The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) was begun in 1973 as a means to
gather and synthesize environmental and social and economic science information
to support decision-making concerning the offshore oil and gas program. The
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act established policy for the management of the
OCS natural gas and oil-leasing program and for the protection of marine and
coastal environments. Section 20 of the Act authorizes the ESP and establishes
three general goals for the program:
- to establish the information needed for assessment and management of
environmental impacts on the human, marine, and coastal environments of the
OCS and the potentially affected coastal areas;
- to predict impacts on the marine biota that may result from chronic, low
level pollution or large spills associated with OCS production, from drilling
fluids and cuttings discharges, pipeline emplacement, or onshore facilities;
and
- to monitor human, marine, and coastal environments to provide time series
and data trend information for identification of significant changes in the
quality and productivity of these environments, and to identify the causes of
these changes.
For information pertaining to
operational safety, pollution prevention, oil spill response, and cleanup
capabilities, visit our Technology
Assessment and Research (TA&R) Program. the TA&R Program is a research
element encompassed by the MMS Regulatory Program. It was established in the
1970's to ensure that industry operations on the Outer Continental Shelf
incorporated the use of the Best Available and Safest Technologies (BAST)
subsequently required through the 1978 OCSLA
amendments.
Gulf of Mexico Region Studies
Publications (Study Reports)
The Environmental Studies Program is Congressionally mandated by the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act and is host to environmental information in the
following areas:
Deepwater Environmental Information
Eastern Gulf Environmental Information
Featured Studies
Environmental Compliance
ESPIS
Regional Environmental Studies Programs
