit
a CID or a revision to a CID?
(a) You must submit one original and
two copies of a CID to the appropriate
OCS Region at the same time you first
submit your DOCD or DPP for any development of a lease or leases located
in water depths greater than 400 meters
(1,312 feet). You must also submit a
CID for a Supplemental DOCD or DPP
when requested by the Regional Supervisor. The submission of your CID must
be accompanied by payment of the
service fee listed in § 550.125.
(b) If you decide not to develop a reservoir you committed to develop in
your CID, you must submit one original and two copies of a revision to the
CID to the appropriate OCS Region.
The revision to the CID must be submitted within 14 calendar days after
making your decision not to develop
the reservoir and before the reservoir is
bypassed. The Regional Supervisor will
approve or disapprove any such revision to the original CID. If the Regional Supervisor disapproves the revision, you must develop the reservoir as
described in the original CID.
§ 550.297 What information must a CID
contain?
(a) You must base the CID on wells
drilled before your CID submittal that
define the extent of the reservoirs. You
must notify BOEM of any well that is
drilled to total depth during the CID
evaluation period and you may be required to update your CID.
(b) You must include all of the following information if available. Information must be provided for each hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir that is
penetrated by a well that would meet
the producibility requirements of
§ 550.115 or § 550.116:
(1) General discussion of the overall
development of the reservoir;
(2) Summary spreadsheets of well log
data and reservoir parameters (i.e.,
sand tops and bases, fluid contacts, net

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Ocean Energy Management, Interior

§ 550.302

pay, porosity, water saturations, pressures, formation volume factor);
(3) Appropriate well logs, including
digital well log (i.e., gamma ray, resistivity, neutron, density, sonic, caliper
curves) curves in an acceptable digital
format;
(4) Sidewall core/whole core and pressure-volume-temperature analysis;
(5) Structure maps, with the existing
and proposed penetration points and
subsea depths for all wells penetrating
the reservoirs, fluid contacts (or the
lowest or highest known levels in the
absence of actual contacts), reservoir
boundaries, and the scale of the map;
(6) Interpreted structural cross sections and corresponding interpreted
seismic lines or block diagrams, as necessary, that include all current
wellbores and planned wellbores on the
leases or units to be developed, the reservoir boundaries, fluid contacts, depth
scale, stratigraphic positions, and relative biostratigraphic ages;
(7) Isopach maps of each reservoir
showing the net feet of pay for each
well within the reservoir identified at
the penetration point, along with the
well name, labeled contours, and scale;
(8) Estimates of original oil and gas
in-place and anticipated recoverable oil
and gas reserves, all reservoir parameters, and risk factors and assumptions;
(9) Plat map at the same scale as the
structure maps with existing and proposed well paths, as well as existing
and proposed penetrations;
(10) Wellbore schematics indicating
proposed perforations;
(11) Proposed wellbore utility chart
showing all existing and proposed
wells, with proposed completion intervals indicated for each borehole;
(12) Appropriate pressure data, specified by date, and whether estimated or
measured;
(13) Description of reservoir development strategies;
(14) Description of the enhanced recovery practices you will use or, if you
do not plan to use such practices, an
explanation of the methods you considered and reasons you do not intend to
use them;
(15) For each reservoir you do not intend to develop:

(i) A statement explaining the reason(s) you will not develop the reservoir, and
(ii) Economic justification, including
costs, recoverable reserve estimate,
production profiles, and pricing assumptions; and
(16) Any other appropriate data you
used in performing your reservoir evaluations and preparing your reservoir
development strategies.
§ 550.298 How long will BOEM take to
evaluate and make a decision on
the CID?
(a) The Regional Supervisor will
make a decision within 150 calendar
days of receiving your CID. If BOEM
does not act within 150 calendar days,
your CID is considered approved.
(b) BOEM may suspend the 150-calendar-day evaluation period if there is
missing, inconclusive, or inaccurate
data, or when a well reaches total
depth during the evaluation period.
BOEM may also suspend the evaluation
period when a well penetrating a hydrocarbon-bearing structure reaches
total depth during the evaluation period and the data from that well is
needed for the CID. You will receive
written notification from the Regional
Supervisor describing the additional
information that is needed, and the
evaluation period will resume once
BOEM receives the requested information.
(c) The Regional Supervisor will approve or deny your CID request based
on your commitment to develop economically producible reservoirs according to sound conservation, engineering,
and economic practices.
§ 550.299 What operations require approval of the CID?
You may not begin production before
you receive BOEM approval of the CID.

Subpart C—Pollution Prevention
and Control
§§ 550.300–550.301

[Reserved]

§ 550.302 Definitions
quality.

concerning

For purposes of §§ 550.303 and 550.304
of this part:

399

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