the likely effects of noise, oil, and other contaminants on 

 primary and secondary marine mammal prey species, and key 

 species lower in the relevant marine food webs; (3) the 

 adequacy of existing and possible future means for containing 

 and cleaning up oil spills under ice, and during high winds 

 and sea states; (4) the locations and characteristics of any 

 feeding areas, breeding areas, resting areas, or migratory 

 routes that are unique and essential for the survival or 

 welfare of marine mammal species and populations; (5) the 

 nature and likelihood of the possible cumulative effects of 

 offshore exploration and development on migratory species 

 such as the humpback, bowhead, right, and gray whale; and (6) 

 the types of long-term monitoring programs best suited to 

 validate conclusions concerning the potential effects of 

 exploration and development activities, and to detect 

 possible unforeseen effects on marine mammals and the 

 ecosystems of which they are a part. 



With regard to the last point, the Commission represen- 

 tative pointed out that it could be prohibitively costly, if 

 not impossible, to obtain all information necessary to 

 accurately predict both the direct and indirect effects of 

 exploration and development activities on marine mammals and 

 the ecosystems of which they are a part. To avoid costly 

 programs and delays, while insuring that exploration and 

 development activities do not have unforeseen and unaccept- 

 able impacts, he noted that it should be possible to design 

 long-term monitoring programs which would detect possible 

 unforeseen effects before they reach unacceptable levels. 



In 1987, the Commission will continue to review proposed 

 DCS exploration and development activities, and advise the 

 Minerals Management Service and other agencies as to steps 

 that should be taken to insure that such activities do not 

 have adverse effects on marine mammals or the ecosystems of 

 which they are a part. 



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