Stellwagen Bank Final EIS and Management Plan 



Page 130 



DOI for identification and assessment activities, 

 there is no protection against removal of, or damage 

 to, such resources. There also has been a recent 

 discovery of a potentially historical wreck, the 

 Portland . Under the status quo alternative, there 

 would be no special protection provided to these 

 resources in Federal waters. 



The environmental consequences, therefore, of 

 the status quo alternative are anticipated to be 

 potentially negative to any such resources existing 

 within the Sanctuary. 



g. Taking of Marine Mammals. Marine 

 Reptiles, or Seabirds 



All marine mammals are afforded some 

 protection from taking under the provisions of the 

 Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended. 

 Additionally, threatened or endangered marine 

 mammals are also protected under the Endangered 

 Species Act (ESA), as are marine reptiles (sea 

 turtles) and listed bird species. Migratory seabirds 

 generally are protected from taking activities by the 

 Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), with the 

 exception of hunting licenses issued under that Act. 



Despite these existing regulatory authorities, 

 protection is in reahty only provided on a case-by- 

 case basis, with no particular consideration of the 

 species' importance to the Stellwagen Bank system. 



The status quo alternative would continue the 

 present regulatory regime; environmental 

 consequences would be anticipated as slightly 

 negative to the living resources of the Bank system, 

 when viewed from a long-term perspective. 



h. Offshore Hydrocarbon Development 



There is currently in place a moratorium on 

 leasing of OCS tracts in the area of Stellwagen 

 Bank until the year 2000. Therefore, the status q uo 

 alternative would have no effect on the potential for 

 exploration, development, or production of hydro- 

 carbon resources in this area until at least 2000. 



In the event of increased industry interest in 

 this area at a date beyond 2000, hydrocarbon 

 activities would be regulated by the provisions of the 



Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments 

 (OCSLA), and a variety of additional regulations 

 and directives covering spill prevention; protection 

 of sensitive areas; and preservation of the marine 

 environment. However, despite these existing 

 protective regulations, there is still some potential 

 for environmental damage and/or general 

 degradation of the area resulting from exploration, 

 development, production, and transportation 

 operations. 



Therefore, in the event of proposed OCS 

 leasing following the year 2000, the status quo 

 alternative may be anticipated to result in 

 potentially negative effects on the Bank system. 



i. Operation of Commercial Vessels 



The status quo alternative would not affect 

 ciu-rent vessel operations; existing Coast Guard 

 regulations would remain in effect. Under the 

 direction of the National Marine Fisheries Service 

 (NMFS), recommendations in the Draft Right 

 Whale Recovery Plan may result in future 

 investigations into the level of vessel collisions with 

 cetaceans, and the possible need to institute changes 

 in vessel speeds when traversing the Stellwagen 

 Bank area. These investigations, however, would 

 proceed independently imder the status quo 

 alternative. 



There have been documented incidents of 

 commercial vessel coUisions with marine mammals 

 within the Sanctuary area. Recommendations have 

 come from both private and government sectors for 

 further investigation into commercial vessel/marine 

 mammal interactions, so that appropriate decisions 

 may be made regarding actions to reduce such 

 interactions. At this time, however, no specific 

 actions have been taken affecting commercial vessel 

 operation. The status quo alternative would rely on 

 existing authorities to address such interactions. 

 The enviroiunental consequences of the status quo 

 alternative are therefore not precisely known at this 

 time. 



j. Lightering Activities 



There is presently no confirmed documentation 

 that lightering occurs within the Sanctuary's 



