Environmental Studies Program
Brief Descriptions
of Proposed Studies for Fiscal Year 2007
GM-07-09 - An
Analysis of the Oil Services Contract Industry in the Gulf of Mexico
Region
The information from this
study will be used for analyzing and discussing employment impacts to
support GOMR Environmental Impact Statements. MMS is particularly
interested in gaining a better understanding of industry expenditures
and employment in this area, including how they are distributed
throughout communities in the GOMR. The study will identify the types of
functions that are being contracted out, the characteristics of the
firms that are contracting out the functions, and the characteristics of
the service contractors. Information collected may also be used to
improve the existing economic impact model through a better
understanding of how to allocate contractor support expenditures.
GM-08-01
- Dynamics of the Loop Current in the Gulf of Mexico
The most influential driving force in the Gulf of
Mexico (GOM) is the Loop Current (LC). The LC is the main source of
water for the Gulf, transporting relatively warm and salty waters from
the Caribbean Sea at a rate of 25-30 Sv. During its north-south
incursion cycle, the LC sheds large warm or anticyclonic eddies
(diameters of 200-400 km) that propagate to the western Gulf at speeds
of 4 to 8 km•day-1. This strong jet, with surface velocities on the
order of 150 cm•s-1 dominates the mesoscale variability of the Gulf,
especially in deep waters, and is the source of topographic Rossby waves
and near bottom-trapped eddies. This strong current is also the
beginning of the Gulf Stream Current, which is part of the meridional
circulation of the Atlantic Ocean. Despite these superlatives, very few
studies of this potent current have been completed. Most of our current
knowledge of this current is through indirect methods or hydrographic
surveys, satellite studies, numerical modeling, and few moorings (~
five) placed on this feature. The objective of the study is to
understand the dynamics of the shedding mechanism and coupling between
surface and bottom flows including study of how the LC might generate
topographic Rossby waves and near-bottom eddy-like features in the
neighborhood of the steep topography. The results of the study will help
improve forecasting of eddy shedding by the LC. This improved
forecasting capability will be used by MMS and Industry to prepare for
and avoid high currents induced by warm eddies during exploration and
production activities. Avoidance actions directly reduce downtime,
losses or accidental releases, and fatigue, all which are of concern to
MMS.
GM-08-03
- Continued Investigations of Northern Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Natural
and Artificial Hard-Bottom Communities with Emphasis on Lophelia Coral
There are many locations with significant areas of
hard-bottom in the deep GOM, particularly associated with faulting above
the tops of salt diapirs. These hard-bottom areas are generally created
through biogenic precipitation of carbonate by chemosynthetic bacteria.
The first Lophelia study, Characterization of Northern Gulf of Mexico
Deepwater Hard-Bottom Communities with Emphasis on Lophelia Coral
(Continental Shelf Associates, in preparation) was an important step in
gaining knowledge of previously unknown sensitive biological features in
the deep GOM. Of particular significance now is determining the
probability of where high-density coral communities will be found on
exposed hard-bottom substrate. The purpose of this follow-up study is to
focus on remaining questions that will define environmental conditions
that result in the observed distribution of significant high-density
hard-bottom communities that are sensitive to impacts from oil and gas
development activities (especially extensive areas of Lophelia coral).
Study results will help to further refine current mitigations and need
for avoidance of hard-bottom areas in deepwater. There is also a need to
understand the ecological role of deepwater platforms or other deepwater
oil and gas related structures serving as artificial reefs in the GOM in
order to make decisions regarding decommissioning. Inclusion of
shipwrecks as additional artificial reef areas will also meet
information needs for identification of unknown sites and increase
understanding of metal corrosion rates.
GM-08-04
- Meteorological and Wave Measurements for Improving Meteorological and
Air Quality Modeling
In previous MMS studies, the simultaneous measurements
of wind and wave in the lower level of the atmospheric boundary layer
offshore were not available and there were data gaps between 10m and
100m. The proposed study will take advantage of existing boundary layer
studies and provide updated data, science and information for improving
the accuracy of meteorological and air quality modeling. The study would
characterize the atmospheric boundary layer structure and air-sea
interaction for improving meteorological and air quality modeling over
coastal transition zone, shallow water and deep water areas. The study
will focus on the data gaps between 10 m to 100 m above the sea surface
and the transition zone between land and ocean. Meteorological and wave
measurements are needed to improve meteorological and air quality
modeling and to derive dispersion parameters for use in air quality
modeling and assessments. The data will be used to improve air quality
modeling used to predict and assess 8-hour ozone, visibility, and haze
in NEPA documents.
GM-08-09
- Potential Spanish Shipwrecks in Ultra-deep Water
Historic shipwrecks have been discovered through oil
industry sonar surveys in water depths of up to 6,500 feet. Many of
these wrecks previously were not known to exist in these areas from the
historic record. Taking these discoveries into account, MMS now requires
archaeological surveys in some deepwater areas, primarily on the
approach to the Mississippi River, among those lease areas requiring
archaeological investigation. New information has come to light
suggesting a higher potential for early (16th-18th century) shipwrecks
in the ultra-deepwater part of the GOM (particularly in the Sigsbee
Escarpment, Keathley Canyon, and Walker Ridge areas) than previously was
suspected. This study, which will focus on the discovery of historical
documents pertaining to the Colonial Period, will provide the agency a
greater understanding of the potential for historic shipwrecks in the
ultra-deepwater of the GOM. Furthermore, the knowledge gained through
this study will offer best management practices for sites located on the
OCS in ultra-deepwater by supplying the MMS with an idea of what these
early shipwrecks look like as they traveled through the water column and
became embedded in the seafloor. Adaptive management strategies can then
be used to provide protection for these sites and their associated
debris fields as well as free up areas for exploratory drilling and the
construction of infrastructure on the OCS.
GM-08-10
- Evaluation of Visual Impacts on Historic Properties
One key concern with the development of offshore wind
facilities is the visual impacts on shore, both from the structures and
the lighting, on historic properties. The determination of whether a
property is adversely impacted is required under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act and the MMS is responsible for making
this determination. Additionally, for analyses under National
Environmental Policy Act, consideration must be made as to whether
visual impacts could affect the revenue from the property. This study
will identify those properties that could be adversely impacted by
alteration of the view of the ocean and to identify which properties are
open to the public and generate revenue.
AK-08-01 - Continuation of Impact Assessment for
Cross Island Whaling Activities - Beaufort Sea
Offshore production at the Northstar facility started
in November 2001. The Liberty prospect continues to indicate promise of
future production on the OCS. Long-term study efforts to monitor
potential effects of such development activities have occurred through
the ANIMIDA and cANIMIDA projects, 1999-2007. There remains a
continuing, ongoing need to monitor Cross Island whaling activities for
potential impacts over the next five years. This study will continue the
essential methods established during the ANIMIDA and cANIMIDA phases of
research and gather long-term monitoring data to help the MMS assess
whether OCS oil development activities at Northstar and/or Liberty
result in changes to bowhead whale subsistence hunting practices, or to
hunting success at Cross Island.
AK-08-03 - COMIDA: Chukchi Sea Offshore
Monitoring: Chemistry and Benthos
Among the primary concerns about offshore oil and gas
are anthropogenic sources of metals and hydrocarbons. Earlier MMS/Outer
Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program (MMS/OCSEAP)-sponsored
monitoring design workshops for the Beaufort Sea and Bering Sea
recommended multiyear contaminant baselines prior to offshore
development. This study will establish the baseline for hydrocarbons and
EPA priority metals to be able to detect changes as the result of future
oil and gas activities; initiate time trend analyses through both a
monitoring project and sediment core analyses; identify natural or
other anthropogenic sources of contaminants to the study area; and
initiate and develop a conceptual food web related to bioaccumulation
and risk of trophic transfer of potential oil industry contaminants. Our
knowledge of the benthic fauna along Alaskan arctic shelves is largely
based on a series of offshore surveys between the 1970’s and early
1990’s in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Given the short food
chains and dependence of many apex predators on sea ice, the shallow
shelf ecosystems in the Chukchi Sea are expected to be vulnerable to
environmental change, particularly as sea ice extent declines and
seawater warms. Monitoring needs to be initiated in order to establish a
current benthic community baseline prior to new oil and gas exploration
activities. It also needs to be initiated to help distinguish among
changes due to development, climate, and food web structure.
AK-08-04 - COMIDA:
Impact Monitoring for Offshore Subsistence Hunting
MMS needs to establish an early baseline in the
Chukchi Sea Planning Area and monitor on an annual basis any significant
changes in subsistence activities over time. In particular, monitoring
efforts should be directed toward the hunt for marine mammals, including
bowhead and beluga whales, walrus, polar bears, and seals. In order to
assure methodological continuity over time for a potentially large
exploration area, appropriate planning and implementation of post-lease
monitoring baselines are needed. There is very little up-to-date
information about offshore subsistence activities along the Chukchi
coast, and there is acute need for more information in the vicinity of
Wainwright and Point Lay, where development might make landfall. This
study will gather long-term monitoring data to allow the MMS to assess
whether OCS oil development activities in the Chukchi Sea will result in
changes to offshore subsistence hunting practices. The study will
examine whether subsistence hunting in the Chukchi Sea displays
significant variation over time and whether such variation can be
attributed to offshore oil and gas industrial activities.
PC-07-03 - Update of Summary of Knowledge: Areas
of Ongoing Production
Oil and gas drilling
and production from existing Pacific OCS leases will continue for at
least 20 more years. This study will produce an updated summary of
knowledge which contains a complete description of the status of marine
and coastal environments and living resources and will be coupled with
updated generic analyses of the potential effects of oil and gas
operations, as well as accidents which could accompany production of oil
and gas offshore California. The study will use traditional literature
reviews and effects analyses based upon both observational and
experimental published research. This study will also provide
descriptions of the offshore environment along the Pacific Northwest
coast that could become sites for development of alternative energy from
waves, currents, and wind power. The document should include the trends
and changes that have occurred and relate their importance to OCS
activities.
PC-08-08 - Effects of EMF from Transmission Lines
on Elasmobranchs and Other Marine Species
The MMS requires
more detailed information concerning the level of impacts of EMF on some
marine species. This information will be applicable to all alternative
energy technologies that produce electricity and will be used to address
public perception about the impacts of EMF and help define appropriate
mitigation measures. Individual devices will be interconnected with
power cables to transmit electricity to a platform or gathering site and
a single cable will connect the facility to shore. During scoping
meetings for the Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program
Environmental Impact Statement, concerns were raised about the
possibility of these fields attracting sharks and rays to an area around
the cable. Furthermore, a power cable may bisect the entire width of
coastal habitat and perhaps pose a barrier to EM-sensitive animals with
alongshore migration patterns. Other concerns raised include possible
genetic effects on the benthic communities in the sediments
adjacent to the cable. Definitive studies are needed to
demonstrate whether marine species are sensitive to these fields and, if
so, whether there is significant alteration in behavior that could lead
to population level effects. This study will determine: (1) the
strength, spatial extent, and variability of EM fields; (2) whether
sharks and rays are sensitive to the types of magnetic fields that would
be created by these cables; (3) whether benthic communities could be
impacted; and (4) whether migratory fish interact with these fields.
NT-08-03 - AE: Compendium of Avian Information
and Comprehensive GIWS Geodatabase
With the passage of
the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the MMS was delegated responsibilities
for alternative energy activities on the Outer Continental Shelf. This
new responsibility includes offshore wind energy projects. Offshore
alternative energy facilities, particularly wind turbines, have the
potential to impact bird species. Knowledge about the numbers and
distribution of birds that are at risk would greatly assist the MMS in
identifying locations that are preferred for wind energy development and
those that should be avoided entirely. While the MMS and other Federal
and State Agencies have collected and/or compiled data on many coastal
birds, this data is widely dispersed and of varying quality. This
information needs to be compiled, synthesized and incorporated into a
comprehensive GIS Geodatabase to assist MMS scientists and
decisionmakers regarding potential impacts from wind energy development
on the OCS. The need for this information was identified during the MMS
Alternative Energy workshop and in the Worldwide Synthesis and Analysis
of the Existing Information Regarding Environmental Affects of
Alternative Energy Uses on the OCS. This study will create a single,
comprehensive Geodatabase populated with data on avian species that are
potentially at risk from offshore wind facility development. |
