Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director Jim Watson has announced that the Ocean Energy Safety Advisory Committee (OESC) will hold its sixth public meeting on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 and Thursday, January 10, 2013 in Washington, D.C.
The OESC is a public federal advisory body including some of the nation’s leading scientific, engineering and technical experts. Chaired by former Sandia National Laboratory Director Dr. Tom Hunter, the group consists of members from federal agencies, the offshore oil and gas industry, academia, and nongovernmental organizations. The Committee provides critical policy advice to the Secretary of the Interior through the BSEE Director on improving all aspects of offshore energy safety.
The agenda for the Wednesday, January 9, 2013 meeting will address the OESC Subcommittees’ activities to date on oil spill prevention, spill containment, spill response and safety management systems, the Arctic and the proposed ocean energy safety institute. On Thursday, January 10, 2013, the Committee will address interim recommendations presented to the OESC from its six subcommittees for consideration and action, including lessons learned and next steps forward.
The meeting will be held at the Department of the Interior's South Interior Building Auditorium located at 1951 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240. On Wednesday, January 9, 2013, committee members will meet from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m on Thursday, January 10, 2013.
Approximately 100 visitors can be accommodated on a first-come-first-served basis. Members of the public will also have the opportunity to comment on OESC activities and related topics on a first-come-first-served basis during the time allotted for public comment and may submit written comments to the OESC during the meeting or by email to the Committee at OESC@bsee.gov.
Secretary Salazar announced the establishment of the OESC on Jan. 19, 2011.