petroleum is exploited, the occurrence of other events (e.g., onshore 

 petroleum finds, natural gas pipeline) and the occurrence of statistically 

 improbable events (e.g., a massive oil spill during the height of a bird 

 migration season). Impact prediction is further hindered by limited 

 information about environmental conditions and processes and by primitive 

 impact assessment methodologies. 



Despite the difficulty of predicting OCS impacts in Alaska, some 

 general impacts will probably occur. 9 These are listed and discussed 

 briefly as follows: 



1. Environmental resources may become contaminated and/or destroyed 

 by massive and chronic oil spills. Such spills may occur from 

 well blowouts, transportation and handling mishaps, or pipeline 

 leaks and breaks. 



2. Fisheries and wildlife habitat may be destroyed during the 

 construction and operation of onshore and nearshore support 

 facilities. Dredging, filling and effluent discharges all 

 pose a threat to these resources. 



3. Secondary impacts on environmental resources may result from 

 housing and infrastructure development to accommodate increases 

 in population. These impacts may be more severe than the 

 primary impacts from energy facilities. 



4. Local economics and lifestyles may be disrupted by the boom 

 and bust cycle of oil development and production. Population 

 increases may strain the financial and planning resources of 

 small towns and villages and the eventual decline in petroleum 

 operations may leave a depressed economy and high unemployment. 



8 



