NOTICE TO LESSEES AND OPERATORS OF FEDERAL OIL, GAS, AND
SULPHUR LEASES IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF,
GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION

Military Warning and Water Test Areas

This Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) is issued pursuant to 30 CFR 250.103 and provides links to the addresses and telephone numbers of the individual command headquarters for the military warning and water test areas in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM).    

Background

The GOM is used extensively by the U.S. Department of Defense for conducting various mission operations, including air-to-air gunnery, rocket and missile research and testing, sonar buoy operations, pilot training, and aircraft carrier operations.  These operations are conducted in eleven military warning areas and five water test areas located throughout the GOM (see the MMS Internet website at http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/MWA_boundries.pdf for a map).  These areas are multiple use areas where these military operations and oil and gas operations have coexisted for many years.

To ensure personnel safety and reduce the likelihood of conflicts between military and oil and gas operations, stipulations have been attached to leases located within these military warning and water test areas for over 20 years.  The stipulations require the lessee or designated operator to enter into an agreement with the appropriate individual military command headquarters (see the MMS Internet website at http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/Military%20Contacts.pdf for a list) concerning the control of electromagnetic emissions and use of boats and aircraft in the applicable warning area or water test area before commencing such traffic.

Procedures

For many years, the MMS Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) has reminded lessees and designated operators of their obligation to enter into this agreement and provided the address and telephone number of the appropriate military command headquarters each time an Exploration Plan (EP), Development Operations Coordination Document (DOCD), or lease term pipeline application was approved for activities on OCS leases that contained the stipulation.

Effective immediately, the MMS GOMR will no longer provide these lease stipulation reminders in each individual EP, DOCD, or lease term pipeline approval letter.  This NTL will now serve that purpose.  We will update the above-referenced map and contact list as necessary.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Statement

This NTL does not refer to or impose any information collection subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Contact

If you have any questions regarding this NTL, you may contact Mr. Charles Hill by telephone at (504) 736-2795 or by e-mail at charles.hill@mms.gov.

Chris C. Oynes
Regional Director