Alternate Uses of Existing Oil and Gas Platforms

The OCS Alternative Energy Programmatic EIS will include analysis of alternate use of existing oil and natural gas platforms.

	Oil and Gas Platform Off Southern California Coast Source: Minerals Management Service

The passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 gave the Minerals Management Service (MMS) jurisdiction over other projects that make alternate use of existing oil and natural gas platforms in Federal waters, in addition to giving MMS jurisdiction over alternate energy-related use projects.

Section 388 clarifies the Secretary’s authority to allow an offshore oil and gas structure, previously permitted under the OCS Lands Act, to remain in place after oil and gas activities have ceased in order to allow the use of the structure for other energy and marine-related activities. This authority provides opportunities to extend the life of facilities for non-oil and gas purposes, such as research, renewable energy production, aquaculture, etc., before being removed.

Alternate uses of existing facilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Offshore aquaculture
• Research
• Education
• Recreation
• Support for offshore operations and facilities
• Telecommunication facilities

Although the Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorizes MMS to permit alternate uses of existing OCS facilities, MMS is not seeking the authority over activities such as aquaculture, but only the decision to allow platforms to be converted to such uses, if the appropriate agency approves the underlying activity.