Environmental Monitoring

Oversight and Adaptive Management

The Alaska Region has the authority to review activities being conducted under an approved plan and may request updated information on schedules and procedures. The frequency and extent of the review is based upon the significance of any changes in available environmental information and in other onshore or offshore conditions affecting or affected by activities being conducted pursuant to the plan. If the review indicates that the plan should be revised, the Alaska Region would require the needed revision.

The Alaska Region oversight program also involves an ongoing assessment of new and updated environmental information from BOEMRE-sponsored studies and integration of this assessment with ongoing activities. Information on Alaska Region environmental studies program is available at http://www.BOEMRE.gov/alaska/ess/index.htm.

This combination of management review of active oil and gas projects, updated environmental studies, and site specific monitoring are part of the BOEMRE approach to adaptive management. Adaptive management provides credible information for the modification of activities based on experience and new information. The Alaska Region is cOEMMitted to applying the principles of adaptive management to Alaska projects.