The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreeing to collaborate on areas of mutual interest with respect to Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) energy activities and environmental stewardship.
“This collaboration allows the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to leverage their expertise and resources to increase each agency’s effectiveness and help protect human health and the environment while meeting the nation’s energy, economic, and information needs,” said BSEE Director Kevin Sligh.
The MOU sets forth the general terms and conditions to support the interagency partnership on federal actions and initiatives. Specifically, the agreement calls for BSEE and NOAA to share data, support interagency training, and develop additional agreements that outline cooperation on individual programs, projects, and activities.
“I’m excited to join Director Sligh in signing an MOU that acknowledges the individual strengths of our respective agencies, while also recognizing the additional benefits that partnership through shared goals and mutual challenges can achieve,” said NOAA Administrator Richard Spinrad.
Areas of mutual interest and possible collaboration include:
- Environmental planning, preparedness, forecasting, monitoring, and response
- Maritime policy coordination (e.g., safe marine transportation)
- Ocean data and observations
- Climate adaptation and mitigation
- Science and research
- Rulemaking
- Environmental justice
- Sustainability
- Compliance and enforcement (e.g., regarding offshore wind energy activities on the OCS)
- Outreach and engagement