The US offshore drilling regulator Friday said it is taking steps to streamline the application process in an effort to process permits faster.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement said it is taking steps to prioritize applications for faster consideration and also will provide operators with a checklist that mirrors BOEM's review process.
In addition, the agency said its personnel will conduct a completeness check of all permit applications before an in-depth review is begun.
The goal is to catch problems with permits before they progress too far in the system and to reduce the number of permits returned to operators for more information after several weeks of review.
"We are constantly looking for ways to create a smarter, more efficient, and more transparent permit review process," BOEM Director Michael Bromwich said in a statement. "Our goal is to make the process of submitting permit applications easier, reduce the time it takes to review permits and improve BOEMRE's communication with operators during the permit review process."
The effort comes as BOEM is being criticized by some industry groups and Republicans in Congress for taking too long to issue drilling permits. In particular, these critics have cited the agency's policy of kicking back permit applications for more information, saying the process causes unnecessary delays.
In announcing the new plan to catch information gaps early and assist operators in submitting more complete applications, BOEM said there are 24 deepwater permit applications pending and that 18 applications have been sent back to operators for more information. The biggest reason for permits being sent back is for more information about spill containment, one of the new safety requirements established in the wake of last year's BP Macondo blowout and spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
BOEM also said it would prioritize incoming applications to speed consideration.
Permits for ongoing operations, such as sidetrack wells or deeper exploration of existing wells will be given the highest attention, BOEM said. Applications that are deemed from the start to be complete will also be given priority consideration.
If staff time allows, BOEM will then begin to process applications that are deemed incomplete, such as applications missing a required containment plan.
"The changes announced today should over time substantially reduce the number of permits that need to be returned to operators," the BOEM statement said.
