Maritime Security: Coast Guard Should Conduct Required Inspections of Offshore Energy Infrastructure
2011
Caldwell, Stephen L | Conrad, Christopher | Asaba, Neil | Finley, Alana | McEnearney, Colleen | O Brien, Erin | Bausell, Chuck | Davidson, Pamela | Ormond, Joshua | Orr, Jessica
Congressional interest in the security of offshore energy infrastructure has increased because of the lives lost and the substantial damages that resulted from the Deepwater Horizon incident in April 2010. The U.S. Coast Guard -- a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) -- is the lead federal agency for maritime security, including the security of offshore energy infrastructure. The Coast Guard oversees two main types of offshore energy infrastructure: facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and deepwater ports. GAO was asked to examine the following: (1) Coast Guard actions to ensure the security of OCS facilities and what additional actions, if any, are needed; (2) Coast Guard actions to ensure the security of deepwater ports and what additional actions, if any, are needed; and (3) what limitations in oversight authority, if any, the Coast Guard faces in ensuring the security of offshore energy infrastructure. GAO reviewed Coast Guard documents, such as inspection records, and relevant laws and regulations and interviewed Coast Guard inspectors and officials, including those at Coast Guard headquarters and the two Coast Guard districts that oversee all OCS facilities and deepwater ports that are subject to security requirements. GAO recommends that the Coast Guard develop policies or guidance to ensure that annual security inspections are conducted at OCS facilities, and that information entered into its database for both OCS facilities and deepwater ports is more useful for management. DHS and the Coast Guard concurred with these recommendations.
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