The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) supersedes the MOU dated December 10, 1996, between the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) regarding Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) pipelines.  The MOU identifies responsibilities for different aspects of OCS pipeline oversight consistent with the DOI and DOT authorities over upstream producer-operated pipelines and downstream transporter-operated pipelines, respectively.

The MOU describes the actions the agencies intend to take regarding OCS pipelines, including improved coordination of regulatory responsibilities, information sharing, research and development, training, inspections, investigations, and enforcement. Furthermore, the agencies will keep each other informed of newly discovered or emerging safety issues or concerns and perform joint investigations of incidents involving OCS pipeline segments where either has authority.