The Purpose of the Offshore IAT is to support the coordination of Federal offshore activities, which may include the development of offshore energy.
Background
The CMTS Offshore Energy Facilitation Task Team was established in September 2021 to facilitate the development of Federal guidance for industry responding to Munitions and Explosives of Concern. It has since evolved into a longer-term IAT with a broader portfolio, including the synchronization of interagency deepwater port permitting and licensing.
Value
There is currently no Federal guidance or regulations for offshore leaseholders on what they should do when MECs are discovered. The Task Team was stood up in order to address this regulatory uncertainty by bringing relevant agencies together to develop a working Federal policy to guide offshore energy projects.
Integrated Action Team Leads
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
- U.S. Maritime Administration
Participating Agencies
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
- Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Marine Mammal Commission
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- U.S. Coast Guard (USACE)
- U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD)
- U.S. Navy
- Oceanographer of the Navy
- National Park Service
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Department of State
Activity and Milestones
- The Offshore Energy Facilitation Task Team drafted National Guidance for Industry Responding to Munitions and Explosives of Concern in Federal Waters.
- There was a Federal roundtable discussion on September 1, 2021, and a Public Listening Session (CMTS Offshore Energy Facilitation Task Team Industry Listening Session) on November 16, 2021.
- The Offshore IAT is currently updating this guidance based on comments received following the initial publication.
- Following the issuance of Executive Order 14154 (“Unleashing American Energy) in January 2025, the Offshore IAT also began reviewing and revising the 2004 Deepwater Ports Memorandum of Understanding.
Resources