Environmental Studies Program Partnerships
The MMS Coastal Marine Institute (CMI)
initiative run by the Environmental Studies Program, was proposed in 1991 as an MMS-State
partnership to strengthen relationships with coastal states where OCS oil and gas
activities take place, and to improve the information flow to the affected States and the
public. It accomplishes this by using highly qualified researchers at State institutions
of higher education to conduct research on issues of mutual concern to both the State and
MMS. This research is focused on environmental and socioeconomic aspects of OCS oil and
gas and marine mineral development activities. Through the CMI's, increasing numbers of
students and faculty are engaging in OCS related research, developing new skills, and
developing new information and approaches to solving management issues.
In recognition of the mutual need for
critical scientific information for resource management decisions the CMI program
leverages MMS funds with State funds so that more research can be done than if MMS funded
all the work itself. The first cooperative agreement under the CMI program was signed in
1992 with the State of Louisiana and Louisiana State University. A second cooperative agreement was
signed with the State of Alaska and the University of Alaska in 1993. A third agreement was signed with
the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1994.
CMI GOALS
