Coastal Marine Institute, University of Alaska: Annual Report No. 16, Calendar Year 2009

摘要

The Minerals Management Service administers the outer continental shelf (OCS) natural gas, oil, and marine minerals program overseeing the safe and environmentally sound leasing, exploration, and production of these resources within our nation's offshore areas. The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) was formally directed in 1978, under Section 20 of the OCS Lands Act Amendments, to provide information in support of the decisions involved in the planning, leasing, and management of exploration, development, and production activities. The research agenda is driven by the identification of specific issues, concerns, or data gaps by federal decision makers and the state and local governments that participate in the process. ESP research focuses on the following broad issues associated with development of OCS gas, oil, and minerals: (1) What are the fates and effects of potential OCS-related pollutants (e.g., oil, noise, drilling muds, and cuttings, products of fuel combustion) in the marine and coastal environment and the atmosphere; (2) What biological resources (e.g., fish populations) exist and which resources are at risk. What is the nature and extent of the risk. What measures must be taken to allow extraction to take place. (3) How do OCS activities affect people in terms of jobs and the economy. What are the direct and indirect effects on local culture. What are the psychological effects of the proposed OCS activites.