Repeal of Unneeded Outer Continental Shelf Production Rate-Setting Functions Would Cut Costs
EMD-82-97
Published: Sep 10, 1982. Publicly Released: Sep 10, 1982.
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Highlights
GAO initiated this report to determine whether there are opportunities to save money or better utilize resources within the Department of the Interior by eliminating unneeded statutory and other reporting requirements involving the production of oil and gas from federal leases on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress should repeal section 606 of the OCS Lands Act Amendments of 1978, 43 U.S.C. 1865, to eliminate the data-gathering and reporting requirements related to MAR. | In 1986, Congress and the President passed the OCS Paperwork and Reporting Act, which eliminates Interior's data gathering and reporting requirements related to MAR. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should require the Director, MMS, to establish necessary procedures to use MPR data for: (1) fulfillment of the OCS Lands Act Amendments requirement; and (2) continuing to fulfill Interior's responsibilities for overseeing OCS production activity after legislative relief is granted. GAO continues to believe that MMS should give further consideration to using MPR data in lieu of the MER to monitor sensitive reservoirs. |
MMS is revising OCS Order No. 11 to make MER applicable only to reservoirs which are rated sensitive. This has been incorporated into a regulatory reform package which was published in the Federal Register on March 18, 1986.
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Topics
Cost controlData collectionGas resourcesMarine mineral resources developmentMineral leasesOil resourcesReporting requirementsEnergy suppliesNatural gasOil and gas