History of Federal Waters: In 1953, the Submerged Lands Act was passed, which set the federal government's ownership of underwater land to three miles from the state coastline. In 1983, Proclamation 5030 established the United State's Exclusive Economic Zone and claimed waters 200 miles off the coastline as belonging to the United States. Therefore, the Federal government has control over 197 miles of water that extended off the nation's coastline. Leases: Within this zone, the Federal government can extend land rights to companies that are interested in building and operating facilities in offshore waters. These rights to offshore land are called leases. Each lease generally corresponds to a 3 by 3 mile square, with no lease having an area more than 5,760 acres. After purchasing a lease, companies must apply for a permit if they wish to explore and develop the mineral resources within their lease area. The Minerals Management Service, MMS, will approve permits only after companies have provided plans that ensure that all activities will be carried out safely and with minimal evironmental damage. Pacifc Regions Platforms: The Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Region of the U.S. Minerals Management Service manages 79 Federal oil and gas leases offshore southern California. Currently, there are 24 oil and gas production facilities installed and operated by seven companies. Two of the facilities are used for processing and the remaining extract oil and natural gas. All but one of the facilities is in operation. As of March 2003, the facilities produced over 1 billion barrels of oil and 1.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas combined. As of December 2004, the Pacific Region had a total of 1,267 wells drilled into the ocean floor, 939 of which are developed, and 188 miles of pipeline. The 23 federal platforms and the companies that run them: Click on each platform name to view a picture and platform details.
Sources: NOIA Public Affairs. 2005. "History of Offshore". National Ocean Industries Association. Minerals Management Service. 2005. "Lease Information". Minerals Management Service-Pacific OCS Region. Minerals Management Service. Oct. 27, 2005. "Pacific OCS Platforms". Minerals Management Service-Pacific OCS Region. State of California. 2005. "Table 1-Oil Production Facilities Offshore California-1999". California State Lands Commission-Mineral Resources Management Division. |
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