EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 



A meeting was held on August 15-17, 19S9, in New Orleans, Louisiana to provide technical input into three 

 planned Minerals Management Service (MMS) studies in the Gulf of Mexico. These studies were to be (1) a 

 process oriented ecosystem study in the Texas and Louisiana Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) region (The 

 TEXLA Ecosystem Study), (2) a long-term monitoring program designed to understand natural variation 

 throughout the Gulf of Mexico OCS (The Long-Term Monitoring Study), and (3) a study to examine the 

 potential of low-level, chronic impacts possibly associated with low-level, long-term chronic stresses at established 

 oil and gas activities (Effects of Long-Term Production Sites). MMS staff presented these projects from the 

 management perspective. Invited scientists with a breadth of expertise on coastal ocean processes then gave brief 

 technical contributions for approximately one day. Following the presentations, three separate working groups 

 were formed to address specific issues of design. 



Common to all three studies was the challenge and obligation to be the first implementation of new MMS 

 directions stressing process oriented studies, post leasing activity, and studies in regions of high oil and gas 

 activity. The difficult task of participating scientists was to propose process studies of obvious and immediate 

 mission value at a time when the full potential of these approaches has yet to be fully explored in basic research. 

 In spite of the pioneer status of both the management and the scientific components, it was concluded that all 

 three studies were feasible. New, process oriented studies were feasible and could lead to a great improvement 

 in predictive capability in the OCS if fostered and developed carefully. 



The TEXLA Ecosystem Study should consist of intensive field sampling linked to simulation modeling with 

 special emphasis upon the benthic component, MMS' traditional focus, as part of a larger system. The dynamics 

 of the whole system are greatly influenced by physical factors which both regulate transport and impose a source 

 of physical disturbance. The flow of carbon (food) and nutrients (primarily nitrogen) is of central importance. 

 The design of field sampling must take into account the major physical features of the region including the 

 Mississippi/Atchafalaya plume, coastal boundary currents, and gyres and rings of the Loop current. The TEXLA 

 Ecosystem Study must include a major modeling effort and be closely linked with MMS physical oceanography 

 studies. Success of this implementation of a process oriented study will require a management structure which 

 encourages innovation, coordination, and careful, critical review of ongoing projects. 



The Long-Term Monitoring Study differs from site characterization studies in that it seeks to understand long- 

 term variation and the relationship among variables. It should focus upon changes in benthic populations, but 

 include monitoring of the water column and of chemical evidence of changing contaminant levels. Ideally, it 

 would include transect sampling in six regional subdivisions quarterly for a period of at least ten years. Transect 

 sampling would include six stations across a bathymetric gradient. These transects could be augmented with a 

 site of greater spatial coverage in conjunction with the TEXLA study. A predictive modeling effort would be 

 required which would be charged with predicting future field results on the basis of past results, then improving 

 the model after annual comparisons are made. Success of this implementation of a long-term study requires a 

 management structure which encourages innovation, central planning, and multi-institution participation. 



The Effects of Long-Term Production Sites Study is tasked with resolving the persistent concern about long- 

 term, subtle impacts resulting from low-level chronic stresses against a background of great natural variation. This 

 project must limit itself to testing specific hypothesized impacts linked to a specific toxin. Components must 

 document the behavior of the candidate toxins in the natural environment and then assess the nature and extent 

 of their toxicity. These two tasks will require both innovative field and laboratory work. Special attention must 

 be given to application of new methods of detecting the stress and the resulting impact at the organism level. 

 Field efforts should make use of a paired platform design in which a simple gradient of possible impact is 

 sampled for at numerous sites. This departs from the traditional intensive "bulls eye" sampling around a limited 

 number of platforms. Success of this implementation of a long-term study requires a management structure which 

 encourages innovation and careful quality assurance and control. 



If fully implemented, each study would differ so greatly from the others that sharing of resources, ships, and data 

 would not be greatly beneficial. However, if funding limits result in a reduced scope, portions of the TEXT .A 

 Ecosystem Study and the Long-Term Monitoring Study could be combined with respect to stations, cruises, and 

 data. The detection of stress requires work in contaminated areas and can not be easily combined with either 



