The major purpose of this report is to describe the technological 

 characteristics and planning strategy of oil and gas development on 

 the Outer Continental Shelf, and to assess the effects of OCS oil and 

 gas operations on living resources and their habitats. This approach 

 should help bridge the gap between a simple reactive mode and effec- 

 tive advanced planning—planning that will result in a better 

 understanding of the wide range of OCS activities that directly and 

 indirectly generate impacts on the environment, and the counter- 

 measures necessary to protect and enhance living resources. 



Development of offshore oil and gas resources is a complex 

 industrial process that requires extensive advance planning and 

 coordination of all phases from exploration to processing and ship- 

 ment. Each of hundreds of system components linking development 

 and production activities has the potential for adverse environ- 

 mental effects on coastal water resources. Among the advance 

 judgements that OCS planning requires are the probable environ- 

 mental impacts of various courses of action. 



The relevant review functions that the Fish and Wildlife Service 

 is concerned with are: (1) planning for baseline studies and the 

 leasing of oil and gas tracts offshore and (2) reviewing of permit 

 applications and evaluation of environmental impact statements (EIS) 

 that relate to facility development, whether offshore (OCS), near 

 shore (within territorial limits), or onshore (above the mean high 

 tidemark). Because the Service is involved with such a broad array 

 of activities, there is a great deal of private and public interest 

 in its review functions. Therefore, it is most valuable in advance 

 to have some of the principles, criteria and standards that provide 

 the basis for review and decisionmaking. The public, the offshore 

 petroleum industry, and the appropriate Federal, state, and local 

 government agencies are thus able to help solve problems associated 

 with protection of public fish and wildlife resources. With 

 advanced standards, all interests should be able to gauge the 

 environmental impacts of each OCS activity. 



A number of working assumptions were used to guide various 

 aspects of the analysis and the preparation of the report series. 

 The assumptions relating to supply, recovery, and impacts of offshore 

 oil and gas were: 



1. The Federal Government's initiative in accelerated 

 leasing of OCS tracts will continue, though the pace 

 may change. 



2. OCS oil and gas extractions will continue under private 

 enterprise with Federal support and with Federal 

 regulation. 



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