Federal Advisory Committee Act

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) receives advice from Federal Advisory Committees in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act on issues related to safety, environmental science and policy decisions regarding energy exploration and development activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Committee meetings are open to the public and allow time for those in attendance to speak or provide written comments related to the issues being discussed. Meetings are typically announced 15 to 30 days in advance through the Federal Register and press announcements.

To learn more about each of the advisory committees, follow their activities and to view information materials from past meetings, please see the links below:

The Ocean Energy Safety Advisory Committee (OESC) was chartered on February 8, 2011, to advise the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of BOEMRE, on a variety of issues related to offshore energy safety. The OESC is the first step toward establishing the proposed Ocean Energy Safety Institute, which would facilitate collaborative research and development, training and execution in these and other areas relating to offshore energy safety going forward. The OESC will provide advice on how best to stand up the Institute, and on what role OESC should play in the Institute: http://www.boemre.gov/mmab/EnergySafety.htm.

The OCS Scientific Committee (SC) is chartered to advise the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of BOEMRE on the feasibility, appropriateness, and scientific value of the BOEMRE's OCS Environmental Studies Program: http://www.boemre.gov/mmab/ScientificCommittee/ocssc.htm.

The OCS Policy Committee (PC), first chartered in 1975, provides advice to the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of BOEMRE, on implementing the provisions of the OCS Lands Act: http://www.boemre.gov/mmab/PolicyCommittee/pcnew.htm.