The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 requires offshore drilling operations to submit an environmental management plan. The Clean Air Act (1970) requires offshore drilling operations to submit data on pollutant emissions into the air. The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 gives U.S. states the right to oppose offshore drilling activities. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 imposes strict regulations on offshore drilling operations near marine environments containing endangered species. The Clean Water Act of 1977 mandates offshore drilling operations acquire a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit before discharging pollutants into waterways.
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The Outer Continental Shelf Deepwater Royalty Relief Act (DWRRA) of 1995 was designed to encourage offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico by providing royalty relief on oil and natural gas sales from this region. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is an international treaty governing offshore drilling activities. In 2002, the treaty was accepted by 138 countries including the United States. The treaty addresses environmental concerns tied to offshore drilling activities. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 encourages offshore exploration (even on lands under moratorium as long as drilling does not occur) by implementing several funding measures aimed at increasing offshore oil and gas production. In 2010, the Senate passed HB 3613, a ban on offshore drilling in Oregon's coastal waters which is not set to expire until 2020.
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http://www.ehow.com/list_6319274_offshore-drilling-regulations.htmlHave a laugh (a bitter one).
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Environmental Impacts. This option is analyzed in the draft EIS under
Alternative 1. The probability of an oil spill of 1,000 barrels or more in this
area under this alternative would be 62-85 percent. A summary of the EIS
findings follows.
Water Quality—Structure placement produces turbidity that can temporarily
degrade affected waters; normal background concentrations of
suspended solids will return when activity ceases. Confined portions of
some channels may be unable to assimilate bilge water and sanitary wastes,
thus resulting in some minor regional degradation. Compliance with U.S.
Coast Guard regulations would assist in avoiding most impacts to such
receiving waters. Overall marine water quality impacts from routine
activities would be minor as compliance with NPDES permit requirements
minimizes or avoids most impacts. Oil-spill impacts to water quality could
range from minor to moderate depending on dispersion and weathering.
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OCS Oil & Gas Leasing Program 2002-2007
Here is the current OCS Oil & Gas Leasing Program for 2007-2012:
http://www.mms.gov/5-year/PDFs/MMSProposedFinalProgram2007-2012.pdfSimilarly vague. The EPA and/or Coast Guard may have more stringent regulations. I may not be finding the right documents.