BOEM FY 2017 Environmental Studies Program

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The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity to conduct research in topics that serve the public interest of safe and environmentally sound energy and mineral production on the nation's outer continental shelf. The BOEM manages the exploration and development of the nation's offshore energy and mineral resources. The primary objectives of the study are to develop and test standards for adequate and appropriate spacing, density, collection, and post-collection treatment of vibracores, including final disposition, as methods for aiding in the identification of formerly terrestrial but now submerged prehistoric archaeological sites on the Atlantic OCS. Studies awarded under this program will address the following objectives: Derive a focused research design predicated upon knowledge obtained from applicable previous investigations into the subject and focused on testable hypotheses and research questions; Guide the development of draft standards for using subsurface seabed sediment samples as a method of identification of archaeological resources offshore the Atlantic OCS, including a standard suite of primary-level laboratory analyses and a possible suite of secondary-level analyses dependent upon the results of the first. These analyses should include, but not be limited to, utilizing chemical signatures as a proxy for human habitation; Apply the draft standards to newly-collected core samples and test for applicability within a developer-conducted framework; Incorporate testing results into final standards that, if appropriate, BOEM may then consider incorporating into its Guidelines for Providing Archaeological Information Pursuant to 30 CFR Part 585 and other Guidelines and NTLs pertaining to regulated activities in the Atlantic OCS. The Program Announcement describes the specific project that may be awarded to the universities or eligible groups identified. All awards are premised on receipt of an acceptable proposal. This is not an open solicitation for proposals.

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