PSO Certification study guide verified to
pass 2026/2027
BOEM - correct answer Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
NTL - correct answer Notice to Lessees
MMPA - correct answer Marine Mammal Protection Act
ESA - correct answer Endangered Species Act
BSEE - correct answer Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
OCS - correct answer Outer Continental Shelf
NMFS - correct answer National Marine Fisheries Service
FWS - correct answer Fish and Wildlife Service
STSSN - correct answer Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network
PRA - correct answer Paper Reduction Act
The 6 steps to avoid causing injury or death to marine mammals and sea turtles from vessel strike: -
correct answer 1. Maintain watch for marine mammals and sea turtles / slow down or stop to avoid
strike
, 2. When whales are spotted, keep a 100yd distance; if whale is North Atlantic Right Whale, keep a 500yd
distance
3. When sea turtles or small cetaceans are spotted, keep a 50yd distance
4. When cetaceans are spotted, remain parallel to the animals course
5. Reduce to 10 knots or less when mother/calf pairs, pods, or large assemblage of cetaceans are sighted
6. When animal is spotted, reduce speed and shift to neutral; do not engage engine until animals are
clear of area
Who is tasked as the lead agency for complying with reporting requirements under the current
Biological Opinions applicable to both Bureaus? - correct answer BSEE
T or F? Any injured or dead protected species should be reported, even if it was not caused by your
vessel? - correct answer True
What does the G01 highlight? - correct answer Vessel Strike Avoidance and Injured/Dead Protected
Species Reporting
BSEE and BOEM consult jointly with who? - correct answer NMFS and FWS
What does G02 highlight? - correct answer Implementation of Seismic Survey and Mitigation Measures
and Protected Species Observer Program
What is required during seismic operations to protect marine mammals and sea turtles? - correct
answer Use of ramp-up and visual observation procedures
In what depth of waters are mitigation measures applied? - correct answer Deeper than 200m
Airgun - correct answer Device that releases compressed air into the water column, creating an
acoustical energy pulse with the purpose of penetrating the seafloor
pass 2026/2027
BOEM - correct answer Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
NTL - correct answer Notice to Lessees
MMPA - correct answer Marine Mammal Protection Act
ESA - correct answer Endangered Species Act
BSEE - correct answer Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
OCS - correct answer Outer Continental Shelf
NMFS - correct answer National Marine Fisheries Service
FWS - correct answer Fish and Wildlife Service
STSSN - correct answer Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network
PRA - correct answer Paper Reduction Act
The 6 steps to avoid causing injury or death to marine mammals and sea turtles from vessel strike: -
correct answer 1. Maintain watch for marine mammals and sea turtles / slow down or stop to avoid
strike
, 2. When whales are spotted, keep a 100yd distance; if whale is North Atlantic Right Whale, keep a 500yd
distance
3. When sea turtles or small cetaceans are spotted, keep a 50yd distance
4. When cetaceans are spotted, remain parallel to the animals course
5. Reduce to 10 knots or less when mother/calf pairs, pods, or large assemblage of cetaceans are sighted
6. When animal is spotted, reduce speed and shift to neutral; do not engage engine until animals are
clear of area
Who is tasked as the lead agency for complying with reporting requirements under the current
Biological Opinions applicable to both Bureaus? - correct answer BSEE
T or F? Any injured or dead protected species should be reported, even if it was not caused by your
vessel? - correct answer True
What does the G01 highlight? - correct answer Vessel Strike Avoidance and Injured/Dead Protected
Species Reporting
BSEE and BOEM consult jointly with who? - correct answer NMFS and FWS
What does G02 highlight? - correct answer Implementation of Seismic Survey and Mitigation Measures
and Protected Species Observer Program
What is required during seismic operations to protect marine mammals and sea turtles? - correct
answer Use of ramp-up and visual observation procedures
In what depth of waters are mitigation measures applied? - correct answer Deeper than 200m
Airgun - correct answer Device that releases compressed air into the water column, creating an
acoustical energy pulse with the purpose of penetrating the seafloor
