Dear Stakeholder,
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is responsible for managing the development of U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) energy and mineral resources in an environmentally and economically responsible way. A critical component of BOEM’s mission is protecting the environment while overseeing the development of OCS energy and marine mineral resources.
BOEM’s Environmental Studies Program (ESP) develops, funds, and manages rigorous scientific research specifically to inform policy decisions on the development of energy and mineral resources on the OCS, as required by law. This environmental and socioeconomic research is designed to provide BOEM the necessary information to assess, predict, monitor, and manage potential environmental impacts of the activities it authorizes.
As part of this effort, ESP staff prepare BOEM’s annual Studies Development Plan to cover a two-year planning period. The plan includes brief study descriptions, or profiles, that describe proposed studies for the upcoming fiscal year and for one successive year. These studies are designed to collect the information necessary to meet the needs of BOEM scientists, rule writers, modelers, decision makers and other users. Proposed studies are evaluated for program relevance, programmatic timeliness, and scientific merit.
BOEM is beginning to formulate its Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Studies Development Plan covering all BOEM energy and minerals activities. We invite you to submit study ideas for consideration in Alaska, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific OCS areas. Study ideas must be relevant to BOEM's information requirements in the areas of biological, oceanographic (physical and chemical), traditional knowledge, and social sciences (including economic and cultural research).
I encourage you to review BOEM’s National Studies List for Fiscal Year 2022, which identifies studies BOEM intends to procure in FY22 (subject to funding availability). The current Studies Development Plan is online and the Environmental Studies Program Information System (ESPIS) provides access to ongoing studies and completed reports. Brief summaries of recently completed studies can also be found in the archive of ESPIS Quarterly Reports. Please carefully consider BOEM’s ESP Strategic Framework – particularly the criteria and questions – when formulating your study ideas. Also note that BOEM is keen to advance research pertaining to fish/fisheries, climate change , environmental justice, and Tribal issues. Please comment on these topics when they may appropriately fit into the work you are suggesting.
Send your suggestions in a short paragraph via email to ESP by December 10, 2021, including an explanation of why BOEM should consider funding them in light of the points noted above. Please note that all submissions become property of the federal government. While suggestions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, there is no guarantee they will be accepted. Some ideas may be combined with other suggestions. Acceptance of an idea does not imply that the submitter will receive funding.
We appreciate your participation in this process and look forward to your suggestions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rodney E. Cluck
Chief, Division of Environmental Sciences
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
U.S. Department of the Interior
-- BOEM --
The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is responsible for America’s offshore energy and mineral resources. The bureau promotes energy independence, environmental protection and economic development through responsible, science-based management of energy and mineral resources on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.