Assessment of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Studies Program II. Ecology (1992) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
1. Introduction
1. Introduction
Pages 9-26
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 9... ...
. Federal responsibility for development of mineral resources and conservation of natural resources on the OCS was established by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA)
|
From page 10... ...
The OCS lease-sate schedule is established An accordance with a S-year plan that sets forth the size, tinting, and location of proposed leasing activities. The plan is developed in a 2year process that includes consultation with coastal states and other federal agencies and an opportunity for public comment.
|
From page 11... ...
10~5 I ~ I -s ~ .~\ I GULF iOF MEDIC ~ 1 ' 1 ' I · 00- 05- .0- 06- 80. FIGURE 1-2 Outer Continental Shelf planning areas (contiguous United States)
|
From page 12... ...
The potential impacts of oil spills resulting from OCS development and production on resources, such as fisheries, and endangered species have caused environmental concern. Other sources of potential adverse impacts associated with OCS development include the discharge of produced water and driDing muds and the chronic loss of oil at driDing sites.
|
From page 13... ...
Seabed disturbance due to anchonug Discharge of dolling fluids and cutting; risk of blowouts Deck drainage and sanitary wastes Discharges from support vessels and coastal port development Land use conflicts and increased channelization in heavily developed areas Coastal navigation channels; seabed disturbance resulting from placement and subsequent presence of platform Larger and more heavily concentrated discharges of drilling fluids and cuttings; risk of blowouts Increased risk of oil spills Dredges and coastal port development; discharges from vessels Chronic discharges of petroleum and other pollutants Coastal use conflicts Seabed disturbances; effects of structures Increased risk of oil spills; acute and chronic inputs of petroleum Coastal use conflicts; alterations of wetlands · · it- · ~ in pipeline cornaors Oil spills; chronic leaks Coastal use conflicts Increased pollutant loading; depends on regional demands, imports, etc. drilling fluids to the seafloor (Neil et al., 1987)
|
From page 14... ...
. Other discharges during exploration include water drainage from the deck of the rig that can contain drilling fluids, oil, and small amounts of industrial chemicals used on the rig; treated wastes; and discharges from support vessels.
|
From page 15... ...
increased risk of blowout, (4) greater risk of oil spills during transfer to tankers and barges or in pipeline operations, (5)
|
From page 16... ...
The composition of produced waters varies considerably with the nature of the hydrocarbon reserves and geological formations (Collins, 1975; Jackson et al., 1981; Lyme, 1982~. Produced waters consist primarily of an oily brine brought to the surface with produced hydrocarbons (Boehm, 1987)
|
From page 17... ...
A suite of observation, experiment, and modeling is often required for timely and cost-efEective predictive assessments. THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM Mandate Under the OCSLA as amended in 197S, MMS must manage the OCS oil and gas program with consideration for the economic, social, and environmental values of both renewable and nonrenewable resources; for the marine, coastal, and human environments that could be affected; for the laws, goals, and policies of affected states; and for the equitable sharing of developmental benefits and environmental risks among the various regions.
|
From page 18... ...
§7) requires all federal agencies, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce and to the extent practicable consistent with their primary mission, to use their authority to carry out programs to conserve endangered and threatened species and to ensure that agency actions are "not Rely to jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result In the destruction or adverse modification of habitat of such species which is detennined by the Secretary, after consultation with the appropriate affected states, to be critical, unless such agency has been granted an exemption....
|
From page 19... ...
1981~; Bean, 1983~. Other environmental laws applicable to OCS activities include the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (33 U.S.C.
|
From page 20... ...
· Ensure that information already available or being collected under the program is in a fonn that can be used in decision-making associated with a specific leasing action or with longer-term OCS minerals management responsibilities. · Provide a basis for fixture environmental mon~tonng of OCS operations, including assessments of short-term and long-term impacts attributable to the OCS oil and gas program.
|
From page 21... ...
Each draft plan includes a statement of regional needs for information, the regional perspective on the priorities of these needs, a list of proposed study topics, and a brief description of the rationale for each proposed study. The BES coordinates the development of a "national studies list" Tom the proposed study topics and ranks them for funding priority according to a set of criteria.
|
From page 22... ...
A breakdown of the amounts spent on each topic by region Is provided In Table A THE PRESENT STUDY AND REPORT In 1986, In response to a request Tom MMS, the National Research Council's Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology formed the Committee to Review the Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Studies Program.
|
From page 23... ...
prepared that analyzes all issues involved In proposed sale and possible coastal zone consistency conflicts; SID, accompanied by EIS, is sent to assistant secretary for review and decision on whether to issue proposed notice of sale Proposed notice of sale details terms and conditions of proposed sale, blocks proposed for leasing, stipulations and other mitigating measures to be required, and proposed bidding systems Governor's condiments due~sed by MMS to develop recommendations to secretary, SID and final EIS sent to secretary, secretary Is required to accept recommendations of governor if he or she determines that they provide reasonable balance between national interest and interests of stators) Final notice of sale published at least 30 days before sale; specifies date, time, location, blocks to be offered, and terms and conditions of sale Sale—sealed bids opened and read by regional director Bid reviev~igh bids evaluated to ensure receipt of fair-market value; sale results also reviewed by Department of Justice to ensure that awarding leases does not violate antitrust laws Leases issuers accepted or rejected within 90 days of receipt; leases issued for accepted bids 1-2 months after sale NOTES: In this example, 5 years elapse from the completion of a draft regional studies plan to the lease sale.
|
From page 24... ...
Nonetheless, the answers to those questions need to have a basis In sound science. The pane} based its report on several sources, including presentations Tom ESP staff; brief ings by other, independent scientists familiar with the work supported by the ESP; results of a workshop on ecological studies held by the panel; and a review of relevant scientific literature and documentation of MMS's planning and implementation process leading to various lease sales.
|
From page 25... ...
Finally, studies of OCS benthic environments are generally based on assemblages of organisms and contain minimal detail on the component species. Many species are undescr~ed taxonom~caDy, none is on the Endangered Species List, some are econom~caDy valuable, and many provide excellent material for e~perunentation, either In the laboratory or in the field.
|
From page 26... ...
26 OCS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM: ECOLOGY various populations and communities would be affected by OCS activities, and the potential for recovery. · Determination of potential effects of various agents of impact (e.g., spired oil, operation discharges, noise, and other disturbances)
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.