The Minerals Management Service (part of the Department of the Interior) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission announced they they will work together in regulating offshore alternative energy activities. This is a necessary but belated step. What’s worrisome is a nascent turf battle between the two agencies, especially at offshore sites that interest more than one type of energy developer.
Let’s hope the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) does not split responsibilities a la the FDA and USDA food inspection regimes where, for example, at a frozen pizza facility, the USDA would be responsible for inspecting the pepperoni pizza process and the FDA, cheese pizza making.
The Minerals Management Service will have enough on its plate deciding how to adequately receive fair value for the American citizen when leasing federal sites on the Outer Continental Shelf without a turf battle over regulating as well. Maybe what is needed, instead of an MOU is a legislative fix.