Studies Development Plan, Fiscal Years 2009-2011: Alternative Energy. Offshore Environmental Studies Program

摘要

The MMS has solicited input from the public about the environmental concerns related to this new activity in the marine environment. As part of rulemaking, MMS issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which included questions to the public about the environment. The MMS also prepared a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which gathered further input from the public and made an initial evaluation of the potential environmental consequences from offshore alternative energy development. The Final Programmatic EIS was published in November 2007. Concurrently, MMS funded a synthesis report and workshop to identify existing information, primarily from the European experience, and identify information gaps. To support the scientifically sound evaluation of anticipated activities, the Alternative Energy Program has developed this studies development plan for the Environmental Studies Program (ESP).