U.S. Government Sued Over Decommissioning Delays for Offshore Infrastructure
The Center for Biological Diversity has sued the government for not assessing the risks associated with unused offshore oil and gas drilling infrastructure.
According to Offshore Technology, a non-profit organization is suing the US Government for its “failure to examine” the risks of not decommissioning offshore oil and gas drilling equipment, increasing the risks for both humans and marine wildlife.
The Center for Biological Diversity on Thursday sued the US Interior Department, citing environmental and safety risks including oil spills, methane leaks and explosions.
“We now know the oil industry isn’t properly dealing with its mess, and federal agencies have ignored these risks for years,” said Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director at the centre.
As of June 2023, more than 2,700 wells and nearly 500 platforms were overdue for decommissioning in the Gulf of Mexico.
