Ocean Research Environmental Studies Program

Working with Us

Virtually all of the BOEMRE research and data collection efforts are conducted by external groups including academic institutions, private consulting firms, and State/Federal Agencies. The BOEMRE’s Alaska, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, Atlantic, and National Annual Studies Plans contain brief profiles of proposed studies that describe the background, strategic overview, projected Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) activities, examples of affected decisions, information by discipline, and information needs. The Annual Studies Plan forms the basis for the Environmental Studies Program (ESP) direction and priorities, only approved studies are implemented.

The ESP actively seeks partnerships with stakeholders who are involved with, or affected by, the offshore energy and mineral resource management activities. Not only do partnerships result in important consensus building, but within the current environment of ever-constrained budgets, they also afford an opportunity for leveraging dollars and accomplishing research objectives that might not be attainable otherwise.

New Research Opportunities in FY 2010

A separate solicitation will be developed for each of the studies listed and announced on the Federal Business Opportunities: (FedBizOpps) web site. The announcement date for individual solicitations is fluid and the response time is limited. Therefore, those interested in our research opportunities are encouraged to frequently check the FedBizOpps web site.

Environmental Studies Program – Partnerships

The BOEMRE has established key research partnerships through the Coastal Marine Institute Initiatives in Louisiana and Alaska. In addition, several partnerships are in place with individual Gulf Coast States, California, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Office of Naval Research. The BOEMRE also has a unique working relationship with the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

National Oceanographic Partnership Program

The BOEMRE has funded several studies through the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP).

Exploration and Research of Northern Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Natural and Artificial Hard Bottom Habitats with Emphasis on Coral Communities: Reefs, Rigs, and Wrecks

Building on previous studies of deepwater corals and artificial reef effects from deepwater shipwrecks, this study further examines new locations in the Gulf of Mexico using state of the art technologies. The study includes the use of a NOAA research vessel and remotely operated vehicle. Scientists from the USGS are participating to collect specific information about deepwater corals. Field cruises were conducted in 2008 and 2009.

Investigations of Chemosynthetic Communities on the Lower Continental Slope of the Gulf of Mexico

Under the theme of exploration, understanding, and protection, we have a groundbreaking research project to investigate deep-sea communities discovered in the Gulf of Mexico in water depths between 3,400 and 10,000 feet. This is a joint project, again between BOEMRE and NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration, initiated under the auspices of the NOPP. Field cruises were conducted in 2006 and 2007.

The Archaeological and Biological Analysis of WW II Shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico: A Pilot Study of the Artificial Reef Effect in Deepwater

An initial collaboration between two Federal Agencies, BOEMRE and NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration, grew to include three private companies, two nonprofit organizations, and four universities through NOPP. The joint partnership conducted a biological and archaeological investigation of six casualties of Hitler’s U-boat war in the Gulf of Mexico. The archaeological objective of the study is to ground-truth, document, positively identify, and assess the National Register status of six ships sunk during World War II, including the German submarine U-166. The biological component includes an understanding of how artificial reefs function on the continental shelf especially where hard bottom habitat is naturally lacking (most of the Gulf of Mexico).

Deep coral reefs (90-120 feet) at the Flower Garden Banks

Coastal Marine Institutes

The BOEMRE established the Coastal Marine Institute (CMI) initiative to facilitate environmental research that can be undertaken by research entities within States with active OCS programs for the purposes of gathering scientific information that can be applied to resource management decisions that must be made by the State and local governments concerning development of offshore energy resources. The States and BOEMRE benefit from this relationship because it responds to State, local, and BOEMRE information needs and interests; broadens recognition and comprehension of study results through performance and presentation of findings by the local recognized research institution; improves existing local capabilities and facilities for innovative scientific research relevant to OCS resource management issues; achieves consensus between BOEMRE and the local States regarding the most important environmental research needs relevant to the OCS Program; and reduces the costs to the States and BOEMRE through cost-sharing. Coastal Marine Institutes are currently established with Louisiana and Louisiana State University and Alaska and the University of Alaska. In addition, the research completed through a CMI in California is described online at: California CMI-University of California, Santa Barbara.

Section 1345 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), as amended, authorizes the use of cooperative agreements with affected States to meet OCSLA requirements, including the sharing of information and joint utilization of available expertise relevant to OCS operations, both onshore and offshore. The CMI initiative was proposed in 1991 as an BOEMRE-State partnership to strengthen relationships with coastal States where OCS oil and gas activities take place, and to improve information flow to the affected State institutions of higher education to conduct research on issues of mutual concern to both the State and BOEMRE. This research is focused on environmental and socioeconomic aspects of OCS oil and gas and marine mineral development activities. Through the CMIs, increasing numbers of students and faculty are engaging in OCS-related research, developing new skills, and developing new information and approaches to solving management issues.

In recognition of mutual need for critical scientific information for resource management decisions, the CMI program leverages BOEMRE funds with State funds so that more research can be done than if BOEMRE funded all the work itself. The first cooperative agreement under the CMI program was signed in 1992 with the State of Louisiana and Louisiana State University. A second cooperative agreement was signed with the State of Alaska and the University of Alaska in 1992. A third agreement was signed with the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1994.