The National Academy of Science reported April 3 that the safety of oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has dramatically improved since the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, but progress has been uneven and critical gaps must be filled in to prevent accidents that can threaten workers, the environment and public health. “A visible, industry-wide" commitment to a culture that supports safety is lacking,” the report, by the academy's Gulf Research Program, concluded. While 80% of offshore work is done by contractors, the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) cannot legally require them to follow federal “safety and environmental management systems” (SEMS) rules - because its authority is limited to the operating company overseeing drilling. “There’s a lot that’s been done on all fronts" that looked at risks, which are great improvements, said Richard Sears, chair of the committee that authored the report. “Industry has also invested billions of dollars on well-capping capabilities that did not previously exist and updated more than 250 safety-related standards,” the report said. But it said many safety gaps remain, including the failure of Congress to implement post-Deepwater Horizon recommendations to use a share of royalties and fees imposed on the offshore oil and gas industry to pay for safety and environmental regulators. (NOLA.com 04/05/23) Gulf oil drilling safer, but major improvements still needed | Environment | nola.com
No comments:
Post a Comment