Minerals Management Service Workshop
Environmental Research Needs in Support of Potential Virginia Offshore Oil and Gas Activities
The Minerals Management Service, a bureau within the Department of the Interior, is sponsoring a workshop on the environmental research needs in support of potential Virginia offshore oil and gas activities to be held 
The focus of the workshop will be on the existing scientific knowledgebase along the Virginia Coast and the information gaps that need to be addressed should a lease sale for oil and gas activities be held for the Virginia outer continental shelf. The workshop will include presentations from local scientific experts in the areas of physical oceanography, fish and fisheries, marine mammals, socioeconomics and other relevant science topics of concern.
Break out sessions will focus on identifying the important scientific information gaps to address the key issues of concern should oil and gas activities occur off the coast of Virginia.
The objectives of the workshop are to:
- Review the status of the environmental and socioeconomic information for offshore Virginia;
- Develop recommendations for a coordinated plan of environmental and socioeconomic research; and
- Explore for the potential of coordinated interdisciplinary research programs.
Participants at the workshop should expect to learn more about the current scientific understanding of the marine environment off the coast of Virginia and will be invited to provide input for future scientific research needs in their area of particular expertise.
If you or a colleague is interested in participating in this science oriented workshop, you should register by November 30, 2008. Registration is available online.
The workshop will be held at the Williamsburg Woodlands Conference Center. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel and Suites. To make a reservation, call 1-800-261-9530 (from 8:30AM to 5:00PM, Monday through Friday) and reference the following code: 3334.