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   Environmental Program
 

Scientific Committee

The purpose of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Scientific Committee (SC) is to advise the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director, Minerals Management Service (MMS), on the feasibility, appropriateness, and scientific value of the MMS's OCS Environmental Studies Program (ESP). The ESP's main function is to obtain environmental information through research to support the decision process at all stages of the oil and gas leasing program. This program operates under the following guidelines:

bullet To provide information on the status of the environment upon which the prediction of impacts of OCS oil and gas development may be based;
 
bullet To provide information on the ways and extent that OCS development can potentially impact the human, marine, biological, and coastal resources and areas;
 
bullet To ensure that information already available or being collected under the program is in a form that can be used in the decision-making process associated with a specific leasing action, or with the longer terms OCS minerals management responsibilities; and
 
bullet To provide a basis for future monitoring of OCS operations, including assessments of short-term impacts attributable to the OCS oil and gas program. The Committee reviews the relevance of proposed studies and of data being produced by the program and may recommend changes in the program's scope, direction, and emphasis.

Charter.  The OCSSC will provide advice on the feasibility, appropriateness, and scientific value of the OCS ESP to the Secretary of the Interior through the Director, MMS. The OCSSC will review the relevance of the research and data being produced to meet MMS scientific information needs for decision-making and may recommend changes in scope, direction, and emphasis.

Members.  The OCSSC consists of 15 members appointed by the Secretary for a 3-year term. Members may be appointed to serve an additional 3-year term (membership not to exceed two consecutive 3-year terms without a 2-year break in service). They are appointed to the OCSSC based on their scientific competence, reputation within their particular fields of expertise, and ability to evaluate important elements of the OCS ESP. An active effort is made to balance membership with respect to technical skills and geographic representation. The OCSSC elects a Chair, Vice Chair, and Parliamentarian from its membership every 3 years. The MMS Environmental Division Chief serves as the Executive Secretary.

Official OCS SC Meeting Records.  Past meeting records.

Next Meeting.  The next meeting of the OCSSC is scheduled for April 29, 30, and May 1, 2009, at the Sheraton Anchorage. For additional information, please call Ms. Phyllis Clark at (703) 787-1716.

Subcommittee Reports. The OCSSC utilizes subcommittees to look at issues in-depth and provide recommendations to the full OCSSC.              

 

Last Updated: 04/17/2009, 12:18 PM Central Time