Environmental Information for Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Decisions in Alaska (1994) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 9-30
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From page 9... ...
VI~O~M~TAL B~FO~M~TBO~ FOR OUTGO COT SHELF OlL ID Gels D~ces~o~s I~ ALASKA
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From page 11... ...
The most visible and controversial impacts are those associated with accidental oil spills, despite the fact that offshore exploration and production account ~ Although there is no hard and fast rule for categorizing oil-field size, the most user (and generally accepted) scale is small, < 50 million barrels; large, 50-500 million barrels; giant, SOD million to 5 billion barrels; and supergiant, ~5 billion barrels (Fitzgerald, 19801.
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From page 12... ...
of Be National Academy of Sciences to assess Be adequacy of environmental information relevant to Free Alaskan lease sales planned for 1991: Sale 126 (Chukchi Sea) , Sale 124 (Beautort Sea)
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Ihe committee was asked to evaluate He approximate time required and Be cost of obtaining additional environmental information and the likely improvement in decision-maker's ability to predict and manage environmental effects of OCS oil and gas activities Rat would result from having He additional environmental information. Finally, He committee was asked to review options, over Han conducting studies for obtaining additional environmental information-such as mitigation, lease sale stipulations, and acceptance of uncertain (statement of task to He committee, September 1992)
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From page 14... ...
The Bering Sea is not completely excluded, however, because it was in the committee's charge, because it has been studied extensively, because it has biological and physical influences on the Chukchi Sea and (to a lesser extent) on the Beautort Sea, because ships supporting development in Me Chukchi and Beaulort seas pass Trough Be Bering Sea, and because it is possible that industry will reevaluate its interest in the area at some future time.
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From page 15... ...
ComoIeteness Because the body of scientific information grows continuously through research and discovery, completeness requires appropriate breadth and depth of basic scientific information in all relevant disciplines needed to illuminate the environments risks associated with OCS oil and gas development. The criteria for completeness within disciplines for the three lease sales are described in Me chapters that deal with the physical environment (Chapter 4)
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From page 16... ...
12ePor' Organization In this report, the committee focuses on what environmental information is needed to make of} and gas leasing decisions and if additional information is needed, determines the approximate time and financial cost involved in obtaining additional information. It also addresses how Hat information would improve He ability to predict and manage environmental effects of OCS of!
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From page 17... ...
It outlines Me federal decision-making process for establishing OCS lease sales. D[SC~IPT10~ 01 THE A~" In What ways Are Hlon Latlludes Differently Although each area where of} and gas exploration and development has occurred or is planned has its Mare of unique environmental characteristics, Me high-latitude planning areas considered here have relatively sensitive,
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From page 18... ...
stated that "chronic environmental disturbances from both nab and human origins can create cumulative impacts on Me arctic food chain; on gas reflux of greenhouse gases; and on We integrity of Be permafrost, Bus creating serious soil erosion and potential loss of biological diversity." Brown (1984) suggested Tat a smaller disturbance is required to produce an effect in Be Arctic Wan is necessary in lower latitudes.
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From page 19... ...
and gas exploration could occur in the Arctic: the location and size of undiscovered oil and gas resources; future energy prices; and the policies developed by Be federal government, Be State of Alaska, and the North Slope Borough (Dugger, 1984~. According to industry estimates, Be potential resources of Alaska onshore and offshore represent a very significant part of the total undiscovered resources left to be found in [the U.S.]
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From page 20... ...
The search for major fields continues in the Beaufort Sea (Kumar, 1992~. M - AGFM[~T OF OCS ACTIVITIES Federal responsibility for development of mineral resources and conservation of OCS natural resources was established by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA)
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From page 21... ...
The OCS lease sale schedule is established in accordance why a 5-year plan dlat sets form Me size, timing, and location of proposed leasing ac~vides. The pen is developed in a 2-year process that includes consultation why coastal states and other federal agencies and an opportunity for public comment.
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From page 23... ...
§ 1346 A The second goal is to conduct additional studies subsequent to the leasing and development of an area or region as the secretary deems necessary and to "monitor the human, marine, and coastal environments of such an area or region to provide timeseries and data-trend information which can be used for comparison wad previously collected data to identify important changes in Me quality and productivity of such environments, to establish trends in Me areas studied and monitored, and to design experiments to identify Me causes of changes" (43 U.S.C.
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:::: :-:-::: :.:.:.: .:::: ::-: :-::::::-::::::-::-::-:-::::::: :: :::::::::::::::::::::::::: DEPARTIUENT OF THE INTERIOR _-~ if. ~ _ Year OCS On and Gas Leasing Schedule Geology and Resource Reports Define Area of Hydrocarbon l Potential .
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. i~eral Register ~ederal Regi~kr Cancellation C~c~ ~5f-S-isli~ Injor~r~io~ 7/91 FIGURE 1-3 The post-lease phase of the OCS oil and gas leasing process.
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. T Governor submits I l written comments | l 30 | State CZM Agencies notify I MMS of concurrence or | objection with CZM | consistency certification at | earliest practicable time.
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From page 27... ...
days T Governor submits written _ 60 comments days Draft EIS sent to Governor . State CZMAgencies notify MMS of concurrence or objection with CZM consistency certification at earliest practicable time.
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Imperfect knowledge on a subject cannot stop a lease sale, but the decision maker must be aware of Me inadequacy of that knowledge. This report is an attempt to focus on Me merit of Me existing scientific data base as developed in part by MMS's Environmental Studies Program and its adequacy for making leasing decisions.
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Particular consideration is given to addressing significant adverse effects on the marine, coastal, or human environment Mat can result from Me construction of new onshore and offshore facilities. Cumulative impacts are also considered.
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