The TA&R Program is a research element encompassed by the MMS Regulatory Program. The TA&R Program supports research associated with operational safety and pollution prevention as well as oil spill response and cleanup capabilities. The TA&R Program was established in the 1970's to ensure that industry operations on the Outer Continental Shelf incorporated the use of the Best Available and Safest Technologies (BAST) subsequently required through the 1978 OCSLA amendments. The TA&R Program is comprised of two functional research activities:

Operational Safety and Engineering Research (OSER)

Oil Spill Response Research (OSRR)

The TA&R Program has four primary objectives:

	Technical Support Providing engineering support to MMS decision makers in evaluating industry operational proposals and related technical issues and ensuring that these proposals comply with applicable regulations, rules, and operational guidelines and standards.
	Technology Assessment Investigating and assessing industry applications of technological innovations and ensuring that governing MMS regulations, rules and operational guidelines encompass the use of the best available and safest technologies.
	Research Catalyst Promoting leadership in the fields of operational safety and engineering research and oil spill response and cleanup research activities by acting as a catalyst for industry research initiatives.
	International Regulatory Providing international cooperation for Research and Development initiatives to enhance the safety of offshore oil and natural gas activities and the development of appropriate regulatory program elements worldwide.

The TA&R Program operates through contracts with universities, private firms, and government laboratories to assess safety-related technologies and to perform necessary applied research. Participation in jointly funded projects with industry, other Federal and States agencies, and international regulatory organizations has become the primary funding mechanism, in view of the overlap of issues and challenges, as well as a broader recognition that participation in these joint projects is the most effective and efficient means to leverage available funds.