Administration (OSHA) held a public meeting on September 20-21, 2012, on the use of performance-based regulatory models in the U.S. oil and gas industry, offshore and onshore (see 77 FR 50172). If you submitted comments during that public meeting or to the docket [OSHA-2012-0033] and want them considered in this rulemaking, please resubmit those comments to this docket [USCG-2012-0779].
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking for 33 CFR Parts 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, and 147 [Docket No. USCG-2012-0779] RIN 1625-AC05
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard intends to promulgate regulations that will require vessels engaged in OCS activities (defined in 33 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter N) to develop, implement, and maintain a vessel-specific Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS) that incorporates the management program and principles of the American Petroleum Institute's Recommended Practice for Development of a Safety and Environmental Management Program for Offshore Operations and Facilities, Third Edition, May 2004 (API RP 75). The Coast Guard intends for this SEMS to be developed and implemented by the vessel's owner or operator and compatible with a designated lease operator's SEMS required under Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) regulations. The Coast Guard seeks 2 comments on whether a SEMS that incorporates the management program and principles of API RP 75 is appropriate for vessels engaged in OCS activities, would reduce risk and casualties, and improve safety on the OCS. Comments should address the feasibility of implementing a SEMS that incorporates API RP 75, the compatibility with BSEE SEMS regulations, potential methods of oversight, safety issues,
costs and regulatory burdens, and other issues of concern to the regulated community and general public. The Coast Guard would use such comments to assist in developing these new regulations.
Please see Pre-release of Proposed Rule at:
