BSEE's Gulf of Mexico Region (GOMR) hosted three members of New Zealand's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) January 27th to help foster global awareness. The purpose of New Zealand's visit was to study BSEEs operational policy and learn best practices.
New Zealand's EPA has a broad mission and oversees some of the same challenges as BSEE including major infrastructure projects, regulating hazardous substances, and measuring the environmental impact of activities including oil & gas exploration and production.
A series of workshop style meetings were held to help the delegation better understand the scope of BSEE's mission. Deputy Regional Director Michael Prendergast gave the New Zealand delegation an overview of the Gulf of Mexico Region and BSEE regulations and responsibilities on the Outer Continental Shelf. Michael Saucier, Regional Supervisor for District Field Operations(DFO) followed-up with details of how the region and districts are structured and the responsibility of personnel. BSEE's commitment to protecting the marine environment was highlighted by T.J. Broussard, Chief of the Environmental Enforcement Branch, under BSEE's Environmental Enforcement Division.
L-R: T.J. Broussard, Chief of the Environmental Enforcement Branch, Michael Saucier, BSEE GOMR Supervisor DFO, Michael Prendergast, BSEE Deputy Regional Director GOMR, Phil Parkes, New Zealand EPA, General Manager, Richard Johnson, New Zealand EPA, EEZ Manager, Applications and Assessments, Simon Coubrough, New Zealand EPA Senior Advisor, Compliance EEZ.