each area and outline conditions and standards that must be met in 

 operations. The regulations require that USGS area supervisors 

 approve all exploration, development, and production designs and 

 operating plans. The supervisors have wide authority for 

 negotiating changes in designs and plans, for rejecting them, and for 

 controlling rates of production as they relate to safety, resource 

 conservation, and environmental protection. 



The regulations and orders are subject to continuing review and 

 updating at both national and local levels. USGS supports studies 

 conducted by an advisory group of the National Academy of 

 Engineering and by other consultants to aid in the development and 

 review of regulations. A working group under the direction of the 

 USGS Associate Director considers and initiates pertinent 

 regulatory and other administrative action based on recommenda- 

 tions of the studies and on the advice of other public groups. During 

 1974 the USGS working group devoted particular attention to 

 recommendations of two studies: one funded by the National Science 

 Foundation (NSF) and prepared at the University of Oklahoma, 

 published during November 1973,* and the other sponsored by the 

 Council on Environmental Quality and published in 1974.** 



USGS issued a general revision of its OCS orders for the Gulf of 

 Mexico area, incorporating recommendations of the national studies 

 and the results of local experience and technological development. 

 One major change added supervisory authority to control rates of 

 production from wells tapping oil fields that extend beyond the 

 limits of a single lease tract to achieve maximum recovery and 

 conservation of reserves. Another was the inclusion of a number of 

 precautions and preventive measures designed to avoid mishaps in 

 the event that hydrogen sulfide, a major hazard in the Gulf region, 

 should be encountered during drilling. USGS has placed emphasis 

 on building a competent and capable staff of engineers and 

 supporting scientists to review designs and plans as a preventive 

 measure against major accidents, such as the spill that took place in 

 the Santa Barbara Channel off California during 1969 and several 

 less-publicized fires and spills in the gulf. 



To assure acceptance of approved designs, plans, and safe 

 practices, USGS has also increased its inspection force, which in the 

 gulf region now keeps seven contract helicopters in nearly 

 continuous operation. The inspecting teams have broad authority to 

 shut down operations or initiate remedial action for noncompliance 



* Encir^y Under the Oceans, University of Oklahoma Press. 



** OCS Oil and Gas— An Environmental Assessment, Council on Environmental 

 Quality, U.S. Government Printing Office. 



16 



