Shell - Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan

After a comprehensive review and consideration of comments received from the public, stakeholders, and federal and state partner agencies and tribes, BOEM conditionally approves Shell Gulf of Mexico, Inc.’s revised multi-year Exploration Plan for the Chukchi Sea, which had been deemed submitted April 10, 2015.

• News Release
• Letter of Approval
• Environmental Assessment (EA)
• Finding of No Significant Impact

21-day comment period for Shell's Revised EP ends (see item for April 10, 2015).

10-day comment period for the EA ends (see item for April 10, 2015).

Upon completing a preliminary review of the Revised Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan received from Shell on March 31, 2015, BOEM determines that all the required components are in place to justify a full review, and deems the EP submitted. The Bureau now has 30 calendar days to analyze and evaluate the revised EP in accordance with federal law. As part of this analysis, the Bureau will prepare a site-specific Environmental Assessment (EA) of the proposed exploration activities pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act.

This announcement initiates two separate (but partially concurrent) comment periods: A 10-day comment period for the public to comment on any issues that BOEM should consider in preparing the EA for the revised EP (this comment period ends at midnight Eastern Time on April 20, 2015); and a 21-day comment period for the public to submit comments on the revised EP (this comment period ends at midnight Eastern Time on May 1, 2015).

• Shell EP Cover Letter to BOEM
• Shell Exploration Plan
• Shell Appendices and Attachments [.zip file]
• Shell Alaska Lessons Learned and Changes Implemented Post-2012
• BOEM Letter to Shell Gulf of Mexico, Inc.
• BOEM News Release

BOEM receives from Shell Gulf of Mexico, Inc., a new version of their Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan. This version, still titled “Revision 2,” replaces the previous “Revision 2” received by BOEM on Aug. 28, 2014. BOEM analysts begin assessing this Revised EP to determine whether it contains all required elements to initiate a full review. BOEM staff have 15 working days to conclude this preliminary assessment.

• If BOEM staff determine that the agency requires further information in order to adequately review the Revised EP, a letter to that effect will be delivered to Shell.
• When/if the initial assessment determines that the Revised EP does in fact contain sufficient information to initiate a full review, the Revised EP will be "deemed submitted." At that time, an announcement to that effect will be posted to the BOEM website, the Revised EP and any supporting documents will be posted, and a public comment period will begin.

Upon a “deemed submitted” announcement, BOEM has 30 calendar days to approve the plan, disapprove the plan, or require modifications.

BOEM’s Alaska Region receives from Shell Gulf of Mexico, Inc., a revised version of their Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan. This is a draft version, still titled “Revision 2,” and it replaces the previous “Revision 2” submitted to BOEM on Nov. 6, 2013. Plan | Appendix

It is important to understand that BOEM is not taking public comment on this document at this time, as this Revised EP has not yet been formally “deemed submitted.”

Reply to May 1, 2014 Shell submission of additional information.

Shell’s Response to BOEM’s Request for Additional Information (RFAI) on the Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan.

BOEM sends a second Request for Additional Information to Shell. The letter details the additional information the Bureau would need in order to formally "deem submitted" Shell's Revised Exploration Plan for the Chukchi Sea.

Shell delivers to BOEM a letter and attachments responding to BOEM's request for additional information.

BOEM's Alaska OCS Region sends a Request for Additional Information to Shell. The letter details the additional information the Bureau would need in order to formally "deem submitted" Shell's Revised Exploration Plan for the Chukchi Sea (see Nov. 6, 2013 entry, below).

BOEM's Alaska OCS Region receives from Shell its 2014 Integrated Operations Plan (IOP) for the Chukchi Sea. (The IOP submittal is in response to recommendations within the Department of the Interior’s March 2013 report Review of Shell’s 2012 Alaska Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration Program. Section II.A of this report recommends that Shell “should develop, and submit to DOI, a comprehensive and integrated operational plan describing in detail its future drilling program.”) BOEM is not taking public comment on the IOP, as the document is informational only. BOEM staff will coordinate review of the IOP with members of the Alaska Interagency Working Group.

Shell Gulf of Mexico, Inc., files a revised version of its Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan with BOEM's Alaska OCS Region office. It is important to understand that BOEM is not taking public comment on this issue at this time, as this Revised EP has not yet been formally "deemed submitted." Per standard procedure with all EPs received, BOEM staff begins assessing the Revised EP filed by Shell to determine whether it contains all required elements to initiate a more comprehensive review. BOEM staff have 15 working days to conclude this assessment.

• If BOEM staff determine that the agency requires further information in order to adequately review the Revised EP, a letter to that effect will be delivered to Shell.
• When/if the initial assessment determines that the Revised EP does in fact contain sufficient information to initiate a comprehensive review, the Revised EP will be "deemed submitted." At that time, an announcement to that effect will be posted to the BOEM website, the Revised EP and any supporting documents will be posted, and a public comment period will begin.

Upon a “deemed submitted” announcement, the Bureau has 30 calendar days to approve the plan, disapprove the plan, or require modifications.

Department of the Interior Releases Assessment of Shell's 2012 Arctic Operations.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management letter to Shell regarding revision to Shell's 2012 Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan to address increased emissions.

• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management letter to Shell regarding review of the Marine Mammal Protection Act authorizations and the Endangered Species Act authorizations.
• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management letter to Shell regarding Shell's fulfillment of Conditions #5, #6, #7, #10 and #14 of the Revised 2012 Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan.
• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management letter to Shell regarding Endangered Species Act consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Incident Take Statements and Biological Opinions for incidental harassment authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Shell letter regarding the fulfillment of Condition #5 of the Revised Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Letters of Authorization (LOA) to Shell for the incidental and intentional take of polar bears and Pacific walruses.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Completion of Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services  Revised Biological Opinion and Conference Opinion for Oil and Gas Activities in the Beaufort and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration incidental harassment authorizations for Shell's energy exploration activities in shallow waters in the Arctic.

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement letter regarding Shell's amended Chukchi Sea Oil Spill Response Plan.

Shell amended Chukchi Sea Oil Spill Response Plan.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Revised Biological Opinion and Conference Opinion for Oil and Gas Activities in the Beaufort and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas.

BOEM Issues Conditional Approval for Shell 2012 Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan | Letter to Shell

Environmental Assessment | Finding of No Significant Impact

BOEM Seeks Public Comment to Inform Environmental Assessment and Analysis of Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan

Shell submits Chukchi Sea EP Revision 1. This document superseded the original Shell Chukchi Sea 2012 Exploration plan, which had been submitted in 2009 and approved by BOEM in 2010. Exploration Plan | Appendices and Attachments