BOEM Science Quality & Integrity

    Applied Science for Informed Decision Making 

    BOEM 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 OCS Scientific Committee 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 BOEM Information Transfer Meetings and special workshops facilitating both scientific peer review and public/stakeholder input.

    Integrity of Scientific and Scholarly Activities

    "Because robust, high quality science and scholarship play such an important role in advancing the Department's mission, it is vital that we have a strong and clear scientific integrity policy." Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar

    In response to the Presidential Memorandum on Scientific Integrity, March 9, 2009, Secretarial Order No. 3305, and the December 17, 2010, Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies issued by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy on Scientific Integrity Secretary Salazar signed Departmental Manual Chapter 305 DM 3 detailing the scientific integrity policy for the Department of the Interior entitled Integrity of Scientific and Scholarly Activities on January 28, 2011. (Part 305: Chapter 3).

    For more information on this Policy and contact information for the BOEM Scientific Integrity Officer, visit the DOI webpage on the Integrity of Scientific and Scholarly Activities.

    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.”

    • BOEM Peer Review Agenda (under development)

    The Department of the Interior and BOEM 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).