Oil and Gas Field Managers and Supervisors Training Requirements
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov
February 4, 2020
In Reply Refer To:
3100(310) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 03/03/2020
Permanent Instruction Memorandum No. 2020-002
To: All Field Office Officials
From: Assistant Director, Energy, Minerals, and Realty Management
Subject: Oil and Gas Field Managers and Supervisors Training Requirements
Program Area: Oil and Gas Operations.
Purpose: This Instruction Memorandum (IM) directs all Bureau of Land Management (BLM) managers and supervisors with oil and gas responsibilities to enroll and successfully complete the “Oil and Gas for Managers” E-Learning Course #BLM-TC-3100-13 (Parts 1 and 2) within six months of the effective date of the employee’s appointment and subsequent refreshers every five years. The BLM developed this course to improve the consistency of the BLM’s management of its oil and gas program and to provide fundamental program information.
Policy/Action: The BLM developed a course specifically for field managers and supervisors to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to more effectively manage and conduct oversight of the BLM oil and gas program. The course consists of multiple modules and links to existing distance learning courses related to the oil and gas program. The training is delivered as a two-part, fully online training course. Part 1 includes Modules 1–4 and Part 2 includes Modules 5–8. Both parts remain available for enrollment through the Department of the Interior’s Talent website, https://doitalent.ibc.doi.gov/. The participants will complete the modules in sequential order.
Oil and Gas for Managers Modules 1–8:
- Introduction to Oil and Gas
- Adventures in Energy (Course 3100-12)
- Planning for Oil and Gas
- Leasing 101
- Manage Indian Trust Operations
- Manage Lease Operations
- Safety Management
- Resource Conflict Management
All BLM field managers and supervisors must complete Modules 1-8 within six months of their effective date of appointment of taking a position with oil and gas responsibilities and refresher every five years thereafter, except for those individuals who provide proof of previously completing this training or no longer have oil and gas responsibilities. At the end of each fiscal year, each State Director will certify that managers and supervisors under their supervision meet these requirements.
Budget Impact: Minimal as all training can be accomplished from an individual’s home office.
Background: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report 10-313, dated March 2010, found that the BLM did not provide sufficient or timely training for many of its key staff responsible for oil and gas measurement. The report stated that knowledge gaps exist department-wide, and the gaps are particularly pressing in some disciplines and in some BLM field offices. Local managers face challenges related to planning, permitting, development, and other competing resource issues caused by oil and gas development. New technologies, development in new areas, and a significant increase in activity in other areas tied to the need for reliable domestic energy supplies, magnify these challenges in managing the oil and gas program in the field.
These training modules aim to fill the knowledge gap and provide additional guidance to managers and supervisors with oil and gas responsibilities. Presenting the courses online saves the BLM time and money in preparing its direct line managers to properly supervise oil and gas operations, enables flexibility for participants to work within their own schedules, and allows them to serve as a continuing reference resource. The BLM developed these courses following a review of its training oversight in field and state offices and believes these courses provide consistent strong and reliable internal controls.
Pages of Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: None.
Instruction Memorandum Affected: This IM supersedes IM-2012-191, Oil and Gas Field Managers Training Requirements and provides policy that the BLM provide oil and gas program training within six months of the effective date of appointment for new managers and supervisors with oil and gas responsibilities every fiscal year.
Coordination: This guidance was coordinated with the BLM’s National Training Center, Washington Office’s Division of Fluid Minerals (WO-310), State Office Management personnel and Field Managers.
Contact: If you have questions or concerns regarding this additional training requirement, please contact me at 202-208-4201, or your staff may contact Kent L. Hoffman Acting Division Chief of Fluid Minerals at khoffman@blm.gov or 202-912-7143; or Michael Wade (Senior Oil and Gas Compliance Specialist) at mwade@blm.gov or 303-238-3737.
Signed by: Authenticated by:
Nicholas E. Douglas Robert M. Williams
Assistant Director Division of Regulatory Affairs,WO-630
Energy, Minerals, and Realty Management