BOEM 101: The Environmental Science Behind the Decision with Dr. Rodney Cluck

June 12, 2022

Dive into the science used to make decisions at BOEM!

On this episode, hosts Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham talk to Dr. Rodney Cluck, Chief of the Division of Environmental Sciences at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). BOEM has long played an important role on the American Shoreline, governing the leasing of offshore oil and gas drilling sites and the overseeing offshore sand resources. However, over the past two years there has been a sea change in offshore wind, and BOEM now finds itself right in the middle of the boom. Rodney talks about the overall mission and purpose of BOEM and then discusses the important role that science continues to play in how the Bureau is approaching the rapid development of offshore wind, and what that might mean for the future of ocean economy. Don't miss it, only on ASPN!

Show Transcription
This transcription was generated by a computer. Please excuse any errors.
Peter Ravella & Tyler Buckingham

Peter and Tyler joined forces in 2015 and from the first meeting began discussing a project that would become Coastal News Today and the American Shoreline Podcast Network. At the time, Peter and Tyler were coastal consultants for Pete’s firm, PAR Consulting, LLC. In that role, they worked with coastal communities in Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, engaged in grant writing, coastal project development, shoreline erosion and land use planning, permitting, and financial planning for communities undertaking big beach restoration projects. Between and among their consulting tasks, they kept talking and kept building the idea of CNT & ASPN. In almost every arena they worked, public engagement played a central role. They spent thousands of hours talking with coastal stakeholders, like business owners, hotel operators, condo managers, watermen, property owners, enviros, surfers, and fishermen. They dived deep into the value, meaning, and responsibility for the American shoreline, segment-by-segment. Common threads emerged, themes were revealed, differences uncovered. There was a big conversation going on along the American shoreline! But, no place to have it. That's where CNT and ASPN were born.