Gulf Of Mexico Region : Strategic Science Questions June 22, 2017 Pasquale (Pat) Roscigno, PhD Environmental Studies Chief Office of the Environment Pasquale.Roscigno@BOEM.gov

Environmental Studies Program Establish the information needed for assessment and management of environmental impacts Predict impacts on the marine biota and cultural resources; and Monitor human, marine, and coastal environments Establish the information needed for assessment and management of environmental impacts on the human, marine, and coastal environments of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and the potentially affected coastal areas Predict impacts on the marine biota which may result from chronic, low-level pollution or large spills associated with OCS production, from drilling fluids and cuttings discharges, pipeline emplacement, or onshore facilities; and Monitor human, marine, and coastal environments to provide time series and data trend information for identification of significant changes in the quality and productivity of these environments, and to identify the causes of these changes. Potential impacts from renewable development that must be considered include noise from pile-driving, bird strikes and other impacts, and space-use conflicts.

Mississippi Delta Baseline Mudflow Hazard Map

GoM Profile: Evaluating Potential Mudslide GoM Profile: Evaluating Potential Mudslide Impacts to Historic Shipwrecks

Socioeconomic Sciences OCS socioeconomic study topics: Migration patterns Environmental justice Individuals and families Capitol investment Crime Crude Oil Price Movements Ports Employment Infrastructure Economic Change

GoM Profile: Socioeconomic Impacts of OCS Infrastructure: Shifts in Recreational Behaviors

Post – DeepWater Horizon Studies Planning National Academy of Sciences- Gulf Research Program Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative The RESTORE Act

Loop Study Dedicated Issue in: Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans P. Hamilton, A. Lugo-Fernandez and J. Sheinbaum; A Loop Current Experiment: Field and Remote Measurements   Donohue, K.A., Watts, D.R., Hamilton, P., Leben, R.R., Kennelly, M., Lugo-Fernandez, A.; Gulf of Mexico Loop Current Path Variability Donohue, K.A., Watts, D.R., Hamilton, P., Leben, R.R., Kennelly, M.; Loop Current Eddy Separation and Baroclinic Instability  J. Sheinbaum, Athie, G., J. Candela, J. Ochoa, A. Romero; Structure and variability of the Yucatan and Loop Currents along the Slope and Shelf Break of the Yucatan Channel and Campeche Bank B. Jaimes and L.K. Shay; Observed Air-Sea Interactions in Tropical Cyclone Isaac over Loop Current Mesoscale Eddy Features C.A. Hall and R.R. Leben; Observational Evidence of Loop Current Seasonality A. Lugo-Fernandez, R.R. Leben and C.A. Hall; Kinematic Metrics of the Loop Current in the Gulf of Mexico from Satellite Altimetry Pallas-Sanz, E., J. Candela, J. Sheinbaum, J. Ochoa; Mooring Observations of the Near-inertial Wave Wake of Hurricane Ida K.C. Rosburg, K.A. Donohue, E.P. Chassignet; Three- Dimensional Model-Observation Comparison in the Loop Current Region

Protected Species Observations Explosive Removal of Structures and G&G Activities Ambient Noise in Gulf of Mexico BSEE permits all decommissioning activities on the OCS NMFS collects data on marine protected species at explosive removals and provides to BSEE Multiple anthropogenic acoustic inputs Data from 2002-2008 Protected Species Observer (PSO) Sightings analyzed in BOEM study 2012-015 Further need for future Passive Acoustic Oceans Observing System (PAOOS) or regional Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Program.

Assessing Broad-Scale Abundance and Distribution of Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, and Seabirds in the Gulf of Mexico: The New GoMMAPPS Field Program GoMMAPPS GOALS Improve information on Gulf of Mexico marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds for mitigation and monitoring of impact-producing factors Underwater noise Trash and debris Discharges/produced water Accidental spills Vessel traffic Entanglement Rebecca Green, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Jeff Gleason, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Meg Lamont, U.S. Geological Survey Keith Mullin, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service

Atlantic Deepwater Ecosystem Observatory Network (ADEON) Establish the information needed for assessment and management of environmental impacts “Baseline Studies” Predict impacts on the marine biota;“Fates and Effects Studies” Monitor human, marine, and coastal environments “Monitoring Studies” ~$6.5M (scalable) over 5 Years (FY2016-2020) Sustained deepwater measurements currently rare in Mid- and South Atlantic. Ecosystem-based observing approaches provide integrated perspective across disciplines. Multi-year, year-round measurements of regional processes and human use. Drivers of oceanographic complexity and high productivity in offshore Atlantic waters. New generation of “biologically-enabled” ocean observing systems. … Coupled with physicochemical measurements.

Atmospheric Pollutant Transport & Dynamic Monitoring and Modeling The fundamental goal is to better understand the transport, transitions, and transformation of pollutants, particularly in coastal areas, and then enhance their prediction using long- and short-range models.

ONE Gulf: International Collaborative Research Mexican coast Florida beaches Cuban beaches Louisiana marshes Texas wetlands

Emerging Strategic Science Question: Offshore Alternative Energy Hydrokinetic Energy Wind Energy Wave Energy

Habitats with Emphasis on Coral Communities: Past Collaborative Awards for the Gulf of Mexico Region Sperm Whale Seismic Study Archaeological Analysis of Submerged Sites on the GOM Outer Continental Shelf 2004 DOI Cooperative Conservation Award 2011 DOI Partners in Conservation Award WWII Shipwrecks and the Artificial Reef Effects Exploration and Research of Northern GOM of Deepwater Natural and Artificial Hard Bottom 2006 DOI Cooperative Conservation Award Habitats with Emphasis on Coral Communities: 2007 NOPP Excellence in Partnering Award Reefs, Rigs, and Wrecks Investigations of Chemosynthetic Communities on the Lower Continental Slope 2011 NOPP Excellence in Partnering Award of the Gulf of Mexico EcoSpatial Information Database (ESID) 2006 & 2007 NOAA OE Signature Expeditions, Expeditions to the Deep Slope 2007 DOI Cooperative Conservation Award 2012 American Council of Engineering Companies Engineering Excellence Grand Award Flower Garden Banks Long-Term Monitoring Developing Environmental Protocols & Monitoring to Support Ocean 2009 DOI Partners in Conservation Award Renewable Energy & Stewardship Battle of the Atlantic Expedition 2013 DOI Partners in Conservation Award Ocean Renewable Energy Stewardship Partnership History of the Offshore Oil & Gas Industry in Southern Louisiana 2014 DOI Partners in Conservation Award Atlantic Canyons: Pathways to the Abyss 2010 DOI Partners in Conservation Award 2015 NOPP Excellence in Partnering Award