BOEM’s Environmental Studies Program and Environmental Assessment Program

BOEM’s mission is to manage the development of U.S. Outer Continental Shelf energy and mineral resources in an environmentally and economically responsible way. In fulfilling its mission, BOEM must comply with a range of environmental requirements, including but not limited to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act, Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act. BOEM develops environmental assessments, including NEPA documents, consultation documents, and other analyses that use the best available information to comply with relevant statutes and policies. Environmental studies funded by BOEM’s Environmental Studies Program provide scientific information (including the biological, physical, and social sciences as broadly defined) to inform BOEM’s environmental assessments.

For purposes of the current project, the term “environmental assessment” encompasses the diversity of analyses that BOEM’s Environmental Assessment Program undertakes and is not restricted to NEPA environmental assessments. For example, the following types of documents are considered within BOEM’s environmental assessments: NEPA environmental impact statements; NEPA environmental assessments; National Historic Preservation Act documents (including section 106 evaluations of effects on historic properties and programmatic agreements); essential fish habitat assessments for Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act consultations; Endangered Species Act section 7 biological evaluations or biological assessments; analyses and assessments prepared to comply with the Clean Air Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, and Marine Mammal Protection Act; and analyses and assessments such as engineering analyses, regulatory impact analyses, resource evaluations, additional NEPA-related analyses, site assessments, and cost-benefit analyses prepared for the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and other regulatory requirements.

What are “environmental analyses?”

For purposes of the current project, the term “environmental analyses” refers to any kind of analytical work that could inform environmental assessments, including (but not limited to) NEPA-related analyses and cost-benefit analyses.

What is an “environmental assessment?”

For purposes of the current project, the term “environmental assessment” encompasses the diversity of analyses that BOEM’s Environmental Assessment Program undertakes and is not restricted to NEPA environmental assessments. ​​​​​​​

What are “environmental studies?”

For purposes of the current project, the term “environmental studies” specifically encompasses BOEM-funded environmental studies, such as those funded by the BOEM Environmental Studies Program (ESP). Environmental studies funded by BOEM’s ESP provide scientific information (including the biological, physical, and social sciences as broadly defined) to inform BOEM’s environmental assessments. For more examples, please click the following link to see BOEM’s Environmental Studies Program Information System (ESPIS).