## United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Alaska OCS Region

3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500

Anchorage, Alaska 99503

- 5823

October 20 , 2014

Dear Stakeholder:

Thank you for your interest in the Environmental Studies Program (ESP) of the

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The agency assesses its information needs and develops new study profiles on an annual basis. We follow a well

established process that involves a role for both stakeholder input and scientific peer

review. We invite you to review the Alaska Annual Studies Plan FY 20 15

, which is posted at http://www.boem.gov/akstudies . This plan was developed from comments and suggestions we received over the past year. In particular, we invite your

attention to Section 1.4 in the document for a succinct review of notable updates.

We are interested to know your perspectives and to receive any suggestions you may

have for the BOEM Alaska Annual Studies Plan, FY 201 6, which we are now beginning to formulate. I n addition to this web docket , we will continue to receive hardcopy submissions at our regional office

.

To assist us in processing any suggestions for new studies, we ask that you follow the formatting guidance for a study profile as shown on the next page. Please keep in mind that studies proposed for our consideration must address specific BOEM mission and decision needs. Suggestions need to be received by us no later than

November 24 , 201 4

, to ensure consideration for the 2016 fiscal year. Following

rev isions to the plan, we will issue a final Alaska Annual Studies Plan FY 201 6 in the

autumn of 2015.

We sincerely appreciate your participation in this process and we look forward to receiving your suggestions. If you have any questions about the submissio n process, you are urged to contact Dr. Heather Crowley, Studies Plan Coordinator, at (907)

334

- 5281.

Sincerely,

Dee Williams, Ph.D. Chief, Environmental Sciences ManagementBureau of Ocean Energy Management Alaska Environmental Studies Program http://www.boem.gov/akstudie s/

Proposed Study for FY 201 6

Formatting Guidance: We recommend study profiles be less than 2 pages. Please do not try to make this a detailed scope of work. If the study is selected for further consideration, BOEM will prepare a more detailed scope of work. Please provide the following categories of information.

Region: Sample Region

Planning Area(s): All

Title: Sample Title and Profile to Show Formatting

BOEM Information Need(s) to be Addressed: Provide brief and conclusive reason(s) why BOEM needs the information. For example, identify how the study relates to analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act and/or specific BOEM decision(s), such as formulation of a mitigation measure. Please be as specific as possible.

Period of Performance: FY 201 6

- 20XX

Description: Background : Please provide 1 to 2 paragraphs on relevant issues. Explain what information is required and provide pertinent background. Include details about whether this study ties in with other efforts, and if so, how. Include a description of the current status of information. That is, what is the level of adequa cy of existing information, does any exist, does it need to be more geographically specific?

Objectives : Clearly and succinctly state the objective(s) of the study. Explain what hypothesis will be tested or what questions will be answered by this study. We encourage the use of lists (1, 2, 3, etc.) for multiple, related objectives.

Methods : Provide brief detail on what information, techniques or methods are available that could be used. Explain how the objectives of the study will be accomplished.

Date information is required : Provide dates when products would be most useful and for what purpose , such as “ Final report is needed by September 201 9 to support NEPA analysis for anticipated lease sales under the next five

- year program .” If the study includes products in addition to the scientific report (e.g. database, model, bibliography), explain in this section.

* Please keep in mind that studies proposed for our consideration must address specific

BOEM mission and decision needs . For further information, see the Alaska Annual

Studies Plan FY 2014 , posted at the website listed above.