USA: BOEM names acting director after Ross-Hopper moves to solar

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), a regulator for offshore oil & gas and renewables activities, has named an acting director after Abigail Ross-Hopper left the role. 

Ross-Hopper on Monday was named as president and chief executive officer of Solar Energy Industries Association, the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Her appointment is effective from January 17, 2017.

Ross-Hopper had served as director of BOEM for two years, from January 6, 2015 until January 6, 2017.

As deputy director, and currently acting director of BOEM, Dr. Cruickshank oversees the administration of programs that manage the development of the nation’s offshore resources. These programs include leasing, plan administration, environmental studies, National Environmental Policy Act analysis, resource evaluation, economic analysis and the Renewable Energy Program.

Prior to becoming the Deputy Director of BOEM, upon its establishment in October 2011, Dr. Cruickshank served as Deputy Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) and the former MMS since 2002.

Dr. Cruickshank has worked in the Department of the Interior for more than 30 years.

Before leaving the bureau, Ross-Hopper announced the denial of six pending geophysical and geological (G&G) permit applications to conduct airgun seismic surveys in the Mid- and South Atlantic Planning Areas of the Atlantic Ocean.

According to the bureau, the decision was based on a number of factors, including a diminished need for additional seismic survey information because the Atlantic Program Area has been removed from the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.

Offshore Energy Today Staff