Agenda

The purpose of the workshop is to enhance collaborative opportunities, processes, and products, including final reports, among BOEM, BSEE, and NOAA in support of scientific decision-making related to arctic energy activities on the outer continental shelf.

February 23, 2012

8:00 a.m. Assemble, coffee and breakfast provided
8:25 a.m.

Call to order

Jeep Rice, Cathy Coon
8:30 a.m.

Welcome and context of the meeting

Doug DeMaster, Jim Kendall
8:45 a.m.

Purpose of the workshop; Overview of MOU between BOEM/NOAA

Doug Demaster and Bill Hines
9:00 a.m.

Drivers, goals, timelines—Concepts to keep in mind as we progress through agency mission and information needs; Meeting structure and how we will proceed from here

Jeep Rice

Part 1. Understanding agency organization and missions
9:10–9:50 a.m.

Understanding BOEM; Organization and mission as it relates to the Arctic

Sharon Warren
  • Approval of Energy Activities and Environmental Monitoring
  • NEPA Process (Cooperating Agency)
  • Consultations (ESA, MMPA, EFH)
  • Environmental Studies
9:50–10:15

Understanding BSEE; Organization and mission as it relates to the Arctic

  1. Mark Fesmire: BSEE's role in the Arctic and the reorganization, approval process, environmental monitoring and areas to coordinate with NOAA
  2. David Moore: TAR and the oil spill program
10:15–10:30 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m.–noon

Understanding NOAA; Organization and mission as it relates to the Arctic

  1. Kate Clark, NOAA Policy Office: Understanding NOAA general organization and mission, and relating that to development of arctic oil and gas.
  2. Mary Baker, NOS: Hazmat response, NRDA, restoration.
  3. Tim McCune, NMFS HQ: Understanding NMFS organization, mission, and relating that to development of arctic oil and gas.
  4. Steve Davis, NMFS Alaska Region: Understanding Alaska Region organization, mission, and relating that to development of arctic oil and gas (includes the regulatory base).
  5. Jon Kurland, NOAA/NMFS: Alaska Region habitat conservation and protected resources responsibilities.
  6. AFSC Research themes relative to arctic oil and gas development
    • John Bengtson: Arctic marine mammal research themes
    • Ed Farley: Offshore fish assessment themes, past and future
    • Jeep Rice: Nearshore fish, habitat, ShoreZone research themes
Noon–1:30 p.m. Lunch

Part II: Identifying information needed to support management decisions
1:30–2:15 p.m.

BOEM perspective: management needs for scientific information

Dee Williams: Current BOEM process for establishing research priorities
  • Applications for Mapping Spilled Oil in Arctic Water
  • Field Evaluation of an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for Studying Cetacean Distribution, Density, and Habitat Use in the Arctic
  • Workshop-Interagency Protocols for Immediate On-Scene Arctic Oil Spill Impact
  • Nearshore Fish Assemblages
  • Development of a Sonar System
2:15–2:30 p.m.

NOAA perspective: management needs for scientific information

Doug DeMaster and Kate Clark

What is the current NOAA process for establishing research priorities for both annual and longer-term information needs?
2:30–2:45 p.m. Break

PART III: Enhancing collaboration among BOEM/BSEE/NOAA
2:45-4:30 p.m.

Enhancing collaboration among BOEM/BSEE/NOAA

Facilitated by David Christie; 5 groups of 8 to discuss questions

Exercise Assessment Tool Worksheet (Williams/Routhier)

Trigger questions
  1. What are the most important current and future information needs for each agency, how do they differ, and how are they similar? (Focus on information needed to inform management decisions.)
  2. What process between NOAA and BOEM/BSEE would be most effective to facilitate identifying the high priority information needs necessary to inform both agencies' management and regulatory decisions? How could we ensure that priorities are revisited and updated regularly and in a timely way?
  3. What current partnerships should be strengthened and maintained? Do we need to improve interagency communication and collaboration with respect to scientific research? Do we need to improve our communications and collaborations with others (and to the public)? How could we do that?
  4. How can we improve data delivery and sharing from projects of mutual interest?
  5. How can we improve funding, logistics, and partnerships to support research of mutual interest?
  6. As for information needs between NOAA/BOEM/BSEE, where are they the same and where are they different, particularly when considering time scales?
4:30–4:50 p.m.

Summary of the breakout groups, by question
4:50 p.m. Announce start time for Day 2; Housekeeping issues for Day 2, adjourn

February 24, 2012

8:00 a.m. Assemble, coffee and breakfast provided
8:25 a.m.

Call to order

Jeep Rice
8:30 a.m.

Day one recap, key points or goals arising from discussions

David Christie
  1. Agency missions and responsibilities (Part I)
  2. Information needs (Part II)
  3. Interagency collaboration (Part III)
8:45 a.m.

Regroup

David Christie

Clarify goals for Day 2 and revise agenda as needed. Modify trigger questions.
9:00–10:30 a.m.

Breakout groups

Continue with trigger questions
10:30–10:45 a.m. Break
10:45–11:45 a.m.

Discussions

Continued
11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

Breakout groups report out
12:15 –1:30 p.m. Lunch

Part IV: Identifying next steps and action items

David Christie
1:30–2:00 p.m.

Panel Summary

  1. What specific objectives have been identified to improve collaboration among NOAA/BOEM/BSEE to obtain the high priority scientific information needed to inform management and regulatory decisions?
2:00–2:30 p.m.

Open discussion and comment period
2:30–3:00 p.m.

Panel discussion

  1. What tasks and specific goals do these lead to (short, medium, long-term), who has the lead responsibility for each, and what is the timeline?
3:00–3:30 p.m.

Open discussion and comment period

Part V:Wrap-up and closing comments
3:30–4:00 p.m.
  1. BOEM
  2. BSEE
  3. NOAA
4:00 p.m. Adjourn