BOEM has provided an update on its operations to address impacts from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and provide guidance for operator interactions regarding adjudication, leasing, and financial responsibility.
The BOEM Office of Leasing and Plans (OLP) Gulf of Mexico office (Elmwood Tower Building, New Orleans, LA) is taking steps to help mitigate and reduce any unnecessary exposure and spread of COVID-19.
In order to continue to deliver services to the greatest extent possible, effective April 2, 2020, BOEM will not process paper filings or mailed items, with the exception of Exploration Plans (EP), Development Operations Coordination Documents (DOCD), Development and Production Plans (DPP), and Surveys. OLP staff will be working in remote locations and will be able to assist you through email or phone. Until further notice, you may submit filings to the sections in OLP as follows:
Adjudication Section:
All filings made in the Adjudication Section must be submitted in PDF format to the Adjudication Section mailbox at boemadjudication@boem.gov. All questions related to actions processed by the Adjudication Section should also be directed to the Adjudication mailbox.
Leasing and Financial Responsibility Section (LFRS):
Financial Assurance
All filings must be submitted in PDF format to the financial assurance mailbox at boemGOMRfinancialassurance@boem.gov. All questions related to the actions processed by financial assurance should also be directed to the LFRS mailbox. The original documents should be submitted once business returns to normal with a cover letter explaining that the mailed in documents are the original documents for a filing that was already submitted electronically.
Oil Spill Financial Responsibility (OSFR)
All filings made to OSFR must be submitted in PDF format to the OSFR mailbox at boemosfr@boem.gov. All questions related to the actions processed by OSFR should also be directed to this mailbox. The original documents should be submitted once business returns to normal with a cover letter explaining that the mailed in documents are the original documents for a filing that was already submitted electronically.
Lease Sale Coordination
If something needs to be mailed regarding lease sale coordination (e.g., signed bid receipts for mailed in bids), or if you have questions about Notice of Sale packages, please reach out to boemgomrleasesales@boem.gov.
Plans Section:
Paper filings and electronic disks or drives of Exploration Plans, Development Operations Coordination Documents, Development and Production Plans, and Surveys will be accepted by appointment only.
Please call or email Michelle Picou at (504)736-2747 or michelle.picou@boem.gov or Michelle Evans at (504)736-2975 or michelle.evans@boem.gov to schedule an appointment to file paper versions of plans. Applications for Rights-of-Use and Easement must be submitted in PDF format to the Plans Section mailbox at boemgomrplans@boem.gov. Questions related to the work of the Plans Section should be directed to the Plans Section mailbox. |