BSEE Invests in Oil Spill Response Research in Drift Ice Conditions

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is investing up to $600,000 for targeted oil spill response research in drift ice conditions.

In a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), the bureau called for white papers on new mechanical technologies for cleaning up oil spills in drift ice conditions that could be found in an Arctic environment.

BSEE will select up to three designs for prototype development and testing at Ohmsett, the bureau’s National Oil Spill Research and Renewable Energy Test Facility. White papers are due by April 21, 2014.

This is the third BAA from BSEE for oil spill response research proposals within the last year. The first announcement, with up to $7 million in support was closed in January. The second BAA, announcing an additional $5 million, closes April 10, 2014.

BSEE is the principal federal agency funding offshore oil spill response research. The bureau supports a robust research program that includes operation of Ohmsett, where many of today’s commercially available oil spill cleanup products have been tested. Government agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy as well as private industry and oil spill response organizations from around the world train their emergency response personnel with real oil and their own equipment at BSEE’s Ohmsett facility in Leonardo, N.J.

April 03, 2014; Image: BSEE