Environmental Studies Planning

Studies Development Plan Cover

Science for Informed Decisions

BOEM must comply with numerous environmental statutes, regulations, and executive orders to carry out its mission. BOEM is dedicated to acquiring and using the highest quality scientific information in support of Bureau decisions. To that end, the Environmental Studies Program (ESP) employs a rigorous planning, review, and procurement process to meet the nation's environmental research needs for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) resource assessments.

ESP staff from Headquarters and Regional program offices prepare the annual Studies Development Plan (SDP) to cover a two-year planning period. The plan includes brief study descriptions or profiles that describe proposed studies for the upcoming fiscal year and for one successive year. Proposed studies are evaluated for program relevance, programmatic timeliness, and scientific merit.

BOEM has formulated its Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Studies Development Plan covering all BOEM energy and minerals activities. It includes studies proposed for Alaska, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific OCS areas.

Additionally, BOEM consults with the Committee on Offshore Science and Assessment as a source of independent, scientifically credible, and objective information on topics of interest for the environmental studies and assessment activities and to support discussions on relevant issues. Collectively, these inputs contribute to the development of research plans.

BOEM maintains a complete description of ongoing BOEM studies by region. Each listing describes the research being conducted, the scientific discipline, the institution performing the work, the cost of the effort, timeframe, and any associated publications, presentations, or affiliated web sites.

Current and Previous SDPs

2023-2024 | 2022-2023 | 2021-20222020-2022 | 2019-2021 | 2018-2020 | 2017-2019 | 2016-2018 | 2015-2017 | 2014-2016 | 2013-2015 | 2012-2014 | 2011-2013

National Studies List

While the SDP serves a primarily internal planning function, it is a publicly available document and is used to communicate the proposed studies both internally within BOEM and externally with potential partners and other interested parties. The SDP and resulting studies undergo peer review at several stages to ensure the quality of the work proposed. When completed, the annual SDP forms the basis for the National Studies List (NSL), which represents the proposed studies for a given fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.

To formulate the NSL, each region and program develops a priority order for their studies proposed. These lists are evaluated again by Headquarters, principally considering program relevance, timing, and budgetary constraints. Discussions are conducted with each of the regional/program offices, and when consensus is achieved, the NSL is recommended for approval. Once the annual appropriations for the Department have been approved, studies on the NSL are procured via competitive procurements, cooperative agreements with a State institution or university, or through inter/intra agency agreements with other Federal agencies. BOEM highly values studies procured through the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) with other governmental, industry, academic, tribal, non-governmental, and foundation partners. This allows all the parties to leverage financial, human, maritime, and other technological assets to meet mission objectives. BOEM's ESP seeks innovative approaches and technologies to help us advance the science program.

It is important to note that the NSL is subject to change throughout the course of the year as conditions warrant and due to budgetary constraints.

National Studies List for 2024

NSL #

Study Title

Discipline

Procurement Type

BOEM Contact

New Requests
AK-24-01Updating Lower Cook Inlet Seabird Colony CountsHabitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementBurril
AK-24-02Adaptation of a Cook Inlet Circulation Model and CalculationsPhysical OceanographyCooperative AgreementSmith
AK-24-03Alaska Coastal Marine InstituteHabitat & EcologyCooperative AgreementBurril
Continuing Requirements
AK-20-07Early Detection Plan for Marine Non-Native Species on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)Fates & EffectsInteragency AgreementBurril
AK-21-03Resource Areas to Support Oil Spill Risk Analysis (OSRA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Needs in the Cook Inlet Region Marine Mammals and Protected SpeciesCooperative AgreementBurril
AK-22-01Lower Cook Inlet Fish and Invertebrate Community Composition, Distribution, and DensityHabitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementBurril
USGS Requirements
AK-20-11The Impact of Marine Fish Communities on Red-throated Loon Productivity in the Beaufort SeaHabitat & EcologyUSGSBurril

NSL #

Study Title

Discipline

Procurement Type

BOEM Contact

New Requests
AT-23-04Baseline Tourism and Recreation Along the Gulf of MaineSocio-EconomicsCooperative AgreementBigger
AT-23-01Gulf of Maine Socioeconomic Impacts of OCS Wind Development on FishingSocio-EconomicsContractHowson
AT-23-05Gulf of Maine Fish and Invertebrate Benthic Habitat Baseline Data CollectionHabitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementJensen
AT-23-06Offshore Wind Turbine Visibility StudySocio-EconomicsInteragency AgreementMcCarty
AT-24-01BOEM Offshore Wind Energy Facility Emission Estimating Tool Version 3.0Air QualityContractSlayton
AT-24-02Improving Methods and Identifying Best Practices for Defining and Delineating Low-Relief Hardbottom Essential Fish Habitat in Wind Energy Areas – Case Study in Carolina Long BayHabitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementJensen
AT-24-03Ocean Environmental Monitoring and Sound Propagation Study at Mid-Atlantic Shelfbreak Offshore Wind AreaPhysical OceanographyCooperative AgreementGuan
AT-24-04Collecting Fisher’s Ecological Knowledge (FEK) for Use in Gulf of Maine Offshore WindSocio-EconomicsCooperative AgreementJensen
Continuing Requirements
AT-20-02Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS) III B and C—Photogrammetric Aerial Surveys to Improve Detection and Classification of Seabirds, Cetaceans, and Sea Turtles (Fish and Wildlife Service)Marine Mammals and Protected SpeciesInteragency AgreementWhite
AT-20-05-02Real-time Opportunity for Development Environmental Observations (RODEO) II - Task 2 Fates & EffectsContractBigger
AT-22-01bOffshore Wind Impacts on Oceanographic Processes: North Carolina to New York (Delft3D)Physical OceanographyContractDraher
AT-22-06Mapping abundance, distribution, and foraging ecology of gray seals in the North AtlanticMarine Mammals and Protected SpeciesCooperative AgreementHooker
AT-22-07Exploring the Connectivity Among Offshore Wind TurbinesFates & EffectsCooperative AgreementJensen
AT-22-13Investigating Persistent Super Aggregations of Right Whales and Their Prey Near Nantucket ShoalsHabitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementWhite
AT-22-x14Passive Acoustic Monitoring in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Wind Energy Areas in Support of the Partnership for an Offshore Wind Energy Regional Observation Network (POWERON)Fates & EffectsContractBaker

NSL #

Study Title

Discipline

Procurement Type

BOEM Contact

New Requests
GM-24-01Understanding Impacts of Offshore Carbon Sequestration on the Marine Environment: Informing Operational Management Needs Through Focused Literature Review and SynthesisFates & EffectsContractBatum
GM-24-02Northern Gulf of Mexico Monitoring for Protected SpeciesMarine Mammals and Protected SpeciesInteragency AgreementKarrigan
GM-24-03Gulf Coast Community and Cultural Impact Baselines SurveySocio-EconomicsContractSorset
Continuing Requirements
GM-21-01Offshore Analysis of Seafloor Instability and Sediments (OASIS Partnership) With Applications to Offshore Safety and Marine ArchaeologyPhysical OceanographyInteragency Agreement, Cooperative AgreementJones
GM-22-02Live Forecasts of Migratory Bird Movements Offshore to Monitor Potential Avian Interactions with Wind DevelopmentHabitat & EcologyCooperative AgreementWhite
GM-22-03Long-Term Coral Reef Monitoring at Flower Garden Banks (FGB), Gulf of Mexico: 2022-2025Habitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementCaporaso
GM-22-05Reevaluating BOEM’s Guidelines for Identifying Submerged Pre-Contact Archaeological Sites in the Gulf of MexicoSocio-EconomicsCooperative AgreementDamour
GM-22-06Benthic Community Characterization at BOEM “No Activities Zones” Habitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementCaporaso

NSL #

Study Title

Discipline

Procurement Type

BOEM Contact

New Requests
PC-24-01Port Infrastructure Needs of Commercial and Recreational Fisheries along the US West CoastSocio-EconomicsContractBiedron
PC-24-02Traditional Native Hawaiian Voyaging and Cultural Fishing and Boating Practices on the OCSSocio-EconomicsTBDMakua
PC-22-01O`ahu’s Traditional Cultural LandscapesSocio-EconomicsInteragency AgreementBall
PC-24-03Characterization of Water Column Habitats to Understand Potential Impacts from Deepwater Energy and Mineral DevelopmentHabitat & EcologyTBDLe
PC-22-07aMaritime Heritage of American SamoaSocio-EconomicsInteragency AgreementBall
Continuing Requirements
PC-21-03Partners in Offshore Wind Environmental Research – California (POWER–California)Habitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementPotter
PC-22-03Birds, Bats, and Beyond: Networked Wildlife Tracking along the Pacific Coast of the U.S.Habitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementPereksta
PC-22-07bMaritime Heritage of Guam and Northern Mariana IslandsSocio-EconomicsCooperative AgreementBall
PC-23-01BOEM-MARINe (Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network)Habitat & EcologyCooperative AgreementTBD
PC-23-02Pacific Marine Assessment Partnership for Protected Species (PacMAPPS) IIMarine Mammals and Protected SpeciesInteragency AgreementsReeb
PC-23-03Facilitating Resilience and Adaptation in Commercial Fisheries in Response to Offshore Renewable Energy Development and Climate ChangeSocio-EconomicsCooperative/Interagency AgreementsSchroeder
PC-23-04Characterization of the Distribution, Movements, and Foraging Habitat of Endangered Leatherback Turtles in Designated Critical Habitat off the U.S. West Coast, Phase IMarine Mammals and Protected SpeciesInteragency Agreement/ContractReeb
USGS Requirements
PC-19-06bCalifornia Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing (Cal DIG) IIFates & EffectsUSGSPotter

NSL #

Study Title

Discipline

Procurement Type

BOEM Contact

New Requests
MM-23-03Accounting for Scale Bias in Marine Minerals StudiesHabitat & EcologyCooperative AgreementHansen
MM-23-01Evaluating Sediment Mobility on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)Physical OceanographyInteragency AgreementRice
MM-24-01Developing a Critical Minerals Environmental Assessment Framework (CMEAF) for Critical Minerals ActivitiesHabitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementKnorr
MM-24-02In Situ Sampling at a Historic Equipment Test Site on the Blake PlateauHabitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementRasser
MM-24-03Extrapolating Benthic Recovery Estimates Beyond Single-project ConstraintsHabitat & EcologyCooperative AgreementHansen
Continuing Requirements
MM-19-01Ecological Function and Recovery of Biological Communities within Sand Shoal Habitats within the Gulf of MexicoFates & EffectsContractRogers
MM-20-01New York Bight (NYB) Fish, Fisheries, and Sand Features: In the FieldHabitat & EcologyCooperative AgreementHansen
MM-20-02Sandbridge Highly Migratory Species: Fish Distribution on a Dredged ShoalFates & EffectsCooperative AgreementHansen
MM-21-01Shallow Water Geophysical Mapping by Autonomous Underwater Vehicles: Feasbility Assessment, Field Testing, and Best PracticePhysical OceanographyContractCofield
MM-21-02Sea Turtle Avoidance Technology Solutions (STATS)Marine Mammals and Protected SpeciesContractLevenson
MM-21-04Seamount Benthic Mapping and Characterization, in support of Critical Minerals and Deep Corals of the Aleutian IslandsHabitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementKnorr
MM-22-02Sturgeon Response to Dredge Activities and Recovery After Trawl Capture Near Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Sand ResourcesHabitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementHansen
MM-22-03Fish Fry: Frying Pan Shoals Ecosystem DynamicsHabitat & EcologyCooperative AgreementHansen
USGS Requirements
MM-22-02Sturgeon Response to Dredge Activities and Recovery After Trawl Capture Near Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Sand ResourcesHabitat & EcologyUSGSHansen

NSL #

Study Title

Discipline

Procurement Type

BOEM Contact

New Requests
NT-24-01National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil Spill Occurrence RatesFates & EffectsContractJi
NT-24-02Assessing the Effectiveness of Offshore Wind Lease Stipulations on Engagement with Underserved CommunitiesSocio-EconomicsContractMansfield
NT-24-03Socio-Cultural and Economic Impacts of Changing Energy TrendsSocio-EconomicsContractMansfield
NT-24-04Future Directions of Physical Oceanography Research on Offshore Renewable Energy Development at the Bureau of Ocean Energy ManagementPhysical OceanographyContractLi
NT-24-05Synthesis of Climate Change Sensitivity and Information Gaps in Priority Management Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)Habitat & EcologyContractSharuga
NT-24-06Using Coast Guard’s AIS Vessel and Federal Aviation Administration’s NextGen Helicopter Data to Track BOEM-Authorized ActivitiesAir QualityContractWecht
NT-24-07Using Very High-Resolution Satellite Imagery to Detect CetaceansMarine Mammals and Protected SpeciesInteragency AgreementWhite
Continuing Requirements
NT-19-07Archaeological Investigations in Support of Development of Energy and Mineral Resources on the US Outer Continental ShelfSocio-EconomicsContractHorrell
NT-20-03Next Generation of Animal TelemetryHabitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementLevenson
NT-20-06Continued Partnership with National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology (NMNH-IZ) for a Voucher-Based, Genomic Reference Facility for Ocean BiodiversityInformation ManagementInteragency AgreementBlythe
NT-21-01Facilitating Strategic Partnerships in Support of the Presidential Memo on Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization Habitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementMueller
NT-21-04Spatial and Acoustic Ecology of Understudied ESA Listed Marine MammalsMarine Mammals and Protected SpeciesInteragency AgreementLevenson
NT-21-06Mortality Risk for Whale and Basking Sharks During Energy and Mineral OperationsHabitat & EcologyContractLevenson
NT-21-x15Standardizing Integrated Ecosystem-Based Assessment NationallyInformation ManagementContractHorrell
NT-22-01Capacity Building and Collaboration with the Aquinnah and Mashpee Wampanoag TribesSocio-EconomicsCooperative AgreementHorrell
NT-22-02Offshore Air Quality (AQ) from NASA’s Satellites and Related ExperimentsAir QualityInteragency AgreementWecht
NT-22-03Understanding Impacts of Habitat Modifications on Commercial Fisheries and Apex Predator DistributionHabitat & EcologyContractLevenson
NT-22-04Automated Detection and Classification of Wildlife Targets in Digital Aerial Imagery – Phase IIHabitat & EcologyInteragency AgreementWhite
NT-23-02NASA Aircraft Measurements in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Air QualityInteragency AgreementWecht
NT-23-07Investigating Shoreline Fumigation Algorithms in Offshore and Coastal Dispersion Model for AERMOD – Part 2 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Inter-agency Agreement to Improve AERMOD for Overwater ApplicationsAir QualityInteragency AgreementMerritt
NT-23-09Offshore Wind Farm Impacts on Pacific Upwelling, Nutrients, and ProductivityHabitat & EcologyCooperative AgreementKilpatrick
NT-23-10Feel the Vibrations: Behavioral Response by Fish and Invertebrates to Particle Motion/Substrate Vibration from Pile-DrivingHabitat & EcologyContractKates Varghese
NT-23-11Substrate-Borne Vibroacoustic Disturbances from Offshore Wind Construction: Measurements, Physical Characteristics, and PropagationFates & EffectsCooperative AgreementGuan
USGS Requirements
NT-22-04Automated Detection and Classification of Wildlife Targets in Digital Aerial Imagery – Phase IIInformation ManagementUSGSWhite