Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
| TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE Catherine Coon Chief, Environmental Sciences Management Bureau of Ocean Energy Management U.S. Department of the Interior 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500 Anchorage, AK 998503-5823 catherine.coon@boem.gov |
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS Jennifer Ewald Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Jennifer.Ewald@boem.gov |
BOEM Ocean Science 2020 Issue 1
The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) at BOEM designs, funds, and manages scientific research on the marine, coastal, and human environments to inform the Federal offshore energy leasing program.
The ESP currently manages more than 50 ongoing study projects in Alaska, in topical areas such as protected and endangered species; physical oceanography; fate and effects of pollutants; wildlife biology; food security; traditional knowledge; and economic forecasting. Completed study reports are available at http://www.boem.gov/akstudies.
The purpose of the Environmental Studies Program (ESP) is to define agency information needs and to implement studies that assist in predicting, projecting, assessing, and managing potential effects on the human, marine, and coastal environments of the Outer Continental Shelf that may be affected by offshore gas and oil development in Federal waters. Scientific results on specific environmental hypotheses and questions arising from offshore leasing are required to attain program goals. The ESP also monitors changes over time to measure potential effects during and after oil exploration and development activities.
Ongoing Research, Education, and Technical Areas
Research:
- Physical Oceanography
- Endangered and Protected Species
- Socio-economics
- Oil Spill Fate and Effects
- Monitoring
Education and Technical Outreach:
- Technical transfer and exchange of new science information
- MMS Ocean Science: The Science and Technology Journal of the Minerals Management Service (bi-monthly)