Bromwich led the reorganization of the Interior Department's regulation of offshore drilling after the BP oil spill
WASHINGTON -- Michael Bromwich, who led the reorganization of the Interior Department's regulation of offshore drilling after the BP oil spill, will be staying on to lead the newly formed Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, or BSEE, until a permanent director is found.
Michael Bromwich, left, has been appointed by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, right, to lead a newly reorganized agency to regulate offshore drilling.Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar Friday named Bromwich, who has been leading the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement since its creation, to lead BSEE for the time being.
On Oct. 1, BOEMRE will be divided into two separate agencies -- BSEE and BOEM -- the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Salazar on Friday named Tommy Beaudreau, now a senior adviser at BOEMRE, to lead BOEM.
The Interior Department has launched a nationwide recruitment effort to find a permanent director for BSEE, and Bromwich agreed to lead the agency in the meantime. Beaudreau will serve as permanent BOEM Director
"We have moved quickly and thoughtfully to create strong and separate agencies to manage offshore energy development, collect energy revenues, and to oversee safety and environmental protection on the Outer Continental Shelf," said Salazar. "Director Bromwich is a top-flight manager with a track record of solving problems and implementing reform, in the private sector, in the public sector, and his time at BOEMRE. Tommy Beaudreau has been an engine behind the many changes BOEMRE has made to raise the bar for safety and environmental protection in energy operations - he will be a strong, tireless, and effective leader for BOEM."
BOEM will be responsible for energy leasing and planning on the Outer Continental Shelf
BSEE will be responsible for inspections, enforcement, and safety of offshore oil and gas operations.
"For the past fifteen months, we have worked extremely hard to build two new organizations that are staffed with high-quality professionals who are committed to their respective missions," said Bromwich. "I believe BSEE and BOEM have very bright futures, and I congratulate Tommy on his new position. He will do an outstanding job. I am honored to lead BSEE and to carry on its important work until a permanent director can be found."
Before being asked by President Obama and Salazar to lead BOEMRE in June 2010, Bromwich previously served as Inspector General for the Department of Justice from 1994 to 1999. He has experience as a federal prosecutor in New York and Washington, and spent eighteen years in private law practice.
"The nation's offshore energy resources, both conventional and renewable, are essential to our country's economy and security. The new BOEM will be focused on ensuring that our offshore resources are developed sensibly and responsibly," said Beaudreau. "I am proud to be BOEM's first director and look forward to helping fulfill Secretary Salazar's and Director Bromwich's vision for this new agency."
Earlier in the week Bromwich named several other people to leadership positions at BOEM and SSE.
Dr. Walter D. Cruickshank will be BOEM deputy director, Renee Orr will be BOEM's strategic resources chief, Maureen Bornholdt will serve as BOEM renewables chief, and John Rodi will serve as BOEM Gulf of Mexico acting regional director until a permanent regional director is found.
At BSEE, Charles Barbee will serve as chief of environmental enforcement, Chris Barry will direct the National Offshore Training Center, David Moore will serve as oil spill response supervisor, Bob Brown will be associate director for administration, and Lars Herbst will be Gulf of Mexico regional director.