In addition, the involvement of multiple agencies has increased difficulty of coordinating in safety planning and data gathering, as discussed in Chapter 2. This sharing of safety responsibilities has resulted in some jurisdictional confusion and overlap. They also may be certified by OPS to inspect for and enforce OPS regulations on federally regulated intrastate transmission pipelines, as described later in this chapter. They have direct responsibility for the safety of production platforms and associated production pipelines in state waters.

State agencies also share in the safety regulation of offshore pipelines. Under this authority, MMS issues permits for OCS platforms as well as for all OCS pipeline rights-of-way and easements. To those aims MMS adds a mandate to prevent waste and conserve OCS natural resources, taking into account all users and potential users of these natural resources. OPS's basic charter is to protect the public, property, and the environment. MMS regulates all aspects of mineral development, including oil and gas production, on the outer continental shelf (OCS), under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1978 (OCSLA 43 U.S.C.

1671 et seq.) and the Hazardous Liquids Pipeline Safety Act of 1979 (49 U.S.C. OPS's authority is derived from its status as the agency responsible for pipeline safety, both offshore and onshore, under the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 (49 U.S.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the U.S. The primary federal jurisdiction over the safety of offshore oil and gas pipelines is shared by two agencies: the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) of the U.S. 6 Regulatory Jurisdiction and Enforcement

Louisiana offshore oil port map