Postlease Operations Safety

This rule: Updates and clarifies requirements related to postlease operations and stresses diligence; Allows MMS to grant a right-of-use and easement for an Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leased or unleased block to a State lessee; Brings uniformity to the public release time for all proprietary geophysical data and information gathered under prelease; Clarifies the distinction between granting and directing a suspension, and the different consequences of each; Requires evacuation statistics for natural occurrences; Sets out criteria to disqualify an operator with repeated poor operating performance from continuing as designated operator; and Allows operators the opportunity to propose alternative regulatory approaches if they can demonstrate an equal or higher level of performance.