[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 76 (Monday, April 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21884-21885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08272]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[EEE500000 20XE1700DX EX1SF0000.EAQ000]


Proposed Transfer and Re-Use of Abandoned Pipelines

AGENCY: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent and request for submissions of competing 
interest.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is 
considering whether to authorize the transfer of ownership and reuse of 
certain pipelines that were decommissioned-in-place in the Gulf of 
Mexico (GOM).

DATES: Submissions of competing interest are due by May 20, 2020.

ADDRESSES: GOM Regional Supervisor, Regional Field Operations, Bureau 
of Safety & Environmental Enforcement, 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd., New 
Orleans, LA 70123-2394. You may also file submissions of competing 
interest

[[Page 21885]]

electronically using a subject reference ``Submission of Competing 
Interest--DIP Pipelines'' at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Karl, Bureau of Safety and 
Environmental Enforcement, Deputy Regional Director, at (504) 736-2632, 
or by email to: [email protected].
    Background: BSEE recently received written requests to reuse five 
separate pipeline segments in the GOM that were previously 
decommissioned-in-place (DIP) in accordance with regulatory authority 
currently found at 30 CFR 250.1750 and 250.1751. The relevant pipeline 
segments were DIP by prior right-of-way (ROW) holders between August 
2003 and December 2010. None of the parties requesting reuse were prior 
ROW holders of these segments.
    BSEE has determined that, pursuant to regulation, Outer Continental 
Shelf (OCS) pipelines and related infrastructure, which are DIP for 
more than one year, become property of the United States and may be 
transferred to private parties. BSEE received requests from private 
parties seeking to acquire various pipeline segments from the United 
States, as set forth in the table below:

                       Pending Applications Requesting To Acquire and Re-Use DIP Pipelines
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             Previous ROW holder                Previous PSN              Previous ROW               DIP date
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Chevron......................................             431  G06386                                   08/23/03
Conoco.......................................            6236  G04854                                   09/09/10
W&T..........................................             882  G13423                                   09/09/10
Chevron PL...................................            4244  G1857B                                   12/10/10
Energy XXI...................................            9785  G1857                                    12/27/10
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    Purpose: The Department of the Interior has determined that the 
subject pipeline segments are subject to disposition pursuant to 40 
U.S.C. 701 and General Services Administration Federal Management 
Regulations at part 102-36. BSEE is providing notice that, until May 
20, 2020, we will accept submissions of competing interest for 
acquisition of the listed segments.
    While a request for a ROW will eventually be required pursuant to 
30 CFR part 250 Subpart J to maintain and re-use the pipeline 
segment(s), your response to this Notice should focus on proposed 
terms, conditions, and appropriate instruments to be used to transfer 
ownership of the pipeline from the United States to you in a manner 
that shifts responsibility for the pipeline and any future operations 
and maintenance, as well as all decommissioning obligations.

Purpose of a Notice of Intent (NOI)

    This NOI serves to inform interested parties of BSEE's intent to 
transfer ownership and authorize re-use of select pipelines that were 
previously decommissioned in place on the OCS, and to set forth BSEE's 
process for accepting submissions of competing interest.
    BSEE will evaluate and respond to all submissions received pursuant 
to this NOI. If BSEE receives future requests to reuse other previously 
DIP pipelines, it will issue similar NOIs to solicit statements of 
competing interest.

Instructions for the NOI

    Parties interested in acquiring the aforementioned pipeline(s) 
should submit the information outlined in the Purpose section above to 
the GOM Regional Supervisor for Regional Field Operations or 
electronically as provided in the ADDRESSES section no later than May 
20, 2020.

Scott Angelle,
Director, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2020-08272 Filed 4-17-20; 8:45 am]
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