Final Scoping Report for Environmental Impact Statement on Effects of Oil & Gas Activities (Seismic and Exploratory Drilling) in the Artic Ocean

摘要

The Effects of Oil and Gas Activities in the Arctic Ocean EIS will analyze the potential effects of geophysical surveys and exploratory drilling activities and the issuance of ITAs under the MMPA for the taking of marine mammals incidental to these activities, conduct a cumulative effects analysis, consider a reasonable range of alternatives consistent with NMFS statutory mandates, reanalyze the range of practicable mitigation and monitoring measures for marine mammals, and evaluate the availability of marine mammals for subsistence uses. In order to comply with NEPA and to achieve increased administrative efficiency on the ITA program, NMFS has determined that this EIS will analyze a range of oil and gas exploratory actions and that will also satisfy the Council on Environmental Qualitys NEPA regulations and the NOAA NEPA Administrative Order 216-6. This EIS would cover known and reasonably foreseeable projects requiring ITAs in the U.S. Arctic regions for future years, until at which time a revision to the document becomes necessary. NMFS has determined that an EIS would serve a more beneficial use in terms of agency decision making and would allow greater public participation in future decisions related to ITAs for the oil and gas industry.