One of the main US Coast Guard officials during the Deepwater Horizon disaster has been named as the head of the bureau responsible for monitoring oil and gas operations in the country.
Vice Admiral Brian Salerno has been confirmed as the new director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, taking over from predecessor Jim Watson.
Salerno, who was deputy commandant with the Coast Guard until retiring last year, was one of the key figures in the organisation’s response to the Gulf of Mexico disaster in 2010 which left 11 dead and caused billions of dollars of damage.
He has also worked as an incident commander for the Coast Guard during major accidents, oil spills and hurricanes.
“Brian Salerno is an accomplished professional who brings proven expertise in maritime safety and emergency response management to the job,” said Jewell.
“As we continue to strengthen the nation’s program to ensure safe and responsible offshore oil and gas exploration and development, I believe Brian has the experience, vision, and the leadership to be a great asset to the Bureau, the Department and the nation.”
The appointment, made by US secretary of the interior Sally Jewell last night, will put him in charge of the body which polices safety and potential environmental damage off US waters – including the Gulf of Mexico. The BSEE has most recently been dealing with the clear-up following the blowout and fire on the Hercules 265 gas rig off the Louisiana coast.
Jewell paid tribute to Watson, who will step down from his role at the end of the month, for his work overseeing the aftermath of the Macondo spill.
“As the second director of BSEE, Jim has set a high bar as a results-oriented and dedicated public servant who has responsibly enforced safety and environmental protections for offshore oil and gas operations in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster,” she said.
“I sincerely appreciate his leadership and contributions in advancing our reform agenda for the American people and offshore energy industry.”