Technology Assessment & Research (TA&R) Program
Link: http://www.mms.gov/tarphome/index.htm
The TA&R Program is a research element encompassed by the MMS Regulatory Program. The TA&R Program supports research associated with operational safety and pollution prevention as well as oilspill response and cleanup capabilities. The TA&R Program was established in the 1970's to ensure that industry operations on the Outer Continental Shelf incorporated the use of the Best Available and Safest Technologies (BAST) subsequently required through the 1978 OCSLA amendments. The TA&R Program is comprised of two functional research activities:

• Operational Safety and Engineering Research (OS&ER)
  Link: http://www.mms.gov/tarsafety/
  This program's activities address technological issues associated with the complete spectrum of operations ranging from the drilling of exploratory wells to the removal and decommissioning of platforms and related production facilities.
• Oil Spill Research (OSR)
  Link: http://www.mms.gov/taroilspills/
  The Oil Spill Response Research (OSRR) Program provides research leadership to improve the capabilities for detecting and responding to an oil spill in the marine environment.

  >> Link to list of TA&R projects

Environmental Sciences Program
The Environmental Sciences Branch (ESB) provides policy guidance and program direction and oversight for the MMS Environmental Studies Program and the MMS Oil Spill Modeling Program.

• Environmental Studies Program
  Link: http://www.mms.gov/eppd/sciences/esp/index.htm
  The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) was initiated in 1973 as a means to gather and synthesize environmental and social and economic science information to support decision-making concerning the offshore oil and gas program.
• Oil Spill Modeling Program
  Link: http://www.mms.gov/eppd/sciences/osmp/index.htm
  The MMS assesses oil-spill risks associated with offshore energy activities off the U.S. continental coast and Alaska calculating spill trajectories and contact probabilities. These analyses address the likelihood of spill occurrences, the transport and fate of any spilled oil, and the environmental impacts that might occur as a result of the spill.

  >> Link to list of ESP projects

OHMSETT

The National Oil Spill Response Test Tank Facility is the only facility where full-scale oil spill response equipment testing, research, and training can be conducted in a marine environment with oil under controlled environmental conditions (waves, temperature, oil types). The facility provides an environmentally safe place to conduct objective testing and to develop devices and techniques for the control of oil and hazardous material spills.

• Link to the Ohmsett home page: http://www.ohmsett.com/

Gulfbase
GulfBase is a database of resources about the Gulf of Mexico. The goal of this website is to regroup, synthesize, and make freely available Gulf of Mexico research information.

• Link to the Gulfbase home page: http://www.gulfbase.org/
• Link to list of projects and programs: http://www.gulfbase.org/project/index.php?searchtype=all

The Offshore Technology Research Center (OTRC)
The OTRC is a graduated National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center supporting the offshore oil and gas industry. A focused, cross-disciplinary research program has been developed. The five major research areas of current concern are: Floating Structures, Risers and Moorings, Materials, Seafloor Engineering and Subsea Systems

• Link to the OTRC home page: http://otrc.tamu.edu

Louisiana State University

Each year, LSU conducts more than 2,500 sponsored research projects funded by more than $140 million in external grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, NASA, National Endowment for the Humanities, and many others.

• LSU Research: http://www.lsu.edu/researchers/

Environmental Protection Agency

The Exchange Network is an Internet-based system used by state, tribal, and territorial partners to securely share environmental and health information with one another and EPA. The Exchange Network improves the timeliness and accuracy of environmental data, reduces the burden and costs associated with reporting data, enhances data access for environmental professionals, and supports better decisions on environmental and health issues.

• EPA: http://www.epa.gov/neengprg/

U.S. Geological Survey

The USGS serves the Nation as an independent fact-finding agency that collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems.