Interior Department Unveils Two New Bureaus To Oversee Offshore Drilling

The Interior Department announced Wednesday that the responsibilities once held by the defunct Minerals Management Service will be divided among two independent bureaus.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy will now manage off shore resources and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement will focus on enforcing environmental and safety regulations.

“We are moving quickly and responsibly to establish the strong, independent oversight of offshore oil and gas drilling that is needed to ensure that companies are operating safely and in compliance with the law,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said during a speech Wednesday morning.

In addition, Salazar said that the Department will establish an advisory body tasked with helping shape the Department’s approach to drilling safety and spill management.

During last year’s massive oil spill off the Gulf Coast, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) was dissolved amid allegations of improper behavior between the agency’s regulators and energy industry representatives.