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Renewable Energy Research
 The
Office of Offshore Renewable Energy Programs (OREP) oversees
development of offshore renewable energy projects on the Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS). This new activity in the marine environment
requires an assessment of the potential environmental impacts to
resources on the OCS. Through the
Environmental Studies Program (ESP), BOEMRE is collecting
information to be used in this assessment. The Bureau’s
responsibilities include determining and evaluating the effects of OCS
activities on natural, historical, and human resources and the
appropriate monitoring and mitigating of those effects. ESP
operates on a national scale to provide the best available quality
science for the stake holder and end users with peer review and matrix
based management.
The ESP is required by the
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as amended in 1978 (OCSLAA)
to provide information for sound decision-making and management.
The ESP conducts research across the spectrum of the physical,
biological and socioeconomic environments as required by the
OCSLA and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
Additionally,
the
Technology Assessment & Research (TA&R) Program is a
research element encompassed by the BOEMRE Regulatory Program.
The TA&R Program was established in the 1970's to ensure that
industry operations on the Outer Continental Shelf incorporated
the use of the Best Available and Safest Technologies
subsequently required through the 1978 OCSLA amendments. The
Program supports research associated with operational safety,
engineering standards and pollution prevention. The TA&R studies
related to renewable energy and alternate use are
also available
online. |
