Administration to require drillers to sign statement confirming compliance with new rules

The Obama administration released a notice today specifying the terms of a new requirement that the operator of any new deepwater drilling project sign a statement confirming that it has met all new safety regulations.

The four-page notice to lessees (NTL) also specifies that any operator of a new deepwater drilling project using a blowout preventer will be subject to an evaluation by the Bureau of Energy Management as to whether it can contain a massive oil spill.

The NTL comes as the Interior Department has issued a number of new deepwater drilling safety and spill response rules.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, in a statement, said the new requirement would serve to hold companies accountable for their drilling operations.

“This will serve to confirm that oil and gas companies are accountable and responsible for their operations as we work to strengthen safety, oversight and environmental protection at every stage of the drilling process,” Salazar said.