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App/ied scievice for iiforrnied deasion makiHg Dear Reader August 2Z 2014 It has been just over a month since BOEM released a Record of Decision -- or ROD -- on the Mid- and South Atlantic Geological and Geophysical (G&G) Activities Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, or PEIS for short. And there's been a lot of attention on both sides of this complex issue. I wanted to take some time to clear up a few misperceptions about the bureau's decision and what it means. As a scientist who has spent a good part of my career working in non-governmental environmental organizations and in industry, I understand and appreciate advocacy. At the same time, I believe that everyone benefits by getting the facts right. BOEM has the legal responsibility to protect marine species and ecosystems from harm by the energy exploration and development which we regulate, and that is a responsibility which I embrace without reservation. Since 1998, BOEM has partnered with academia and other experts to invest more than $50 million on protected species and noise -related research. The bureau has provided critical studies on marine mammals, such as researching seismic survey impacts on sperm whales, and BOEM has conducted many expert stakeholder workshops to discuss and identify information needs on acoustic impacts in the ocean. As noted below, the bureau's decision requires a set of protective measures that will be used in site-specific permits for any future G&G activities in the Atlantic. BOEM will conduct site- specific environmental reviews for any permit applications. These reviews will include coordination and consultation with federal, state and tribal authorities under a variety of additional statutory requirements. In particular, any "taking" of a marine mammal requires authorization from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, separately from BOEM, and that authorization requires NOAA to find that there is no more than "negligible impact" and no adverse effects on marine mammal species or stocks. Below, please find our latest edition of Science Notes that I hope will help to clarify the facts on BOEM's recent decision and the science behind it. As always, your feedback is important to us, so please feel free to contact us at boemoublicaffairst�boem.00v. Sincerely, William Y. r3rowvt Chief Environmental Officer, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 211 1