Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Scientific Committee (SC)

BOEMRE seeks interested and qualified individuals to serve on its OCS SC during the period of June 24, 2011 through June 23, 2014. The initial 3-year term may be renewed for up to one additional term. The OCS SC is chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to advise the Secretary of the Interior through the Director of the BOEMRE on the appropriateness, feasibility, and scientific value of the OCS Environmental Studies Program (ESP) and environmental aspects of the offshore energy and marine minerals programs. The ESP, initiated to support the U.S. Department of the Interior's offshore oil and gas leasing program and authorized by the OCS Lands Act as amended (Section 20), is administered by the BOEMRE. The program covers a wide range of field and laboratory studies in biology, chemistry, and physical oceanography, as well as studies of the social and economic impacts of OCS energy and marine minerals development. Currently, the work is conducted through award of competitive contracts and interagency and cooperative agreements. The OCS SC reviews the relevance of the information being produced by the ESP and may recommend changes in its scope, direction, and emphasis. The OCS SC comprises distinguished scientists in appropriate disciplines of the biological, physical, chemical, and socioeconomic sciences. Currently, the OCS SC has 15 vacancies in the following disciplines: Biological oceanography/marine biology; social science; marine archaeology; and physical oceanography. The selections are based on maintaining disciplinary expertise in all areas of research, as well as geographic balance. Demonstrated knowledge of the scientific issues related to OCS oil and gas development or renewable energy is essential. The Secretary of the Interior makes selections on the basis of these factors.