During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) continued to fulfill its mission by performing safety and environmental inspections for offshore oil and gas operations. We reviewed the actions BSEE’s three regions—the Gulf of Mexico Region, Pacific Region, and Alaska Region—have taken to protect inspectors and offshore employees from COVID-19 and evaluated any impacts the virus had on inspections BSEE conducted since March 2020. We found that BSEE:• Developed, communicated, and updated COVID-19 guidance for all personnel involved with offshore inspections• Continued to complete its required inspections• Adapted its practices and remotely witnessed operators’ blowout preventer (BOP) tests by accessing the operators’ software systemsWe learned that BSEE did not provide the inspectors with guidance on how to witness the BOP remotely. As of July 15, 2020, BSEE officials informed us that they were developing this guidance.Considering the COVID-19 exposure risks for personnel conducting offshore inspections and the potential impact on safety, it is imperative that BSEE continue to update its COVID-19 guidance, work with operators to limit the risks to its inspectors, and finalize its guidance on conducting remote witnessing of operators’ BOP tests.
Report File
Date Issued
Submitting OIG
Department of the Interior OIG
Other Participating OIGs
Department of the Interior OIG
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
Department of the Interior
Components
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Report Number
2020-CR-047
Report Description
Report Type
Disaster Recovery Report
Special Projects
Pandemic
Agency Wide
Yes
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0