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BOEMRE, NOAA ink MOU
The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said May 23 that they have signed a memorandum of understanding.
BOEMRE Director Michael Bromwich said the MOU “will broaden and enhance the communication, cooperation and collaboration between our agencies.”
He said the MOU creates mechanisms ensuring early and close coordination of the science and agency priorities to promote “stronger environmental stewardship and stimulate greater efficiency in developing and implementing” energy policy and conservation on the outer continental shelf.
Jane Lubchenco, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, said NOAA looks “forward to continuing to work with BOEMRE to ensure NOAA science informs offshore energy development and oil spill response.”
Commission recommendations The agencies said the MOU is consistent with recommendations from the National Commission on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling and specifies how BOEMRE and NOAA will cooperate and coordinate.
Specifics include: defining processes to ensure effective and timely communications of agency priorities and upcoming activities; identifying and undertaking critical environmental studies and analyses; collaborating on scientific, environmental and technical issues related to the development and deployment of environmentally sound and sustainable offshore renewable energy technologies; and increasing coordination and collaboration on decisions related to OCS activities, including with respect to research and scientific priorities.
The agencies said they have a history of nearly 40 years of scientific collaboration and have had many successful partnerships.
—Petroleum News
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