Environmental Studies - Pacific

BOEM has funded a diverse array of applied and basic research about the marine, coastal, and human environments offshore California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawai'i. The environmental, social, and economic information garnered from BOEM-funded studies informs decisions about energy programs in the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), which stretches from the U.S.-Mexico border to the U.S.-Canada border and includes the OCS of Hawai'i.  Since the inception of BOEM’s Environmental Studies Program in 1973, more than 330 Pacific OCS studies have been conducted at a cost of more than $150 million. While many of these studies have been conducted to inform decisions about oil and gas development on the California OCS, regional study priorities have expanded to address information needs regarding renewable energy development throughout the Pacific OCS. 

Current & Completed Studies

Information about current and completed Pacific studies can be found in a number of places, including:

Selected Research by Activity & Area

Studies Plans

A Studies Development Plan (SDP) is prepared annually as part of the national planning process for the Environmental Studies Program.  SDPs provide an overview of regional energy activities and projected information needs, and propose studies for funding in future fiscal years.