Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Environmental Studies (ES)

 

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) provides major economic and energy benefits on a national and local level to the taxpayers, states and the American Indian community. The BOEM oversees the exploration and development of oil, natural gas and other minerals and renewable energy alternatives on the Nation?s outer continental shelf. BOEM continues to look for better ways to serve the American people and to ensure that the Nation receives the best value for its resources now and into the future. The program not only supports decisions made within the Department of Interior, but also provides coastal States and local governments with the information necessary to ensure that all stages of offshore energy and mineral activities are conducted in a manner to protect both the human and natural environments. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) Section 1346 mandates the conduct of environmental and socioeconomic studies needed for the assessment and management of environmental impacts on the human, marine, and coastal environments which may be affected by oil and gas or other mineral development. OCSLA Section 1345 authorizes the use of cooperative agreements with affected States to meet the requirements of OCSLA, including sharing of information, joint utilization of available expertise, formation of joint monitoring arrangements to carry out applicable Federal and State laws, regulations, and stipulations relevant to outer continental shelf operations both onshore and offshore. The purpose of the Environmental Studies Program is to obtain the information needed for the assessment and the management of environmental impacts; to predict impacts on marine biota; and to monitor the human, marine, and coastal environments to provide time series and data trend information.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
15.423
Federal Agency/Office
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement, Department of The Interior
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 No Current Data Available. Distribution and Relative Abundance of Marine Mammals in the Chukchi Sea and the Fall Migration of Bowhead Whales in the Beaufort Sea.
Fiscal Year 2017 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2018 BOEM is able to improve the scientific base for managing the OCS through access to a collaborative network of federal and academic researchers and technical experts. Many projects include opportunities to train students and contribute to the next generation of environmental science leaders. BOEM’s Pacific Region has a number of ongoing studies.
Fiscal Year 2019 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2020 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2021 BOEM is able to improve the scientific base for managing the OCS through access to a collaborative network of federal and academic researchers and technical experts. Many projects include opportunities to train students and contribute to the next generation of environmental science leaders. BOEM’s Pacific Region has several ongoing studies.
Fiscal Year 2022 This program is estimated to not be funded this fiscal year.
Authorization
43 U.S.C. 1345 (e); 43 U.S.C. 1346 Section 20.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
State agencies, public universities, and non-profits in affected states may apply. More than one institution may collaborate in the preparation of an application for assistance. Scientists from other institutions may participate in collaboration with a principal investigator from a State agency or public university.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Research scientists, Federal, State and local decision-makers, Native American Organizations, and the general public will ultimately benefit from the program.
Credentials/Documentation
Evidence of the applicant's qualifications for performance of the proposed research including past professional publications, resumes, and lists of past projects must be provided.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Limited discussions regarding funding availability and program interest may be permitted. Applicants should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in their State to find out if the State has selected this program for review and for information on the process the State requires when applying for Federal assistance.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards apply to this program. Proposals must include a full statement of work, estimated budget, and resumes. Applicants shall post their applications as specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). NOFOs will be posted on https://www.grants.gov/ Grants.gov. and enroll in a new database GrantSolutions https://home.grantsolutions.gov/home/. Use the standard SF-424 application forms.
Award Procedure
Awards are made on the basis of a competitive peer review of proposals by a panel consisting of government research managers and external reviewers, as appropriate. Criteria for judging proposals include mission relevance, technical merit, and the quality and appropriateness of the personnel, project management, logistics plan, safety management, permits and interagency coordination, budget/matching funds, and where appropriate, minimization of impacts. Notification of an award is issued. It is anticipated that 30 applications will be received, and 11 new cooperative agreement awards will be granted in FY 2022.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 90 - 270 days.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Not applicable.
How are proposals selected?
Panels of BOEM, and non-BOEM scientists (government, public and private sector as appropriate), review and evaluate proposals. Criteria for judging proposals include mission relevance, technical merit, and the quality and appropriateness of the personnel, including past performance and publication record, project management, logistics plan, safety management, permits and interagency coordination, budget/matching funds, and where appropriate, minimization of impacts.
How may assistance be used?
The assistance can be used to conduct environmental research to satisfy the information needs associated with oil and gas, alternate energy and marine mineral development on the outer continental shelf. Applications must be for scientific research projects which are within the BOEM' area of responsibility. The majority of funds are used to support research that will enhance understanding of long-term effects of oil and gas, marine minerals and alternate energy development projects. Funds can also be used for attendance at national conferences for the dissemination of project results. Funds are not normally used for capitalization.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
.
Records
All records must be maintained for 3 years after submission of the final financial report.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is voluntary. No statutory requirements. Cost sharing of 1:1 is encouraged.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Cooperative agreements will normally be awarded for 1 to 5 years, with funding awarded incrementally as funds become available, with approximately 15% to be provided in the final year of performance. Awards are made on the basis of a competitive peer review of proposals by a panel consisting of government research managers and external reviewers, as appropriate. Criteria for judging proposals include mission relevance, technical merit, and the quality and appropriateness of the personnel, project management, logistics plan, safety management, permits and interagency coordination, budget/matching funds, and where appropriate, minimization of impacts. Notification of an award is issued. It is anticipated that 30 applications will be received, and 11 new cooperative agreement awards will be granted in FY 2022.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Rodney Cluck
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road
Sterling, VA 20166 US
rodney.cluck@boem.gov
Phone: (703) 787-1087
Fax: (703) 787-1053
Website Address
http://www.boem.gov
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-1917-0-1-302
Obligations
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$13,200,000.00; FY 23 Estimate Not Available FY 24 Estimate Not Available FY 20 Estimate Not Available FY 21 est $8,080,000.00; FY 18 Estimate Not Available FY 19 est $6,117,000.00; FY 17$7,600,000.00; FY 16$4,952,461.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Range is $150,000 to $5,500,000; Average $320,000
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
The Environmental Studies Program is described in 30 CFR Chapter II Subchapter B Subpart M-Studies. Final reports are available online in the BOEM Environmental Studies Information System at: http://www.boem.gov/Environmental-Studies-EnvData/
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2016 No Current Data Available. Assessing Temporal and Spatial Variability in Community and Parish-Level Responses to Oil Spills and Other Events in Coastal Louisiana, $219,559.
Fiscal Year 2017 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2018 A continuing study on Net Environmental Benefits Analysis of Pacific Platform Decommissioning Scenarios, a joint effort among BOEM, BSEE, and the University of California Santa Barbara, is expected to provide valuable information on potential use of a Rigs-to-Reef program in California. Another study awarded monitored rocky intertidal sites adjacent to OCS production facilities along the Pacific coast, allowing BOEM to directly assess potential and real impacts from OCS operations. The Alaska Region has a number of ongoing studies including work on the Boulder Patch and Other Kelp Communities in the Beaufort Sea, and Wave and Hydrodynamic Observations and Modeling in the Nearshore Beaufort Sea.
Fiscal Year 2019 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2020 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2021 A continuing study on Supplemental Data Regarding the Behavioral Response of Rock Crabs to Subsea Cables with Electromagnetic Fields and Potential Impact to Fisheries, a joint effort among, BOEM, is to determine whetheralternating current powercables associated with renewable energy (viz. wind turbine) detercommercialcrab species (i.e., rock crabs) from crossing overthe cables to reach baited monitoring (PAM) and animal tagging allowing BOEM to improve density maps of deep diving whale Alaska Region has severalongoing studies including work on the Boulder Patch and Other Kelp Communities in the Beaufort Sea, and Wave and Hydrodynamic Observations and Modeling in the Nearshore Beaufort Sea.
Fiscal Year 2022 The Offshore Analysis of Seafloor Instability and Sediments with Applications to Offshore Safety and Marine Archaeology study proposed a multi-disciplinary investigation of selected known and potential shipwreck sites within the Mississippi River Delta Front as markers to identify previous and predict future impacts from Gravity Flows and to examine the localized environmental factors influencing the magnitude and frequency of these events.

 



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