Who makes sure that the oil companies operate safely and do not pollute?
A. The companies are held responsible for safety to the environment and employees. Nevertheless, every day of the year, MMS inspectors are offshore scrutinizing drilling and production operations to ensure that the operations are being conducted safely and that the environment is protected. The MMS inspectors conduct unannounced inspections on each facility on a routine basis and inspect each facility offshore California at least once a week. Furthermore, there is an extensive annual inspection of each facility sometimes lasting 2-3 weeks, depending on the complexity of the facility. Any violation found is reported and resolution pursued to ensure that corrective action is taken. The MMS has broad powers of enforcement and can require extreme measures, such as facility shutdowns and civil penalties, if warranted. Any violation which does or could result in loss of life or environmental damage is considered serious and is reviewed for civil penalty assessment.
