In reviewing these plans, USGS has relied on the environmental 

 impact evaluation prepared by BLM and FWS prior to leasing. Normally 

 many of the suggested conditions or hazards are already accounted for in 

 lease stipulations developed by BLM, FWS and USGS, under Secretarial 

 Order 2974. To supplement these conditions, the Area Oil and Gas_ 

 Supervisor may issue operating orders that govern exploration, drilling, 

 and production in leased areas. 



The Fish and Wildlife Service contributes to the conditions which 

 may be attached to the exploratory drilling permit, BLM and FWS may 

 collaborate in designing biological surveys (in satisfaction of a lease 

 sale stipulation) to ascertain what effects the drilling would have on 

 "significant biological resources." Environmental assessment is 

 incorporated in the lease tract evaluation program managed by the 

 Bureau of Land Management. 



The Fish and Wildlife Service is also asked to corraient on Corps of 

 Engineers and Coast Guard permits required for temporary and permanent 

 OCS structures. However .the Corps has interpreted its statutory 

 authority to apply only to navigational and security aspects, thus 

 excluding direct environmental consequences from Outer Continental Shelf 

 permit review; the Service is left with few opportunities to comment. 



State Role : The 1976 Amendments to the Coastal Zone Management Act 

 added a provision that may bring states into this process insofar as 

 exploration brings associated coastal zone impacts. Section 307 (c) (3) 

 (B) requires that any "plan for the exploration or development of... any 

 area which has been leased under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 

 Act... shall attach to such plan a certification that each activity which 

 is described in detail in such plan complies with such State's approved 

 management program " 



Development Strategy 



Data obtained from exploratory drilling is proprietary information, 

 owned by individual oil and/or gas companies. As such, this data is not 

 released to the general public, except upon the request of the company. 

 A copy of the findings, however, is given to USGS in compliance with 

 Federal regulations, but still remains proprietary. 



In cases where a COST hole has been drilled in a frontier area 

 by a consortium of companies, information can be released to the public 

 either (1) after five years from the drilling date, or (2) within 60 

 days after a lease-sale is held within a 50 mile radius of the drilling 

 site. Within these specified time periods oil and gas, companies have 

 exclusive rights to the information obtained during exploratory drilling, 

 without obligation to make the data public. USGS can purchase the 

 information from the companies. 



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