As part of our evaluation of the quality control assurance process for the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Energy Resource Program's (ERP) science center laboratories, we assessed the effectiveness of ERP's collaboration with other entities. We focused on ERP's working relationship with BOEM because of the significance of the Gulf Coast Project and the related access issues raised by ERP's officials.
We found that ERP has been unable to obtain certain information from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management that it needs in order to conduct analytical work on States that border the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). While overseeing energy development on the OCS, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management acquires geologic and geophysical data on the OCS from oil and gas operators. The operators consider the data proprietary, not for public release.
ERP's mission is to understand the processes related to geologically based energy resources, assess those resources, and study their impact on environmental and human health. In accomplishing this mission, ERP conducts research and assessment projects, relying on laboratory work performed in three science centers across the Nation. One of those projects, known as the Gulf Coast Energy, Geohazards, and Environmental Health Issues (Gulf Coast Project), is assessing the energy resources located onshore and in State-owned waters along the Gulf of Mexico.
The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act requires the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior to issue regulations that “assure the confidentiality of privileged or proprietary information received . . . will be maintained.” The act also limits the disclosure of proprietary information to the States. In accordance with the statute, BOEM's regulations, such as 30 C.F.R. § 551.14, restrict disclosure of the information to the public and to States. It does not, however, restrict sharing information to USGS or other bureaus or agencies within the Department or the Federal Government.
We recommended that USGS work with BOEM and the Office of the Solicitor to enable the timely exchange of proprietary OCS data.