OUTER LIMITS

Arctic Ocean Foreign Ministers' Meeting

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with foreign ministers of the five Arctic Ocean coastal states—Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and the United States—in Chelsea, Quebec on March 29. “By virtue of our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in large parts of the Arctic Ocean, we are in a unique position to address new opportunities and challenges in the region,” said Minister Cannon. “We are committed to doing so within the extensive international legal framework that applies to the Arctic Ocean. Our citizens and northern inhabitants expect us to continue to show leadership on Arctic issues, and that is what we are doing. We are not reacting to change but shaping it. This meeting provided an opportunity for a forward-looking discussion among states with unique interests and responsibilities for the stewardship of the Arctic Ocean.” Following the meeting, Minister Cannon released the Chair’s Summary and, at a closing press conference, summarized some of the meeting’s highlights, including the following: •    Arctic Ocean coastal states reaffirmed their commitment to the orderly resolution of any possible overlapping claims and will continue to cooperate closely in the scientific and technical work needed to delineate the outer limits of their respective continental shelves.

USCG Publishes Outer Continental Shelf Notice of Arrival Rule

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday publication in the Federal Register of an outer continental shelf notice of arrival rule designed to enhance maritime domain awareness over outer continental shelf activities. This final rule enhances maritime security and safety by requiring U.S. and foreign vessels, floating facilities and mobile offshore drilling units arriving on and engaging in outer continental shelf activities to report their arrival time and location and

Emergency Evacuation Plan Does Not Create Legal Duties

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has ruled that an Emergency Evacuation Plan for a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) does not create legal duties to third parties. U.S. Coast Guard requires the operator of MODUs located on the U.S. outer continental shelf to prepare and submit an emergency evacuation plan. Two employees on a MODU alleged that they were injured while being evacuated to shore as a hurricane approached

Washington State – Coastal Oil Spill Response Plans

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and U.S. Coast Guard are looking for interested parties to help update the state's oil spill response strategies tailored for the Strait of Juan de Fuca and for Washington's outer coast. The existing site-specific strategies, also known as "geographic response plans," identify sensitive natural and cultural resources. The plans also help prioritize how equipment and cleanup crews should be deployed during an oil spill response.

US Offshore Wind Survey Contract for Fugro Atlantic

Fugro Atlantic to undertake a geological and geophysical survey for the Virginia Wind Energy Area for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The survey area covers over 45,000ha in the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf and is seen to be a key step forward in developing offshore energy supplies in the region. In awarding the contract, Commonwealth of Virginia governor Bob McDonnell said: “[This is] a positive move forward toward the development of offshore wind energy

Salazar Statement on Leasing Court Ruling

U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruling on DOI’s request for clarification of the Court’s earlier decision to vacate the 2007-2012 Outer Continental Shelf oil and natural gas leasing program:  “I am pleased with the Court’s decision.  Consistent with the Department’s request

Clean-up Continues in NC

Packaging foam was removed from nearly ten miles of Outer Banks coastline today as cleanup crews scoured the National Seashores at Cape Lookout and Hatteras Island, N.C. The National Park Service, Hapag-Lloyd and Moran Environmental Recovery will continue to work together to finish cleaning beaches affected by packing material that began washing ashore Wednesday.

CG Proposes Safety Zone Around Drillship

The U.S. Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone around a drillship while it is anchored on location in order to drill exploratory wells at various locations over the US outer continental shelf in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas between July 1 and October 31. Comments on this proposal should be submitted by February 5. 75 Fed. Reg. 803 (January 6, 2010). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)  

Proposed Alaska OCS Exploration Findings

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) issued a notice announcing the availability of two Environmental Assessments (EAs) and associated Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSIs) for oil and gas exploration activities proposed on the Alaska outer continental shelf (OCS). 75 Fed. Reg. 7515 (February 19, 2010). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)

Conference Report for Maritime Transportation Act Released

The Conference Report for the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (H.R. 889) has been posted on the Internet. As the name implies, this report has been agreed to by members of the joint House-Senate Conference Committee and is almost certainly the version of the bill that will be adopted by the House of Representatives and the Senate when they return from the current recess. Among the more interesting provisions are the following: