where construction itself, rather than location, design, or operation 

 has the major potential for impact. 



(4) Operations : For a number of the projects, such as onshore 

 support and drilling operations, operation factors--method, duration, 

 and scope--may be more significant than construction and installation. 



(5) Community Effects : This topic addresses induced effects of 

 OCS development. A key factor in assessing community effects is 

 employment. Estimates of demands for services, facilities, housing, 

 etc., can be projected from a combination of the increased employment 

 figure, and the project's onsite demands. From these results, estimates 

 can be made of effects on living resources. 



(6) Effects on Living Resources : Important environmental strategies 

 related to resource conservation and environmental concerns, especially 



as they affect living resources--particularly fish and wildlife and 

 their habitats--are discussed (environmental concerns in which the Fish 

 and Wildlife Service is not involved are de-emphasized). As appropriate, 

 conservation-environmental discussions are segmented into four distinct 

 phases of project development: location, design, construction, and 

 operation (including maintenance). 



(7) Regulatory Factors : Federal, state, and local regulatory 

 concerns are segmented and described. Discussion of state and local 

 concerns, which vary greatly, is generic. Discussion of Federal 

 regulations is specific and relates back to information in previous 

 sections, primarily the description, site requirements, and environmental 

 factors. The strategy of the sponsor is discussed in terms of avoidable 

 and unavoidable requirements. Strategies to minimize procedural delays 

 are emphasized. 



(8) Development Strategy : This section relates the other elements 

 of the presentation to each other. Major strategic considerations are 

 compared and contrasted from the perspective of a decisionmaker in OCS 

 development. The purpose is to enable the reader to understand which 

 constraints are most important and the logic behind the tradeoffs. 



The six major elements, or steps, common to planning and construction 

 aspects of OCS projects are shown on the timeline example chart (Figure 

 8). An important fact is that variations can occur in the permit sequence, 

 but the other three steps— site option, site purchase, and construction-- 

 invariably occur in that order. 



The first step is obtaining an option on a potential site. After 

 the option is obtained, use and location permits are sought, primarily 

 through local units of government. These permits may include zoning 

 changes, planning commission approvals, and special use approvals. In 

 addition, certain projects may also require approvals at the state 

 level . 



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