Major Federal Acts that legislate FWS responsibilities are given 

 in Table 1. Those acts most applicable to the effects of oil and gas 

 activities on environments are the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 

 of 1958 as amended [4] and the National Environmental Policy Act of 

 1969 [5]. 



Fish and Wildlife Service policies and activities are administered 

 and managed on an area basis by Directors of six Regions and the Alaska 

 Area (Fig. 2). 



1.1.2 Offshore Oil and Gas Related Programs 



FWS programs concerning OCS oil and gas activities and affected 

 coastal areas are directed principally by the Office of Biological 

 Services and the Division of Ecological Services. Although the opera- 

 tions of FWS and these services are described in detail in Parts 2 and 

 3 of this volume, a brief review of their functions is given here. 



The Fish and Wildlife Service reviews proposed Federal land and 

 water development permits or activities primarily for determining 

 potential harmful impacts on habitats and fish and wildlife resources, 

 and for determining measures necessary for eliminating, reducing, or 

 mitigating losses. 



Most applications by oil companies for permits for oil and gas 

 activities and related construction in coastal waters within the 3-mile 

 territorial limit or on land are received, and approved or rejected by 

 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Division of Ecological Services, 

 FWS in cooperation with state agencies and other organizations such as 

 EPA, make recommendation or stipulations, when applicable, for environ- 

 mental protection. 



For oil and gas development permits on the Outer Continental Shelf, 

 applications for permits are received and approved, modified or rejected 

 by USGS, and in special cases, by BLM. For the issuance of permits, 

 attempts to assure environmental safeguards are coordinated through USGS 

 by BLM, Office of Biological Services FWS, NPS, and sometimes other 

 Interior agencies and other Federal agencies. Similar environmental 

 considerations are given to OCS oil and gas leasing activities which 

 are managed by BLM and coordinated with other agencies. 



1.1.3 Division of Ecological Services 



The bulk of regional environmental review activities are conducted 

 by field offices of the Ecological Services Division. For example, the 



