Data Quality Control and Emissions Inventories of Ocs Oil and Gas Production Activities in the Breton Area of the Gulf of Mexico

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is responsible for assessing the potential impacts of air pollutant emissions from offshore oil and gas exploration, development, and production sources in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This responsibility is driven by the OCS Lands Act, which directs MMS to regulate OCS emission sources to assure that they do not significantly affect onshore air quality. The MMS air quality regulations are contained in 30 CFR 250.302 through 304. In particular, MMS must assess the impact of emissions from platform and other OCS sources on the air quality of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge/Wilderness Area (BNWA), a Prevention of Significant Deterioration Class I Area. Under the Clean Air Act, air quality degradation is to be limited in Class I areas.