Environmental Information for Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Decisions in Alaska (1994) / Chapter Skim
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8 General Conclusions and an Alternative to Additional Studies
8 General Conclusions and an Alternative to Additional Studies
Pages 187-196
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From page 187... ...
This chapter also discusses an alternative to conduchng addidonal studies in a case in which it appears Tat additional information alone Will not permit a resolution of disagreements. GEL CONCLUSIONS Conclusion I: The committee concludes Cat Be environmental information available for Be Chukchi, Navarin, and Beaufort OCS areas is generally adequate for leasing and exploration decisions, except in Be case of effects on Be human environment (i.e., socioeconomic effects, as defined in Be Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA)
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From page 188... ...
The committee concludes Mat MMS should now concentrate its resources on fewer, longer-term studies of the living resources, social and economic conditions, and physical processes with peer review of results, to develop Be additional information needed for decision making about of} and gas production, transportation, and related develop ment. Conclusion 5: The most controversial of Me potential effects of OCS development in the arctic OCS are of} spills and interference with marine mammals-especially Be bowhead whale critical to Be subsistence economy of Alaska Natives.
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From page 189... ...
This is more or less the paradigm established by OCSLA and embodied in the Environmental Studies Program and He OCS oil and gas leasing process. However, the committee notes that OCSLA specifically includes a "congressional declaration of policy" that states and affected local governments "are entitled to an opportunity to participate, to the extent consistent with the national interest, in the policy and planning decisions made by the Federal Government relating to exploration for, and development and production of, minerals of the Outer Continental Shelf' (43 U.S.C.
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From page 190... ...
Unfortunately, a simplistic approach such as the apparently straightforward exhortation that the various parties involved should seek to use cooperation as a means of dealing with uncertainties tends to work only in cases having the first of the three considerations noted above. This approach would appear, on the basis of past studies, to have little likelihood of success in the present case.
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From page 191... ...
Indeed, this committee has learned that Me MMS program in Alaska shares with many other programs Me problem of a serious credibility deficit, whether or not its environmental studies are credible in an objective sense. Second, the experience wad Me Exxon Chavez oil spill also contributes to a lack of credibility in the potential to clean up spilled oil effectively, even Cough Hat accident did not involve OCS oil and did not physically affect northern Alaska.
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From page 192... ...
None of Hem was able to offer specific examples of cases in which local objections had led the agency to make truly significant changes in development plans where He leases had been offered and commercially significant quantities of oil or gas had been discovered. Workable ~esotIa~on OPIIOnS Where Here is lithe reason to expect success from exhortations Hat one party should simply trust tile ogler, Here appear to be only two remaining
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From page 193... ...
This would be simi ar to a number of waste-management controversies in which arrangements have been made for the community to shut down a site if it determines that He facility is berg operated unsafely. The most efficient course of action available to MMS at this time could be to modify the existing stipulation mechanism that allows formal input from other agencies so that it also includes more effective input from the affected local communities.
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From page 194... ...
solution is for MMS, the industry, and North Slope residents to attempt to reach agreement on the controversial matters and how they should be adjusted, remedied, or mitigated as specific times and places that various activities occur in lieu of or concurrent USA additional studies. Such a negotiation does not require any party to give up any rights to other remedies as a condition to begin the negotiation, although the assumption must be that a mutual agreement would be exclusive; the agreed-on course of action wait be adhered to unless additional information shows to everyone's satisfaction that it should be modified.
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From page 195... ...
, MMS should explore the potential for mitigating longer-term effects Trough revenue sharing, as well as through other steps Cat could help mitigate the coming "bust" by building up locally controlled trust funds. If such funds were sufficiently large, they could even help cushion Be impending end of the Pru&oe Bay revenues, with the principal being left intact, and with the annual proceeds being used to fund a significant fraction of the borough's (or NANA's)
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