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requirements with unique study opportunities. For example, given the localized nature of potential impacts, it 

 is impractical to develop site specific information prior to a lease sale. It is relatively common for questions 

 related to operational impacts to arise during the pre-lease evaluation process, but all such issues cannot be 

 resolved at that time. In addition, much of the data available for other regions may be useful in interpreting 

 potential impacts. Pre-lease studies, where needed, will emphasize broader area, more generalized 

 characterization. 



A fifth trend established by the Long-Range Study Plan is that the ESP will support studies to evaluate oil spill 

 impacts whenever circumstances suggest that a study would be appropriate and resources are available. Because 

 the occurrence of major oil spill events is unpredictable and relatively rare, ESP funding will not always be 

 available. However, the ESP has sponsored studies of three recent spills. In 1986, a major spill at Bahia Las 

 Minas, Panama significantly impacted coral reef, seagrass, and mangrove communities similar to those of south 

 Florida. The ESP took advantage of this natural laboratory opportunity and the 15-year pre-spill data base 

 established by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute to fund a 5-year assessment of the oil spill impacts. 

 The MMS also sponsored intertidal and subtidal investigations along the Olympic National Park coast of 

 Washington State following the NESTUCCA oil barge spill in 1988. Most recently, the ESP sponsored 

 environmental and socio-economic impact studies of the EXXON VALDEZ tanker spill in Alaska. 



Finally, the Long-Range Study Plan places emphasis on efforts to improve the accessibility and usefulness of data 

 collected through the ESP. Synthesis reports, technical position papers, dissemination of technical summary 

 information, and study planning workshops will have a high priority. 



