Ocean Systems Laboratory, Inc. was established in 1982 as Ocean Systems Research, Inc. and licensed by the local government as a water-testing laboratory in 1988. The company was re-incorporated in the U. S. Virgin Islands in 1996 and given its present name. In 1998 the St. Croix Laboratory was established as a Principal State Laboratory being certified by Federal EPA Region II. In 2007, Ocean Systems Laboratory was designated as the principal state laboratory in St. Thomas. They are now the only laboratory certified in the territory serving St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John.

Laboratories have been established in St. Croix and in St. Thomas. Our labs test drinking water, wastewater, and near shore waters for harmful contaminants.

Our staff is trained and certified in laboratory and field monitoring for environmental water quality analysis. In addition, staff members are qualified divers undertaking projects in underwater surveys, coral monitoring, coral reef and seagrass transplants.

Download the OSLI Qualifications Statement - PDF; 80 KB

Mary Lou Coulston, president, has had 40 years of experience in scientific research and water quality analysis, most of which was in the U.S. Virgin Islands, including several years as Research Associate Professor at the University of the Virgin Islands. She spent 6 years with the NOAA-Farleigh Dickinson Undersea Research Program as Science Coordinator; participating in two saturation diving missions as an aquanaut. Early experience in water quality analysis began in Liberia with the U. S. Peace Corps in 1963.

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Download Mary Lou’s Resumé - PDF; 72 KB

Amy Claire Dempsey, owner of Bioimpact, Inc., works with the Laboratory on many joint ventures. Her company is predominantly engaged in field monitoring operations including coral transplants, seagrass transplants, dredge monitoring and submarine cable installations. She was also an aquanaut with the NOAA Undersea Research program, is a qualified dive instructor, and spends many hours underwater for her work. Her extensive educational background in microbiology allows her to serve as the microbiological consultant for the laboratory in addition to being a supervisor.

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Download Amy’s Resumé - PDF; 56 KB

Download the Bioimpact Qualifications Statement - PDF; 232 KB