The Science & Technology Journal of the Minerals Management SErvice

Volume 4 Issue 1 

jANUARY/fEBRUARY/mARCH 2007

MMS's Expanding 

and Evolving 

Mission

MMS Role Spans 

Decades

GOM Region

Pacific Region

Atlantic OCS 

Educating the 

Next Generation

The OAP and NOPP

Using Data

International 

Polar Year

Prestigious 

Robert Avent 

Medal Awarded 

to Dr. Tom Ahlfeld

Current Turmoil

MMS

SCIENCE
 mms OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

jANUARY/fEBRUARY/mARCH 2007

Volume 4 Issue 1

mms OCEAN SCIENCE is published 

quarterly by the Minerals Management 

Service to communicate recent ocean 

science and technological information 

and issues of interest related to offshore 

mineral recovery, ocean stewardship, 

and mineral revenues.

Please address all questions, comments, 

suggestions, and changes of address to:

Deborah Epperson

mms OCEAN SCIENCE Editor

Minerals Management Service

1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard

New Orleans, LA 70123

deborah.epperson@mms.gov

(504) 736-3257

3 MMS's Expanding and 

Evolving Mission

4 MMS' Role Spans Decades

25th Anniversary

6 Gulf of Mexico Region

A Balance of Protection and Production

7 Pacific Region

Managing and Strengthening Partnerships

8 Atlantic OCS

 A New Energy Source?

9 MMS Online

Educating the Next Generation

10 The OAP and NOPP

 An evolution of coordination and leadership

in ocean sciences and resource management

11 Using Data in our Plans 

for the Future

12 Celebrating the Polar Caps

International Polar Year

14 Prestigious Robert Avent Medal

Awarded to Dr. Tom Ahlfeld

15 Research and Results

Current Turmoil

16 New Waves

Late-Breaking News & Information

ABOUT THE COVER

Top Left: A spotted moray eel slithers among the 

reef growth in the tropical Atlantic. Photo courtesy 

of NOAA.

Top Center: MMS 25th Anniversary

Top Right: Attentive walrus (Odobenus rosmarus 

divergens) inspecting photographer. Photo courtesy 

of NOAA

Main Photo: Semisubmersible rig. Photo courtesy of 

www.marad.dot.gov/education/adopt_a_ship

Back Page: Background platform image by Gregory 

S. Boland

All photos courtesy of Minerals Management Service 

unless otherwise noted.

Publication services provided by Schatz Publishing Group

The Science & Technology Journal of the Minerals Management SErvice

For more information about the Minerals Management Service, 

check out our site on the World Wide Web:

www.mms.gov

Subscribe

To receive mms OCEAN SCIENCE, sign up on the website 

www.gomr.mms.gov, click on e-mail subscriptions on the lefthand column, check the box marked Environmental Studies or 

e-mail deborah.epperson@mms.gov or call (504) 736-3257

January/February/March 2007 Volume 4 Issue 1

MMS

SCIENCE
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2007

The Minerals 

Management Service 

(MMS) was created 

in January 1982 as an 

emerging offshore 

oil and gas industry was becoming 

increasingly important to our Nation’s 

energy future. Its creation came 

nearly 30 years after two milestone 

Acts were passed by Congress (the 

Submerged Lands Act and the Outer 

Continental Shelf Lands Act) and 28 

years after the first Outer Continental 

Shelf (OCS) lease sale was held. The 

MMS’s mission is stated simply – “to 

manage the mineral resources on the 

Outer Continental Shelf in an environmentally sound and safe manner 

and to timely collect, verify, and distribute mineral revenues from Federal 

and Indian lands” – but its undertaking is complex. 

Before MMS became a bureau 

of the Department of the Interior, 

Congress was establishing its 

authority over OCS boundaries, the 

environment, and leasing programs. 

The Submerged Lands Act and the 

OCS Lands Act are the basis of 

Federal and State jurisdictions on 

the OCS. The Submerged Lands Act 

gives the coastal States jurisdiction 

over the OCS outward from their 

coast 3 nautical miles. Texas and 

Florida were granted an extension 

to 10.35 miles or 3 marine leagues. 

The OCS Lands Act grants Federal 

jurisdiction over the OCS and gives 

the Secretary of the Interior the 

authority to lease these submerged 

lands for mineral development. As 

the need for energy escalated and 

the awareness of the potential for 

environmental damage heightened, 

Congress ratified the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 

the Marine Mammal Protection Act 

of 1972, the Endangered Species 

Act of 1973, and the Clean Water 

Act of 1977. This foundation legislation, along with the Federal Oil 

and Gas Royalty Management Act, 

laid the groundwork for the operation of MMS today.

In 1990, the Oil Pollution Act 

was passed. This Act sought to prevent oil spills from tankers and platforms and ensure the resources were 

available to clean up any spills that 

should occur. The MMS assumed a 

proactive role in reducing the number 

and size of oil spills by participating 

in the management of The National 

Oil Spill Response Test Facility 

(known as "OHMSETT") and 

becoming the certifying agency for 

oil-spill prevention and remediation 

plans in all offshore oil and gas facilities in State and Federal OCS waters. 

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 

includes renewable energy, alternate 

use of existing infrastructure, and 23 

different provisions relating to offshore resource management. This Act 

amends the OCS Lands Act to authorize the Department of the Interior 

to act as lead agency for certain alternate energy and marine-related uses 

on the OCS. The Department of the 

Interior designated OCS Lands Act 

authority to MMS. As regulator for 

alternative energy, MMS evaluates 

proposed projects and is working to 

develop a regulatory program that 

integrates new uses with existing uses 

of offshore resources. A few of the 

agency's main goals are to increase 

and balance the Nation's sources 

and supplies of energy, to protect 

the Nation's economic and land use 

interests, and to encourage new and 

innovative technologies to help meet 

our energy needs.

Expanding meteorological and 

climatic studies at MMS have become 

especially critical with an increasing 

awareness of global climate changes. 

The MMS is funding research to 

understand the effects of climate 

change on marine ecosystems, subsistence hunters, energy production, and 

ocean currents and to find ways to 

lessen or prevent those changes. 

As more is learned about the 

OCS, more energy resources discovered, more diverse ecosystems 

revealed, and more technological 

advancements utilized, MMS and 

its mission expand to meet the challenge. More can be discovered about 

MMS and its research projects by 

visiting www.mms.gov.

MMS's

expanding

and evolving

mission

Divers exploring growing 

coral and platform legs.
MMS's role

spans

decades

mms OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

Assistant Secretary C. Steve Allred joins Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, Director Johnnie 

Burton, Director Magne Ognedal of the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway, and MMS 

employee Jim Cimato in celebrating the 25th anniversary of MMS.

Anniversary dates are a 

time for reflection—

an opportunity to look 

back at all that has 

been accomplished. 

Such is the case for the Minerals 

Management Service (MMS) in 

2007, which is the 25th anniversary 

for MMS as an agency of the U.S. 

Department of the Interior. 

Fiscal responsibility is only one 

aspect of MMS, but it is enormous. 

The agency distributed a record 

$2.2 billion in royalty receipts to 34 

states during fiscal year 2006, with 

Wyoming capturing the biggest 

chunk at over $1 billion. Add up 

every year since the agency’s creation 

in 1982, and revenues total about 

$135 billion. As continued exploration and development generates 

revenue in future years, MMS will 

continue to distribute these important funds so that every American 

benefits from Federal lands. 

In addition to disbursing revenue generated from Federal lands, 

MMS has spent years overseeing 

the locations where the resources 

lie—environments ranging from 

the icy waters of the Arctic to the 

tropical surroundings in the Gulf 

of Mexico (GOM). This diversity 

meant MMS had to determine and 

understand the ecosystems in which 

energy-related activities were taking 

place. As a steward of the ocean 

environment, MMS has asked and 

answered these types of questions, 

along with many others.

MMS's role

spans

decades

MMS Timeline

MMS designated 

as the agency 

responsible 

for ensuring 

proper fiscal 

accountability 

and management 

of the mineral 

revenues (rents, 

royalties, and 

bonuses) from 

Federal and 

Indian lands.

Nine GOM rigs 

drill in deepwater 

(depths greater 

than 1,000 feet).

MMS's Minerals 

Revenue 

Management 

re-engineered its 

business processes 

to become 

more efficient, 

cost effective, 

customer 

responsive, and 

to take advantage 

of current 

technology.

Only six percent 

of GOM oil 

production 

comes from 

deepwater wells. 

Natural gas 

production from 

deep water is less 

than 1 percent 

of production in 

1985. 

Twenty-six 

GOM rigs drill 

in deep water.

1982

1985

1990

1997

1982

1999

1985

1997

1990

1999
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2007

The MMS not only supervises 

lease sales that determine what companies are permitted to explore for 

resources, the agency also ensures 

that these companies operate safely 

to protect workers and the surrounding environment. While these efforts 

target the prevention of catastrophic 

incidents, MMS has also planned 

how to respond if an accident should 

happen. One of the best ways to finetune the response to a major spill is to 

simulate one and practice responding 

to it. This practical method of training has been conducted repeatedly 

at the Oil and Hazardous Materials 

Simulated Environmental Test Tank 

(OHMSETT) facility in New Jersey. 

OHMSETT, maintained and operated by MMS through a contract with 

MAR, Inc., continues to provide an 

environmentally safe place to conduct 

research, test response and cleanup 

equipment, and train personnel in 

spill response technologies. 

Thousands of miles away, the 

agency’s efforts focused on managing 

another vital resource—sand and 

gravel. Our Nation’s coastlines 

have eroded every year, and fierce 

hurricane seasons in recent years 

have accelerated the damage. 

Between 1995 and 2006 alone, 

MMS provided over 27 million 

cubic yards of OCS sand 

to State, local, and Federal 

entities in unique sand 

renourishment projects.

Anniversaries also 

provide an opportunity 

for looking forward, and 

MMS has good reason to be excited 

about the future. Passage of the 

Energy Policy Act of 2005 gave MMS 

jurisdiction over offshore alternative 

energy projects such as wave, wind, 

and solar energy. With initiatives 

underway, MMS will play a large role 

in determining the best way to harvest 

and distribute the power on a large 

scale while maintaining a focus on 

existing responsibilities. As this issue 

went to press, MMS released a draft 

Programmatic Environmental Impact 

Statement on alternative energy.

Traditional energy resources 

are equally exciting in the GOM, 

where oil and gas exploration and 

production records are constantly 

being broken. BP's Atlantis project, 

located approximately 298 kilometers 

(185 miles) south of New Orleans in 

a record water depth of 2,156 meters 

(7,074 feet), is one of the largest 

fields ever discovered in the GOM. 

Using state-of-the-art seismic sensors 

to find the reservoir and a custom 

rig to access it, Atlantis production 

may produce an estimated 200,000 

barrels of oil per day. Even amid 

the enthusiasm, MMS carefully 

monitors and partners on studies 

to assess any potential ecological 

impacts from such projects—

remaining focused on the ecology, 

microbiology, physiology, geology, 

and geochemistry of the underwater 

communities in all regions it oversees. 

The MMS's increasing responsibilities encompass new opportunities 

for securing energy from alternative 

sources, while managing the hunt for 

untapped traditional resources using 

cutting edge technologies. Though it 

is rewarding to reflect on past accomplishments, MMS is busy securing 

new energy supplies for our Nation’s 

future generations.

The Pacific OCS 

Region surpassed 

the milestone 

production mark of 

one billion barrels 

of oil and over 1.2 

trillion cubic feet of 

natural gas. Also 

in 2001, ten GOM 

rigs drill in ultradeepwater (5,000 

feet of water or 

greater). 

Passage of the 

Energy Policy 

Act of 2005 

gives MMS 

jurisdiction 

over offshore 

alternative 

energy projects 

such as wave, 

wind and solar 

energy.

MMS celebrates 

25 years as an 

agency of the 

U.S. Department 

of the Interior.

More oil is now 

produced from 

the deepwater 

GOM than from 

the shallowwater GOM. 

MMS honors 

two Navajo 

Nation 

employees and 

one Southern 

Ute Tribe 

employee with 

the Joan Killgore 

Award for their 

contribution on 

tribal royalty 

issues.

About 1,700 employees 

in 20 cities – managing 

over 1.76 billion

offshore acres of land – 

overseeing production 

of about 23 percent

of the natural gas and 

30 percent of the 

oil produced in the 

United States. 

Source: www.mms.gov/ooc/newweb/

NewsRoomMore.htm

MMS Numbers

For more information:

OCS Alternative Energy 

and Alternate Use Program 

Draft Programmatic EIS 

Website: www.mms.gov/ooc/

press/2007/press0320.htm 

2001

2000

2002

2005

2000

2007

2001

2002

2005

2007
mms OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

Protecting a delicate 

marine environment 

while meeting the 

needs of an energydependent Nation 

can be a juggling act at times. Just 

ask any of the 600 employees in 

the Minerals Management Service 

(MMS) Gulf of Mexico Region 

(GOMR) office – the petroleum 

engineers, geophysicists, geologists, 

marine biologists, oceanographers, 

other environmental scientists, offshore inspectors, computer personnel, and others who have devoted 

their lives to maintaining that balance. Throw in an occasional hurricane or two each year, and things 

can get tough. 

While the Region is actually 

responsible for Outer Continental 

Shelf (OCS) oil, gas, and other mineral matters from offshore Texas to 

Maine, most activity is concentrated 

in the GOM OCS – an area where 

operators continue setting and surpassing records. 

In January 2007, 82 exploration wells were being drilled in 

Gulf waters; 36 of these were 

in water depths of 1,000 feet or 

greater (considered deepwater); 

11 exploration wells were in 

5,000 feet of water or greater 

(considered ultra-deepwater). 

Currently there are approximately 4,000 producing platforms, 

of which about 1,962 are major 

platforms (954 of these are 

manned by personnel). 

Production in the Federal portion of the Gulf OCS amounts 

to 21 percent of the Nation's 

natural gas production (just 

under 5 trillion cubic feet) and 

about 30 percent of the Nation's 

oil production (570 million barrels) for 2002.

Technology has played and will 

likely continue to play a huge role in 

the OCS activity, both for producers 

and for MMS. Companies interested 







in deepwater and ultra-deepwater 

development are literally having to 

design and build equipment as they 

go, and MMS must follow suit with 

ways to discover what species live in 

the darkness below and assess what 

effects oil and gas drilling and production may have on them – and on 

coastal and human environments. 

Amid the activity, busy GOMR 

employees must approve every 

exploration well and production 

proposal, as well as platform and 

pipeline design to ensure the safety 

of the operation and its potential 

effect on the underwater world. 

Among their responsibilities are protection of important archaeological 

sites that are home to historic artifacts such as the Civil War Union 

gunboat USS Hatteras, the sidewheel steamer Josephine, the World 

War II German submarine U-166, 

and the passenger freighter it sank, 

the S.S. Robert E. Lee. They must 

also protect diverse ecosystems like 

those in the East and West Flower 

Garden Banks, situated approximately 100 miles southeast of 

Galveston, Texas, home to numerous species of rays and sharks, sea 

turtles, and marine mammals.

As new challenges in deepwater leave obsolete rigs in shallower 

water, MMS works hard to promote 

the Rigs-to-Reefs program, an initiative established over a decade ago to 

encourage use of defunct equipment 

as artificial reefs. Construction material and design make offshore platforms ideal for fish and marine life 

that would typically become widely 

dispersed. Efforts in the Rigs-toReefs program have resulted in many 

of the commercial and recreational 

fishing opportunities in the GOMR.

The 2005 hurricane season, the 

worst in history, presented unique 

challenges to the Region’s employees 

but also proved how valuable their 

efforts have been. Hurricanes Katrina 

and Rita swept across over 3,000 

of the more than 4,000 oil and gas 

facilities in the GOM. There was no 

loss of life or serious injury associated with evacuation operations, and 

all of the subsurface safety valves 

operated at 100 percent efficiency 

– sealing oil and gas wells below the 

ocean floor and protecting the waters 

from contamination.

The GOMR will likely see more 

records set in the future, but the one 

constant will be the many MMS 

employees hard at work protecting 

the environment and securing the 

Nation's domestic energy supply.

gulf of mexico region

A balance of Protection and production

For more information:

Gulf of Mexico Region

Website: www.gomr.mms.gov/

 index.html

Platform left in the Gulf for the Rigs-toReefs program.
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2007

Residents on the 

Pacific coast live 

amid a variety of 

landscapes – rocky 

cliffs, sandy beaches, 

lush forests – and a relatively moderate climate that allows them to 

enjoy their outdoor environment 

most of the year. Another of their 

valuable resources is the vibrant 

offshore area, an underwater ecosystem teeming with a diverse mix 

of marine life. The responsibility for ensuring that oil and gas 

operations offshore California in 

Federal waters do not harm these 

resources belongs to the Minerals 

Management Service (MMS) 

Pacific Outer Continental Shelf 

(OCS) Region, headquartered in 

Camarillo, California. Partnerships 

are a big part of the overall management strategy.

The Pacific OCS Environmental 

Studies Program (ESP), much of 

which is carried out in cooperation 

with the University of California, 

has pioneered research in the ocean 

along the entire Pacific Coast to 

increase our understanding of the 

underwater environment. In many 

cases, the ESP findings in such fields 

as physical oceanography, biology, 

ecology, and socioeconomics represent the only research ever conducted 

in the ocean along the coast. 

Two of the most exciting Pacific 

partnerships are MARINe and 

MINT. Scientists from Federal and 

State government agencies, universities, and private and volunteer organizations form the Multi-Agency 

Rocky Intertidal Network (MARINe) 

to monitor important shoreline 

resources. Key rocky intertidal habitats and species are sampled at sites 

along the mainland approximately 

every 10 to 15 miles and along key 

intertidal beaches on the islands by 

teams of field biologists, including 

the MMS Intertidal Team (MINT). 

MINT biologists team up with those 

from five university campuses (UC 

Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, 

UCLA, UC Davis, and California 

State University Fullerton) to monitor mussels, sea stars, algae, and 

other intertidal plants and animals 

along the coast. The MMS and various agencies and organizations use 

the information that is gathered to 

assess environmental effects, manage 

natural resources, and aid coastal 

planning efforts. 

Past and current Pacific OCS 

Region efforts are 

critical for preserving the coastal 

ecosystem and the 

revenue generated 

from its recreation 

and tourism. The ESP anticipates 

future research into the potential of 

ocean-based, renewable energy projects along the Pacific Coast. With 

the new authority for offshore alternative energy sources provided by 

the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the 

Region could soon be involved in the 

leasing and oversight of alternative 

energy projects such as harnessing 

energy from offshore wind, wave or 

solar sources, extracting natural gas 

from deepwater methane hydrates, 

and using existing infrastructure for 

other energy-related purposes. 

With its current projects and the 

potential for new alternative energy 

projects, the Pacific OCS Region 

plays an important role. Having 

already established effective partnerships with agencies, groups, educational institutions, and industries 

who share their enthusiasm and 

concerns will enhance the Region's 

ability to continue responsible management of offshore resources well 

into the future.

Pacific Region

Managing and strengthening partnerships

Acres Under Lease 400,505 

Active Leases 79 

Producing Leases 43 

Total Oil & Gas Wells Drilled 1,290 

Total Development Wells Drilled 962 

Total Exploration Wells Drilled 328 

Oil & Gas Platforms 23 

Miles of Pipeline 188 

Companies Operating 

 Pacific OCS Facilities 6

Pacific OCS Region as of 

May 1, 2006

Kids play on the beach in Santa Barbara, California.
 mms OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

A New Energy Source?

For more information:

Atlantic OCS

Website: www.gomr.mms.gov/

 homepg/offshore/atlocs/

 atlocs.html

Draft Programmatic EIS 

for the Outer Continental 

Shelf Alternative Energy 

and Alternate Use 

Program

Website: www.ocsenergy.anl.gov

MMS: Our Ocean Role

Website: www.mms.gov/ooc/

 newweb/publications/

 OurOceanRoleMMS.pdf

Although there is no 

current energy-related 

activity in the Atlantic 

Outer Continent Shelf 

(OCS), the future 

may tell another story. All leasing 

and resource management functions 

for the planning areas along the 

Atlantic seaboard (North Atlantic, 

Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic and 

Straits of Florida) are conducted out 

of the Minerals Management Service 

(MMS) Gulf of Mexico (GOM) 

Regional Office. Historically, oil 

and gas production has been almost 

nonexistent on the Atlantic OCS. 

In fact, no Atlantic lease sales have 

been held since 1983, the last exploratory well was drilled in 1984, and 

the last remaining leases offshore 

North and South Carolina were 

relinquished back to the government 

in November 2000. In the proposed 

MMS leasing plan for 2007- 2012, 

however, one sale is being proposed 

for offshore Virginia. 

In the meantime, excitement 

is building for alternative energy 

initiatives. With the passage of the 

Energy Policy Act of 2005, MMS 

was assigned jurisdiction over offshore alternative energy projects 

such as wave, wind, and solar energy. 

Under this new authority, MMS 

became the lead Federal agency for 

regulatory oversight of the Cape 

Wind Associates LLC, a proposed 

wind park project consisting of 130 

3.6-megawatt wind turbine generators covering 24 square miles off 

Massachusetts. Another project 

gaining momentum is the Long 

Island Offshore Wind Park Project, 

consisting of 40 3.6-megawatt wind 

turbine generators covering 8 square 

miles south of Long Island, New 

York. In preparing the environmental impact statement for each project, 

MMS must identify physical, biological, socioeconomic, and human 

resources that could be affected by 

each phase of both projects – from 

construction to decommissioning.

A draft EIS for the Alternative 

Energy and Alternate Use (AEAU) 

program has recently been released, 

and MMS is inviting public comment 

on it. The draft EIS, which is open to 

public comment until May 21, 2007, 

assesses generic impacts from development, operations, and decommissioning of alternative energy or alternate use facilities. It also identifies 

key issues and mitigation measures 

that should be considered in subsequent site-specific reviews. 

MMS Director Johnnie Burton 

noted that "The public has a unique 

opportunity to influence the creation 

of new and promising uses of our 

Nation's considerable ocean resources, through submission of written 

comments on the draft EIS or live 

input at upcoming hearings."

The EIS focuses on potential 

alternative energy development that 

may be initiated in the next 5-7 years, 

as well as potential alternate uses of 

offshore facilities.

What does the future hold for 

the Atlantic OCS area? A potential increased interest in oil and gas 

exploration to meet the Nation’s 

domestic energy supply, renewable 

alternative energy sources, and an 

increased need for sand and gravel 

in the wake of increasingly erratic 

hurricane seasons. While nobody can 

say with certainty what the future 

holds, MMS will continue to ensure 

that our Nation benefits from the 

resources available on Federal offshore lands and will continue to balance resource development against 

environmental impacts. 

Atlantic OCS

Floating wave energy.

Alternative energy: 

Fuel sources that are other 

than those derived from fossil 

fuels, including wind, solar, 

biomass, wave, and tidal energy. 

Typically used interchangeably 

for renewable energy. 

Renewable energy: 

Energy resources that are 

naturally replenishing but 

flow-limited. They are 

virtually inexhaustible in 

duration but limited in the 

amount of energy that is 

available per unit of time. 

Renewable energy resources 

include biomass, hydro, 

geothermal, solar, wind, 

ocean thermal, wave action, 

and tidal action. 

Definitions
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2007 

At MMS, one of the 

primary tasks is 

responsibly managing 

the Nation’s natural 

gas, oil, and mineral supply. One of the ways that 

is accomplished successfully is by 

studying historic phenomena – everything from the ancient organic material that ultimately formed today’s 

crude oil supply to the busy hurricane season in 2005. This mission 

is also accomplished by looking forward to one of our greatest resources 

– the next generation. Young people 

in the classroom today will someday 

take over our roles as stewards of 

the environment, and it is up to us 

to prepare them for the mission. In 

addition, MMS will need the next 

generation of scientists and the 

industry will need a steady supply of 

qualified workers. 

With that in mind, the priorities 

are to stimulate the curiosity of our 

young stewards-to-be and spark their 

interest while educating them about 

the delicate nature of our planet. 

Many current MMS programs do 

that by offering free activities for students of all ages, as well as posters 

and instruction guides for teachers, 

through the Kids’ Page on the main 

MMS web site (www.mms.gov). 

From there, visitors may 

explore links to a variety 

of material located on 

the Alaska Region, Gulf 

of Mexico Region, and 

Pacific Region web sites. 

Ocean Energy, a downloadable booklet, tells 

students about ocean 

energy resources 

located in, over, and 

under the ocean; The 

Ocean’s Sand, A Natural 

Resource includes 

hands-on exercises 

about coastal erosion 

and the importance of 

sand and gravel. 

A colorful How Many Does 

It Take? handout reveals the 

quantity of energy resources 

(onshore gas wells, solar panels, etc.) that are required to 

power a city of 100,000 people 

or to fuel cars for 100,000 people for a year.

Students in grades 9-12 get a taste 

of the real world in a role-playing skit called Watts It To You? as 

they explore ways to make the 

fictional Golden County energy 

self-sufficient through inquiry, 

cooperative problem-solving, and 

negotiation. 

In the Tidepool Math series, 

teachers guide students through 

a series of exercises using a mussel bed to learn the scientific 

applications of counting and 

estimating while also learning 

about the environment through 

exploration.

Yet another link on the MMS 

Kids’ Page invites viewers to 

read about Historic Shipwrecks in 

the Gulf of Mexico. A teacher’s 

instructional resource for the 

sidewheel steamship Josephine

includes fascinating historical 

information about commerce 

and maritime transportation, as 

well as environmental issues. 











On these pages you’ll find informative resources that pertain to each 

region at each stop.

On the Alaska Kids Corner site, 

young people can test their knowledge 

of Alaskan animal names or print a 

crossword puzzle and coloring project 

designed to educate and entertain 

them simultaneously. They can watch 

short videos about Alaska oil and 

gas production and learn about ice 

islands, whale surveys, or volcanoes. 

On the Pacific Kids Playground

pages, teachers and kids will find 

information about finding and 

exploring shipwrecks in California, 

educational posters summarizing 

research projects, and a fact-filled 

question and answer section. Links 

posted there lead to other sites.

On the Gulf of Mexico Kid’s 

Page, instructors can download or 

order free posters, teacher’s companions, activity sheets, or games for use 

in the classroom. They can register 

their school in the Computers for 

Learning Program. The MMS has 

donated more than 1,000 surplus 

computers to area schools and educational nonprofits under this program. 

How many students will become 

petroleum engineers or marine 

biologists because of the educational 

material provided? We may never 

know. But while MMS continues 

performing its duties each day – 

duties that are critical to the Nation’s 

energy resources – it also remains 

focused on our greatest resource of 

all: the next generation.

Educating the Next Generation

MMS online

For more information:

MMS Online for Kids 

Website: www.mms.gov/alaska/

kids/index.htm

Website: www.gomr.mms.gov/

 homepg/lagniapp/

 lagniapp.html

Website: www.mms.gov/omm/

 pacific/kids/educate.htm
10 mms OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

For more information:

NOPP

Website: www.nopp.org/

Environmental Programs

Website: www.mms.gov/eppd/

 sciences/esp/index.htm

Recognizing the need 

for a cooperative 

nationwide 

organization 

that could 

provide coordination in national 

oceanographic research and 

education programs, as well as 

leadership in increasing the visibility 

of ocean issues nationally and 

internationally, Congress established 

the National Oceanographic 

Partnership Program (NOPP) 

in 1997. This important piece 

of legislation set in motion the 

vision of an entity dedicated to the 

coordination, development, and 

sharing of our ocean knowledge. 

In December 2004, President 

Bush released the U.S. Ocean Action 

Plan1 (OAP), the Administration’s 

response to An Ocean Blueprint, the 

final report of the U.S. Commission 

on Ocean Policy. The OAP called 

for the ICOSRMI (the Interagency 

Committee on Ocean Science and 

Resource Management Integration) 

to incorporate the activities of 

NOPP’s governing council within 

its broader mandate, which includes 

ocean resource management.

One of NOPP’s most successful 

endeavors has been its annual 

solicitation of proposals on specific 

topics through Broad Agency 

Announcements (BAA). With an 

average of 12 new projects per 

year, NOPP supports projects 

that bring together scientific 

and lay communities on larger, 

more comprehensive projects 

that emphasize shared resources, 

broader education, and innovative 

advances in the ocean sciences. 

This past year, the Office 

of Naval Research, on behalf of 

its NOPP partner agencies and 

the ICOSRMI, continued this 

tradition and issued a BAA as part 

of the U.S. contribution to the 

International Polar Year (IPY). The 

topics solicited were (1) the coastal 

effects of a diminished-ice Arctic 

Ocean and (2) marine mammals. 

The research solicitation stated that 

“Proposals are encouraged that 

would develop and test prototype 

ocean observing systems in the 

Alaska Beaufort and/or Chukchi 

Sea capable of withstanding or 

accommodating intra- and interannual variability in local ice-ocean 

conditions. Of particular interest are 

observational techniques that would 

monitor marine mammals or fish 

populations (e.g., using passive or 

low-intensity active acoustics).”

Successful proposals may 

complement and expand research 

already being done by the Minerals 

Management Service (MMS) Alaska 

Region. Ongoing MMS-funded 

studies in Alaska include Sea Ice 

Modeling for Nearshore Beaufort and 

Chukchi Seas and a joint MMS/

NOPP study entitled Surface 

Circulation Radar Mapping in Alaskan 

Coastal Waters. 

One fascinating example of 

research being done by private 

industry that may add to the 

observational arsenal in the Arctic 

is the use of drones to study marine 

mammals. This use of drones is 

proposed to address environmental 

and subsistence hunting concerns 

when offshore seismic survey 

programs are conducted. Although 

the idea is untested and initial 

problems exist, its potential positives 

include safety, fuel efficiency, and 

flexibility. New studies are proposed 

to examine further this promising 

use of drones. This research is not 

currently associated with NOPP, but 

is an example of the kind of study 

that may prove widely useful in 

cooperative oceanographic research.

The OAP and NOPP

an evolution of coordination and

leadership in ocean sciences and

resource management

1 See our Special Interagency OAP Issue! 

MMS Ocean Science Volume 3, Issue 5.

www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/

environ/ocean_science/mms_ocean_06_

sep_oct.pdf
11

For more information:

Information Databases

Website: http://gsa.confex.

 com/gsa/2005SE/

 finalprogram/abstract_

 83482.htm

Website: www.mms.gov/alaska/

 reports/2003andOlder

 Rpts/2002-071Vol1.pdf

Website: www.nodc.noaa.gov/

 BUOY/buoy.html

MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2007

Using data in our plans

for the future

Today we have access 

to more information 

online than would 

have been found at 

the finest universities 

just 50 years ago. We can 

communicate, share, and discuss 

that information with colleagues 

through online messaging and 

conferencing instantly. This capacity 

for collaboration and informationsharing is the key to constructive and 

productive decisionmaking. With this 

in mind, the Minerals Management 

Service (MMS) is building a 

network of searchable databases 

in collaboration with academic, 

industry, and government scientists 

to allow stakeholders and interested 

parties to access detailed technical 

and scientific information online. 

This storehouse of easily accessible 

meteorological, geological, social 

science, and biological information 

is a powerful source of information 

from which high-quality planning 

and decisionmaking can be made 

by parties working in the Outer 

Continental Shelf (OCS).

Air quality assessment is an 

essential part of the evaluation of 

development and operations plans 

in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). 

Dispersion modeling is used to assess 

potential onshore air quality impacts 

from emissions resulting from oil 

and gas development activities. As 

with any meteorological model, the 

quality of the data input determines 

the quality of the model output. 

To date, MMS and oil and gas 

operators have been using a 2-year 

meteorological dataset (1991-1993) 

for model input. A recent study, 

however, began to collect a 5-year 

dataset to provide more robust input 

data. The data are being gathered 

from existing prognostic modeling in 

the GOM, surface National Climatic 

Data Center (NCDC) data, and 

offshore buoys. 

The Louisiana Sand Resource 

Database (LASARD) is a 

geological database in the GOM 

that helps locate sand resources off 

the coast of Louisiana, which may 

be used for coastal and wetland 

restoration projects. This database 

will lead to better quantitative and 

qualitative assessments of offshore 

sand resources.

Human activity is the subject 

of a database in the Alaska region. 

Seismic activity associated with oil 

and gas exploration and drilling 

activity concerned subsistence 

hunters in the coastal villages in 

the Beaufort Sea. Of particular 

concern is the behavior of marine 

mammals when confronted by 

human activity such as seismic 

noise from exploration surveys. The 

database information was compiled 

from seismic and geohazard surveys; 

geophysical surveys from the U.S. 

Geological Survey; and daily drilling 

reports for Alaska and the OCS. 

The database is relatively complete 

for 1990 to 1998, but to date it is 

proprietary because of seismic data 

obtained from oil companies. The 

database may be available in the 

future, pending permission from the 

owners of the seismic data. 

One of the largest databases 

is maintained by the National 

Oceanographic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA). The 

NOAA Marine Environmental 

Buoy Database records wind speed 

and direction, wave height, air 

temperature and pressure, sea-surface 

temperature, and other marine data. 

Data are collected from buoys and 

from C-MAN (Coastal-Marine 

Automated Network) stations. CMAN's can be located on piers, 

lighthouses, and beaches. The 

database has an interactive interface 

and can be fully accessed online. 

Collecting, analyzing, and 

organizing information into useful 

and user-friendly databases is a 

difficult process, but the end product 

greatly increases the quality and 

quantity of data available to scientists, 

researchers, and academics. The 

MMS is dedicated to increasing the 

storehouse of available knowledge 

concerning the OCS and its natural 

resources and environment. 

Map of buoys in the NOAA Marine Environmental Buoy Database. Courtesy of NOAA.
The polar ice caps are 

considered two of the 

most geographically 

inaccessible points in 

the world. Yet these 

harsh and forbidding expanses 

hold valuable clues about our 

environmental past and future. 

New studies have emphasized the 

delicate balance of ecosystems in the 

polar regions and revealed recently 

accelerated changes that could 

drastically affect that balance. 

Recognizing the importance of 

the regions and the changes each 

is undergoing, the International 

Council for Science and the World 

Meteorological Board recently 

declared the International Polar 

Year (IPY) to highlight research 

that may help us understand global 

climate changes and to encourage 

students to consider careers in 

science and engineering. The 

“year” will actually span two years 

(2007-2008) so scientists can take 

advantage of relatively mild and 

light conditions available during 

parts of each year. 

A key objective of IPY is 

to highlight studies being done 

by scientists, educators, and 

governmental agencies. The 

12 mms OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

celebrating the polar caps

international polar year

number and urgency of these 

studies have increased as signs of 

climatic changes have emerged 

in the regions. Acknowledging 

the need to take a multisystemic 

and multidimensional approach 

to the changes in the polar caps—

specifically the Arctic—the National 

Science Foundation’s (NSF) Office 

of Polar Programs has organized 

the Study of Arctic Environmental 

Change (SEARCH), a multiagency 

initiative to understand the nature 

of environmental changes in the 

expanse. The NSF is also studying 

the implementation of an Arctic 

Observing Network (AON), which 

would blend current research 

capacities, local and regional 

cultures, diverse disciplines, and 

real-time observations to create 

a comprehensive picture of the 

Arctic’s past, present, and future. 

In addition, the Alaska 

Ocean Observing System 

(AOOS), located at http://

ak.aoos.org, provides 

historic and real-time data 

and information on the 

changing marine ecosystem 

in the Arctic. 

The Minerals 

Management Service 

(MMS) is charged with the 

protection and responsible 

development of the 

Nation’s offshore energy 

and mineral resources, 

which include the Alaskan 

Arctic, and has made 

significant contributions to 

our understanding of the Arctic. 

Through its Alaska office, MMS 

has funded multiple projects in 

the region that will help meet the 

objectives of the IPY, “fill in the 

gaps” in observational research 

in the region, and showcase the 

diverse areas of study available 

to academic and governmental 

researchers in the region. 

A recently completed MMS 

study, Mapping and Characterization of 

Recurring Spring Leads and Landfast Ice 

in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (OCS 

Study MMS 2005-068), collected 

information on changing ice 

conditions in the Arctic. An article 

based on the study suggested that 

changes in landfast ice conditions 

in the Arctic may be affecting 

marine mammal habitat and 

survival rates, as well as subsistence 

activities of the native communities. 

Diminished ice also substantially 

impacts coastal communities, as 

the resulting coastal erosion can 

increase the community’s exposure 

to destructive waves. According to 

the article, the “reduced presence 

of landfast ice in this region of 

the Arctic...will likely lead to an 

increase in coastal erosion and 

may also have profound effects 

upon subsistence activities, which 

are intimately linked to the timing 

of marine mammal migration 

patterns.” Thawing temperatures are 

also leading to the breakup of the 

perennial sea-ice edge as it retreats 

northward. Another recent MMS 

field study using high-frequency 

A key objective of IPY is to 

highlight studies currently being 

done by scientists, educators and 

governmental agencies.

Ice floes in the northern Bering Sea. Photo courtesty 

of NOAA.
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2007 13

For more information:

International Polar Year

Website: www.ipy.org 

Website: www.us-ipy.gov 

 (U.S. IPY website)

OCS Study MMS 2005-068 

Mapping and Characterization of 

Recurring Spring Leads and Landfast 

Ice in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas 

Website: www.mms.gov/alaska/

 reports/2005rpts/2005_

 068.pdf

radar examined the changes in 

surface currents with changing ice 

conditions in the Beaufort Sea.

The MMS supports the maintenance of the MMS Alaska Sea Ice 

Database, which provides scientists 

with historic and current sea-ice conditions for study and comparison. In 

addition, ongoing MMS North Slope 

studies examine the changing weather patterns and ground conditions, in 

addition to regionwide Arctic modeling efforts of ocean currents, ice, and 

weather patterns. 

Other MMS studies related to 

the IPY efforts include

Four jointly funded DOI 

projects addressing polar bear 

monitoring, demographics of 

feeding bears, use of forwardlooking infrared imagery to 

detect maternal dens, and use of 

sea-ice habitat by polar bears.

Two additional MMS ongoing projects are also studying 

polar bears and bear population modeling. 

The significance of the 

changes occurring at the polar 

ice caps is gaining more national 

and international attention with 





the recent news of the breakup of 

large sections of Canadian polar 

ice. The news serves to highlight 

the importance of the IPY and the 

value of future scientists committed 

to exploration of the causes and 

consequences of those changes. 

The U.S. National Committee 

for IPY recommended goals for 

scientists and agencies (including 

MMS) involved in the International 

Polar Year.

Use the IPY to initiate 

a sustained effort aimed 

at assessing large-scale 

environmental change and 

variability in the polar regions. 

Pioneer new polar studies 

of coupled human-natural 

systems that are critical to U.S. 

societal, economic, and strategic 

interests. 

Explore new scientific frontiers 

from the molecular to the 

planetary scale. 

Use IPY as an opportunity 

to design and implement 

multidisciplinary polar 

observing networks that will 

provide a long-term perspective. 

Invest in critical infrastructure 

(both physical and human) and 











technology to guarantee that the 

International Polar Year 2007-

2008 leaves enduring benefits 

for the Nation and for the 

residents of northern regions.

Excite and engage the public, 

with the goals of increasing 

understanding of the 

importance of the polar regions 

in the global system and, at the 

same time, advance general 

science literacy in the Nation.

Participate as leaders in 

International Polar Year 

2007-2008.





Snow-capped mountains tower over a commercial fishing boat in the Arctic.
14 mms OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

On March 1, 2007, 

the George Institute 

for Biodiversity 

and Sustainability 

(GIBS) conducted 

an international workshop on 

marine conservation with eight 

speakers. Dr. Tom Ahlfeld of the 

Minerals Management Service 

(MMS) was one of the speakers. 

Dr. Robert Y. George, President 

of GIBS, recognized Ahlfeld for 

his dedicated work on conservation of chemosynthetic ecosystems 

and the deep-sea coral Lophelia reef 

ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Ahlfeld was awarded the third 

Robert Avent Medal with a standing 

ovation from the audience.

“Recognition by your peers is 

an especially high honor and I am 

proud to be the 2007 recipient of this 

medal,” said Ahlfeld. “It has extra 

meaning to me 

since I knew 

Bob Avent as 

a fellow graduate student at 

Florida State 

University, coworker at MMS, and as a friend.”

The Robert Avent Medal was 

founded by the board of directors 

of GIBS in memory of the late Dr. 

Robert Avent with solemn recognition of his outstanding research 

contributions on cold coral ecology 

(Oculina reefs off Florida) and dedicated service to MMS for 27 years, 

with focus on conservation of deepwater ecosystems in conjunction with 

oil and gas drilling and production 

activities in the Gulf of Mexico. 

The first Avent Medal was 

awarded to Dr. John Reed of 

Harbor Branch Oceanographic 

Institute in 2005. The 2006 Avent 

Medal was presented to Dr. William 

Hogarth, Assistant Secretary of 

NOAA for marine fisheries.

Ahlfeld currently holds the position of biological oceanographer 

with MMS. He 

has over 30 years' 

experience in 

marine environmental research, 

with emphasis on 

benthic ecology 

and monitoring the biological effects 

of offshore oil and gas development. 

Ahlfeld holds a B.S. degree in 

biology from Loyola University of 

New Orleans and M.S. and Ph.D. 

degrees in biological oceanography 

from Florida State University. He 

has served as a member of the science advisory panel for Mote Marine 

Laboratory of Sarasota, Florida, and 

was selected to deliver the keynote 

address at the 2003 Offshore Oil and 

Gas Environmental Effects Monitoring 

Workshop held in Dartmouth, 

Nova Scotia. He is also a recipient of numerous Federal special 

achievement awards, including the 

Department of the Interior Honor 

Award for Superior Service.

Originally from Miami, Florida, 

Dr. Ahlfeld’s interest in the sea began 

at an early age as he spent much of 

his time on boats in Biscayne Bay 

fishing, skin diving, and exploring. 

“I always was, and still am, amazed 

by the beauty and diversity of the 

marine environment.” 

During recent years, Ahlfeld has 

served on many U.S. interagency 

panels dealing with diverse marine 

environmental issues, including 

invasive species, coral reef protection, and ecosystem management. 

Through oral and poster presentations, he has represented MMS at 

many international conferences dealing with deep-sea corals, chemosynthetic communities, general deep-sea 

ecology, and monitoring the effects 

of offshore oil and gas activities on 

the marine environment. 

Ahlfeld’s recent publications 

include the following topics: resource 

management applications of environmental research on chemosynthetic 

communities associated with hydrocarbon seeps in the Gulf of Mexico; 

protection of deep-sea corals in the 

Gulf of Mexico; and monitoring the 

effects of offshore oil and gas activities on the marine environment.

Prestigious robert avent medal

awarded to dr. tom ahlfeld

Dr. Tom Ahlfeld. 

“I always was, and still 

am, amazed by the 

beauty and diversity of 

the marine environment."
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2007 15

For more information:

Hurricane Research

Website: www.mms.gov/

 2006Hurricanes/

 2006HurricaneSeason.htm

Website: www.mms.gov/ooc/PDFs/

SafeSafer-2005Hurricane

SeasonandBeyond.pdf

Website: www.mms.gov/

tarprojectcategories/

hurricaneKatrinaRita.htm

Research and results

current turmoil

Hurricane Frances. Photo courtesy of NOAA

Anchor used for mooring of mobile offshore drilling unit 

(MODU). Since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the type of anchor 

used will get special consideration since it can be critical to the 

amount of damage a platform incurs when a hurricane strikes. 

Hurricanes are one of 

the most destructive forces on earth, 

capable of damaging anything in their 

path. And when what’s in their path 

are oil platforms, personnel, and 

pipelines on the Outer Continental 

Shelf (OCS), the potential for damaging and disrupting oil and gas production, transportation, and national 

energy supplies is enormous. As the 

steward of OCS energy and marine 

minerals resources, the Minerals 

Management Service (MMS) is funding new research to help scientists 

understand the inner workings of 

this unpredictable destructive force. 

What causes a hurricane? The 

simplest answer is warm water. But 

it’s much more complicated and harder to predict than that. What makes 

it complicated is the Loop Current. 

Normally, the horseshoe-shaped Loop 

Current streams up from the tropical waters of the Caribbean, moves 

across the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), 

and exits at the Florida Straits near 

Cuba. But the Current varies a lot – it 

may flow farther east or west, higher 

or lower in the Gulf. It occasionally 

flows as high as the Mississippi River 

Delta. Periodically, the Current will 

pinch off deep, warm eddies that 

travel across the GOM until they 

eventually die, usually in the western 

Gulf. According to MMS, the Current 

travels at 4 knots, or the equivalent of 

a 60-mile-per-hour, gale-force wind.

Hurricanes over the ocean 

extract heat from it and draw up 

waters that generally are cooler. But 

over the warm Loop Current, the 

heat content of the waters is large 

and the drawn-up waters are warmer, 

allowing hurricanes to strengthen. 

However, the amount the hurricane 

may intensify can vary from one 

storm to another. Many of the other 

factors that are at work are still 

unknown or little understood. 

One recent MMS wave and 

current study uses data from fortuitously deployed equipment during 

Hurricane Ivan (there was no equipment in the area during Hurricanes 

Rita and Katrina, although both 

hurricanes are included in the study). 

The objective of the study is to create 

a “realistic simulation of circulation 

throughout the entire water column", 

determine the length of time “substantial ocean response” lasts, and 

ascertain where the greatest wave 

height and fastest current speed were 

located. The results of this study will 

help establish new equipment and 

safety guidelines in the GOM.

The MMS has recently launched 

a website to gather information and 

resources regarding hurricanes. The 

site will include preparation instructions should a hurricane threaten 

lives or property, historical hurricane 

data, and hurricane fact sheets. Users 

will also be able to track hurricanes 

through the website. 

As more and more is discovered 

about hurricanes, a stronger, safer 

environment for offshore energy 

exploration is emerging. The MMS 

is strengthening equipment standards, refining communications 

plans, and raising its inspection and 

risk assessment standard so the next 

hurricane season will see a more 

prepared OCS.
MMS – A Leader in 

Securing the Nation’s 

Domestic Energy 

Supply

Chris Oynes

Chris Oynes Named Associate Director of the MMS Offshore Program

NEW

Late-breaking News &

WAVESInformation

Minerals Management Service (MMS) Director 

Johnnie Burton announced in February 

the selection of Chris Oynes as the new 

Associate Director of the agency’s Offshore Minerals 

Management Program. Mr. Oynes has served as 

Regional Director of MMS’s Gulf of Mexico Outer 

Continental Shelf (OCS) Region for the past 13 years. 

"Chris Oynes brings to the position of Associate 

Director a wealth of knowledge and experience about 

the practices and processes of the Offshore Program, as 

well as impressive leadership skills," said Burton. “His 

work has helped to make the OCS a major contributor 

to the Nation’s energy and economic security,” she continued, “and his solid leadership was crucial to MMS 

Gulf of Mexico Region employees as well as Gulf OCS 

energy operators before, during, and after the devastating hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005." 

As Associate Director of the Offshore Minerals 

Program, Mr. Oynes will be responsible for managing the MMS Offshore Program to help meet the 

Nation’s energy needs and protect the ocean and 

coastal environment. 

 As the Gulf of Mexico Regional Director, Mr. 

Oynes managed the leasing of OCS lands off five 

Gulf Coast States for oil, gas, and other mineral 

development, and supervised the regulation of operations and protection of the environment on those leases, which involves more than 4,000 platforms. 

Mr. Oynes has more than 30 years of Federal 

Government experience with energy matters, 

including 11 years in Washington, D.C., with 

MMS in various capacities, most notably as 

Chief of the Lease Sale Planning Branch and the 

Leasing Division. 

He has received the two highest honor awards 

that the U.S. Department of the Interior bestows, the 

Distinguished Service Award and the Meritorious 

Service Award.

mms OCEAN SCIENCE

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