Table 2. Summary of Federal OCS Development Activities and State and 

 Regional Responses. (Sources: Local newspapers 1972-1977) 



Federal OCS Activities 



1972 



Spring 

 *USGS report 



on Atlantic Coast. 



1973 



Spring 



*President Nixon's speech pro- 

 moting OCS leasing. 



*USGS announces that the At- 

 lantic's potential oil-bearing 

 sediments are twice as thick as 

 originally expected. 



*Delay in leasing of frontier 

 areas of Atlantic and Alaska 

 pending preparation of a study 

 on impacts for the Council on 

 Environmental Quality. 



1974 



Winter 



*Nixon announces ten million acre 



leasing goal for 1975. 

 *USGS reports on North Atlantic 



petroleum and gas potential. 

 Spring 

 *Report on Atlantic and Alaska OCS 



issues released by CEQ. 

 *Work begins on draft of EIS for 



accelerated leasing program. 

 Fall 

 *Draft of environmental impact 



statement on accelerated leasing 



program released. 

 *White House meeting of coastal 



governors on accelerating the 



program 



State & Regional Responses 



Spring 



*New England Governor's Conference, 

 New England Regional Commission, and 

 New England River Basins Commission 

 collaborate to gather information 

 on OCS petroleum and gas development. 



*Massachusetts' special legislative 

 commission on marine boundaries and 

 resources holds hearings on OCS issues, 



Spring 



*Regional study on costs and benefits 



of OCS development by Massachusetts 



Institute of Technology. 

 Fall 

 *Hearings on OCS study for CEQ held 



in Boston. 



Winter 



*New England Regional Commission 



announces Energy Research and Policy 



program. 



Spring 



*CEQ report criticized for neglect of 

 fishing interests and other issues 

 by legislators and environmentalists. 



EAll 



*Massachusetts is among states which 

 successfully delay the hearing on the 

 1975 impact statement, to permit time 

 for state responses. 



*New England governors argue for slower 

 pace in OCS leasing program. 



