Environmental Compliance means conforming to environmental laws, regulations, standards and other requirements. MMS and those conducting activities on the OCS have environmental compliance responsibilities. MMS assures environmental compliance by providing compliance assistance to industry, conducting compliance monitoring and assessment, providing for compliance incentives, and implementing appropriate compliance enforcement. Industry must comply with established environmental legal mandates, regulations, lease stipulations, mitigation measures, approved plans and permits, and conditions of approval for activities conducted on the OCS.

Compliance Monitoring involves MMS evaluating the degree to which lessees and operators conduct their activities in the manner prescribed in their leases, approved plans, and permits.

Compliance Assessment involves MMS conducting systematic evaluations of compliance monitoring results taking into account uncertainties and contextual information.