Ocean Research Environmental Studies Program

Science Quality

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is committed to using the best available science, and part of this commitment includes ensuring the quality of the science. We accomplish this through extensive peer review during every aspect of the process.

Numerous mechanisms are in place to identify and fulfill this requirement for scientific peer review. Those existing mechanisms include, for example:

	external review of proposals,
	review and critical input by Scientific Review Boards or Modeling Review Boards,
	review and critical input by scientific advisory committees under the Federal Advisory Committee Act,
	scientific peer review of final reports, and/or
	publication in peer-reviewed technical and/or scientific journals.

These measures (as well as stakeholder input) begin early in the development stages, and continue during the course of the projects. In addition, projects are regularly presented at MMS Information Transfer Meetings and special workshops facilitating both scientific peer review and public/stakeholder input.

The Department of the Interior and MMS follow the Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal Agencies developed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Peer Review Agenda

Section V of OMB's Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review requires that agencies "begin a systematic process of peer review planning" and publish a "web-accessible listing of forthcoming influential scientific disseminations (i.e., an agenda) that is regularly updated by the agency.”

	MMS Peer Review Agenda
	MMS Manual - Table of Contents
	Interim Policy Documents
	OMB Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review

National Research Council Reviews

The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) was reviewed and evaluated by the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Sciences. These reviews were used to better focus and improve the information gathered through the ESP. The ESP is evaluated annually by a Federal Advisory Committee, which makes recommendations about the program direction. Some pertinent NRC reports are listed below.

National Research Council. 1975b. Petroleum in the Marine Environment. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

————. 1983. Drilling Discharges in the Marine Environment. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

————. 1985. Oil in the Sea: Inputs, Fates, and Effects. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

————. 1989a. Evaluation of the Hydrocarbon Resource Estimates for the Offshore Areas of Northern and
               Southern California and Florida South of 26^◦ Latitude. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

————. 1989b. Using Oil Dispersants on the Sea. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

————. 1989c. The Adequacy of Environmental Information for Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas
               Decisions:  Florida and California. National Academy Press. 86 pp.

————. 1990a. Assessment of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Studies Program. I. Physical Oceanography.
               National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

————. 1990b. Adequacy of the Data Base for Hydrocarbon Estimates of the Georges Bank Area of the North
               Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

————. 1991. The Adequacy of Environmental Information for Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Decisions:
                Georges Bank. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

————. 1992a. Assessment of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Studies Program. II. Ecology. National
               Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

————. 1992b. Assessment of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Studies Program: III. Social
                and Economic Studies. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

————. 1993. Assessment of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Studies Program. IV. Lessons and
                Opportunities. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

————. 1994. Environmental Information for Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Decisions in Alaska. National
                Academy Press. Washington D.C. 254 pp.
                http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=2353#toc.