The US Department of the Interior announced the start of a phased plan to establish the Marine Minerals Administration, which will combine functions from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
This structural change is intended to improve coordination and increase efficiencies across offshore leasing, permitting, inspections and environmental oversight.
The department stated that the streamlined approach reflects the evolution of offshore energy development and the requirement for a more integrated method of managing conventional and emerging resources.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said that the department is applying lessons from the past decade to deliver clearer coordination and more integrated oversight of offshore energy development.
The new structure will align resource planning and operational oversight to reduce duplication and improve decision-making throughout the lifecycle of offshore development.
Department officials noted that the transition will maintain all existing regulatory protections and rigorous safety standards during the consolidation process.