petroleum development along its coast. In 1974, Massachusetts was 

 the only New England state to attend meetings with the Secretary of 

 Interior for the purpose of delaying the public hearing on the ac- 

 celerated leasing program. It also submitted numerous comments about 

 the draft environmental impact statement in 1975. Furthermore, its 

 energy policy office took the initiative to develop a regional response 

 to delay the August 18, 1975, deadline for formal nominations and com- 

 ments on Georges Bank. As a result, the governors of Maine, Massachu- 

 setts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut signed a telegram sent to DOI, 

 unsuccessfully requesting a delay. In June 1976, Massachusetts sub- 

 mitted its recommendations for tract withdrawals, mitigating actions, 

 and lease stipulations. 



The State is interested in attracting the oil industry and, in 

 fact, the governor and several representatives attended the Offshore 

 Technology Conference in Houston in May of 1976 for this purpose. The 

 State's policy is basically that it welcomes offshore exploration and 

 development, if actions onshore are undertaken responsibly, and as 

 long as development does not undermine environmental assets crucial 

 to the fishing industry, tourism, and the quality of life. Massa- 

 chusetts expects a variety of onshore impacts, and has prepared docu- 

 ments addressing that issue specifically. For example, the coastal 

 management program released a report in August 1975 entitled PCS 

 Development and Massachusetts: A Preliminary Assessment . The Massa- 

 chusetts coastal zone program has also prepared a draft management 

 plan which addresses the siting of energy-related facilities. 



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