285.1006—How will MMS decide whether to issue an Alternate Use RUE?
(a)
We will consider requests for an Alternate Use RUE on a case-by-case basis. In considering such requests, we will consult with relevant Federal agencies and evaluate whether the proposed activities involving the use of an existing OCS facility can be conducted in a manner that:
(1)
Ensures safety and minimizes adverse effects to the coastal and marine environments, including their physical, atmospheric, and biological components, to the extent practicable;
(3)
Avoids serious harm or damage to, or waste of, any natural resource (including OCS mineral deposits and oil, gas, and sulphur resources in areas leased or not leased), any life (including fish and other aquatic life), or property (including sites, structures, or objects of historical or archaeological significance);
(b)
Based on the evaluation that we perform under paragraph (a) of this section, the MMS may authorize or reject, or authorize with modifications or stipulations, the proposed activity.