Sec. 10408. Outer Continental Shelf Energy Safety Advisory Board
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The Secretary of the Interior shall establish, under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, an Outer Continental Shelf Energy Safety Advisory Board (referred to in this section as the Board )— to provide the Secretary and the Directors established by this title with independent scientific and technical advice on safe, responsible, and timely mineral and renewable energy exploration, development, and production activities; and to review operations of the National Offshore Energy Health and Safety Academy established under section 10403(d), including submitting to the Secretary recommendations of curriculum to ensure training scientific and technical advancements.
The Board shall consist of not more than 11 members, who— shall be appointed by the Secretary based on their expertise in oil and gas drilling, well design, operations, well containment and oil spill response; and must have significant scientific, engineering, management, and other credentials and a history of working in the field related to safe energy exploration, development, and production activities. The Secretary shall consult with the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering to identify potential candidates for the Board and shall take nominations from the public.
The Secretary shall appoint Board members to staggered terms of not more than 4 years, and shall not appoint a member for more than 2 consecutive terms. In appointing members to the Board, the Secretary shall ensure a balanced representation of industry and research interests. The Secretary shall appoint the Chair for the Board from among its members. The Board shall meet not less than 3 times per year and shall host, at least once per year, a public forum to review and assess the overall energy safety performance of Outer Continental Shelf mineral and renewable energy resource activities.
As part of its duties under this section, the Board shall, by not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section and every 5 years thereafter, submit to the Secretary a report that— assesses offshore oil and gas well control technologies, practices, voluntary standards, and regulations in the United States and elsewhere; and as appropriate, recommends modifications to the regulations issued under this title to ensure adequate protection of safety and the environment, including recommendations on how to reduce regulations and administrative actions that are duplicative or unnecessary.
Reports of the Board shall be submitted by the Board to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House or Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and made available to the public in electronically accessible form. Members of the Board, other than full-time employees of the Federal Government, while attending meeting of the Board or while otherwise serving at the request of the Secretary or the Director while serving away from their homes or regular places of business, may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for individuals in the Government serving without pay.