BOEMRE Recruiting Expert Scientists for Scientific Committee

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) Director Michael R. Bromwich last week announced that the bureau is actively recruiting 15 experts in different scientific fields to fill vacancies on its Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Scientific Committee.

“Science is fundamental to much of what we do at BOEMRE. We want to continue calling on the vast knowledge, talent and experience of the scientific community to fill slots on the OCS Scientific Committee,” said Director Bromwich. “Committee members are regularly consulted on important offshore issues and are a valuable resource in helping to ensure the integrity of scientific products that are used in our decision-making process. Their work directly assists us in safely and effectively regulating offshore energy development.”

The OCS Scientific Committee is chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to advise the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of BOEMRE, on the appropriateness, feasibility, and scientific value of its OCS Environmental Studies Program (ESP) and environmental aspects of the offshore energy and marine minerals programs. The BOEMRE administers the ESP to support the Department of the Interior’s offshore energy program. The OCS Scientific Committee reviews the relevance of the information produced by the ESP and can recommend changes in its scope, direction and emphasis.

Members of the OCS Scientific Committee are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior based on their scientific competence, reputation within their field of expertise, and their ability to evaluate important elements of BOEMRE’s research and science information efforts.

The OCS Scientific Committee includes distinguished scientists in the biological, physical, chemical, and social sciences disciplines. The OCS Scientific Committee anticipates vacancies in biological oceanography/marine biology; social science; marine archaeology; and physical oceanography. Members serve three-year appointments, with current appointments ending on June 24, 2011. Appointees will be eligible for Secretarial consideration for an additional three-year term.

Nominations for the OCS Scientific Committee must be received by December 17, 2010. Interested individuals should send a letter of interest and resume to: Phyllis Clark at [email protected] or to Phyllis Clark, BOEMRE, Offshore Energy and Minerals Management, 381 Elden Street, Mail Stop 4041, Herndon, Virginia 20170.

The recruitment notice is available for public inspection today through the Federal Register’s website at: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-29642_PI.pdf.

Additional information can be found on the BOEMRE website: http://www.boemre.gov/mmab/ScientificCommittee/ocssc.htm