Status of PCS Operations 



BLM had originally scheduled the Norton Basin for leasing in August 

 of 1978 but Interior's October 1976 proposed leasing schedule indefinitely 

 postponed any sales in this area. 



Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts 



Information concerning OCS impacts resulting from development of 

 Norton Basin in the Bering Sea is limited to Waldrop's 1975 general 

 impact predictions. 00 These are: 



1. Recoverable oil should range from 4.6 to 12.0 billion barrels 

 for the Norton Basin. 



2. Ten to fifteen exploratory rigs may be expected with direct 

 employment totalling 1,500 to 2,250. 



3. Roughly 1.5 times the onshore facilities will be needed for 

 Norton Basin as is required for the northern Gulf of Alaska. 

 Frozen seas from October to May may require substantially more 

 onshore storage, a long pipeline to an ice- free ocean, or 

 cnother trans-Alaska pipeline. 



4. About 450 miles of pipeline may be needed to connect wells and 

 storage loading facilities for Norton Sound production. 



5. Direct employment will peak during the development phase at 

 5,400 workers. This will drop to 3,200 workers during the 

 production phase. This does not include secondary employment. 



6. If tankers are used, tanker traffic may reach two to three per 

 day. Service vessels will number from 30 to 90 for Norton Basin. 



7. Total oil spills will range from 574,000 to 64,200,000 barrels 

 over the life of the field. 



67 



