Oregon Marine Renewable Energy Environmental Science Conference
Welcome and Workshop Objectives
George Boehlert
Hatfield Marine Science Center
Oregon State University
Oregon Marine Renewable Energy Environmental Science Conference
28-29 November, 2012
Welcome and Workshop Objectives
•  Origins of the Conference •  Steering Committee
•  Building on background information
•  Objectives of the Conference
•  Structuring the Conference •  Agenda Design to Meet Goals Oregon Marine Renewable Energy Environmental Science Conference
28-29 November, 2012
Origin of the Conference
BOEM Oregon OCS Renewable Energy Task Force
Membership includes:
•  Seven federal agencies •  USDI, NOAA, DOD, DOE, EPA, FERC, DHS, •  Nine State agencies •  Three County Governments
•  Four Tribal Governments
•
January, 2012: Letter from Patty Snow, DLCD, requests science
conference to address needed environmental studies
•
April, 2012: BOEM announces Conference at 3rd Task Force
Meeting
Oregon Marine Renewable Energy Environmental Science Conference
28-29 November, 2012
Conference Steering Committee
Organization and Structure
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George Boehlert, Oregon State University
Caren Braby, Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
Ann Bull, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Mary Elaine Helix, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Sarah Henkel, Oregon State University
Paul Klarin, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and
Development
•  Donna Schroeder, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Oregon Marine Renewable Energy Environmental Science Conference
28-29 November, 2012
Building on Past Efforts
Oregon Marine Renewable Energy Environmental Science Conference
28-29 November, 2012
Conference Objectives
•  Assemble scientific expertise, key regulatory agency staff, and
stakeholders and promote information exchange.
•  Identify existing and planned scientific research that addresses
environmental concerns associated with the development of marine
renewable energy;
•  Identify data gaps related to evaluation of environmental effects
and the scientific approaches needed to address these data gaps;
•  Improve communication among all stakeholders in marine
renewable energy development off Oregon;
•  Develop workshop products (website, proceedings document) that
will make this information broadly available to all Oregon marine
renewable energy stakeholders. Oregon Marine Renewable Energy Environmental Science Conference
28-29 November, 2012
Conference’s Three Major Goals
1. Identify and review wave and offshore wind MRErelated environmental research underway or completed
since the reviews of the past 3-5 years.
2. Synthesize new research and existing information
with a focus on products that agencies and resource
managers can use to carry out their planning and
management duties. •
What are key studies to meet NEPA requirements?
3. Identify gaps in our understanding that can be used
for scientists, managers and funders to determine where
to focus limited funds for future research efforts.
Oregon Marine Renewable Energy Environmental Science Conference
28-29 November, 2012
Planning the Agenda to Meet Goals
Day 1: Conference Sessions
•  How federal and state agencies use environmental
information
•  Review papers summarizing recently completed studies
•  Featured environmental studies
•  Gap analysis: what environmental studies are we
missing?
•  Document available, comments requested on “conference draft”
•  Poster session and “lightning round”
•  Opportunity to showcase broader research Oregon Marine Renewable Energy Environmental Science Conference
28-29 November, 2012
Planning the Agenda to Meet Goals
Day 2: Experts Workshop
•  Subset of expert participants convene
•  Facilitated breakout sessions refine gaps
•  Baseline, impacts, and monitoring groups
•  Translate from traditional “stressor-receptor” format to
NEPA context
•  Set priorities for gaps
•  Address key questions to help efficiently manage
scientific objectives Oregon Marine Renewable Energy Environmental Science Conference
28-29 November, 2012
A few acknowledgements
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Oregon OCS Renewable Energy Task Force
•  Stimulus for convening workshop •  BOEM: Financial support for workshop
•  Steering Committee
•  Hard work and more meetings than they wanted
•  Oregon Wave Energy Trust
•  Supporting evening reception
•  OSU Conference Services
•  Conference Participants
•  for all their contributions Oregon Marine Renewable Energy Environmental Science Conference
28-29 November, 2012