Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director Michael R. Bromwich spoke Nov. 10 during the International Association of Drilling Contractors' Drilling and Production Keynote Breakfast.

Bromwich said an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would soon be made for additional regulations to address the recommendations of the Deepwater Horizon investigation report. He did not provide any details for these proposed regulations.

Director Bromwich said the agency will focus on developing an "aggressive, consistent, and balanced" enforcement program. He also advocated for different processes for imposing civil penalties, saying that the current process of deciding INCs takes too long and that allowed civil penalties are far too low. "I do not believe that a top fine of $40,000 per day, per incident, is any type of meaningful deterrent in an industry in which operators pay between $500,000 to $1 million per day for a rig. We will be working through the legislative process to remedy that."

He pointed to the creation of a National Offshore Training and Learning Center to train BSEE offshore inspectors and the creation of the Environmental Enforcement Division to provide sustained regulatory oversight of operator compliance.

The director said BSEE has increased its inspection corps by close to 80% in 18 months and is providing new tools such as handheld computers to improve the process. He also said: "We are improving our risk-based approach to inspecting offshore facilities and important safety equipment, such as BOPs."

Bromwich also said the permitting process is increasing transparency. Steps include:

Director Bromwich said he would step down from his post before the end of the year. "I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished, and I am very optimistic about what lies ahead. I firmly believe we have significantly enhanced the safety of offshore operations, and particularly deepwater drilling, and I think the industry is better and safer for what we collectively have gone through. But this is an ongoing project. Industry and government need to continue to evolve and adapt as technology advances to ensure the regulatory system keeps pace with the industry."

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