development and socio economic study was conducted by Keyes Associates 

 and Gladstone Associates respectively. The three-volume study released 

 June/July, 1977 discusses three scenarios for the site (including an all 

 oil scenario). 



5.1 Ecological Effects of Petroleum Development 



The MIT project, The Georges Bank Study , examined spill probabili- 

 ties, spill trajectories, spill containment and removal, biological 

 effects of oil in the ocean, and the results of hypothetical spills 

 and discharges. The report assessed various scenarios of offshore de- 

 velopment, from no-find to a large find and with or without a refinery. 

 It presented data on the probable quantity of oil spilled annually 

 for the different scenarios. The greatest impact occurred when a re- 

 finery was sited in the region. 



In April 1974, the Council on Environmental Quality released PCS 

 Oil and' Gas, An Environmental Assessment . This study examined the 

 technology for developing offshore energy resources, the impact of 

 natural phenomena on the development process, and the effects of de- 

 velopment on the offshore environment and on a local community (Bristol 

 County, MA). In addition, the report quoted the findings of an MIT 

 study prepared for CEQ which indicated that, under worst seasonal con- 

 ditions, there was a 0.15 - 0.20 probability of oil being washed ashore 

 from hypothetical spills on the eastern portion of the bank, and a 

 0.35 - 0.50 probability of such an effect from a spill on sites in the 

 western part of the bank. On the basis of their study of eight areas 

 along -the Atlantic and Alaskan coasts, CEQ ranked eastern Georges Bank 

 lowest and western Georges Bank third lowest in terms of risk from 

 spills during drilling. 



43 



