The GOMR.BOEMRE.GOV website is no longer being updated. In its place, BOEM.GOV and BSEE.GOV have been launched. Over the next several weeks, the appropriate content from the GOMR.BOEMRE.GOV website will be moved to the new sites.

Overview of Safety Program

The GOM Region is responsible for administering more than 7,000 active leases covering more than 39 million offshore acres, where some 33,000 personnel work offshore on over 3,400 producing and up to 80 mobile drilling and work-over facilities for some 150 qualified operators. The Region regards the safety of personnel, of the environment, and of operations as top priorities.

The Nation's record for safe and clean offshore natural gas and oil operations is excellent. And to maintain and improve upon this excellent record, BOEMRE continually seeks operational improvements that will reduce the risks to offshore personnel and to the environment. BOEMRE constantly re-evaluates its procedures and regulations to stay abreast of technological advances that will ensure safe and clean operations, as well as to increase awareness of their importance.

Prevention is our most important safety strategy. BOEMRE's approach to prevention has four major program components: the Technology Assessment and Research Program; an extensive offshore personnel training program; a regulatory program, which includes approval of plans, facilities, and operations, and an inspection of those facilities and operations; and accident investigations.

Accidents reported to the BOEMRE may trigger an investigation by the BOEMRE district office in which the incident occurred. In the case of a major accident, BOEMRE may create an investigative panel of district, regional, and headquarters personnel, as well as representatives of the U.S. Coast Guard and other Federal agencies including the National Transportation Safety Board. Findings from both types of investigations may lead to the issuance of safety alerts, technology assessment and research, changes in the training program, and/or improvements in the BOEMRE regulatory program all of which further ensure safe and environmentally sound operations.

Through these comprehensive programs BOEMRE remains deeply committed to ensuring that safety is a prerequisite of all activity on the OCS, now and in the future.