habitats might be affected by activities and events which 
would or could be associated with the proposed lease sale. 
The Commission also noted that: because they occur infrequently 
in and near the proposed lease sale areas, endangered species 
of cetaceans are not likely to be affected adversely by the 
proposed action; possible direct and indirect effects on the 
endangered West Indian manatee could be prevented or mitigated 
by adopting the measures recommended by the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered 
Species Act; and, to ensure that non-endangered as well as 
endangered species and populations of marine mammals are not 
affected adversely by activities and events that would or 
could be associated with the proposed action, the Bureau 
should consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service to 
identify such additional information, lease stipulations, 
monitoring programs, or other measures as may be needed to 
assure that populations of bottlenose dolphins and other 
non-endangered marine mammals would not be affected adversely 
should the sales proceed as proposed. 
The Bureau of Land Management 
Environmental Studies Program 
As noted above, the Bureau of Land Management has been 
delegated responsibility by the Secretary of the Interior 
under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as amended, for 
protecting and mitigating the possible adverse effects of 
activities and events associated with the exploration and 
development of offshore oil and gas resources. To provide 
the biological, ecological, and technical information needed 
to meet this responsibility, the Bureau has established 
regional environmental studies programs which are administered 
by the Bureau's OCS Offices in New York, New Orleans, Los 
Angeles, and Anchorage. The Bureau has also contracted with 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to plan 
and administer the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Environmental 
Assessment Program (OCSEAP). 
To assist the Bureau in developing and implementing the 
research programs needed to assess and monitor the effects 
of OCS oil and gas development on marine mammals and their 
habitats, the Commission has: reviewed and commented on 
relevant plans and requests for proposals developed by the 
Bureau; participated in meetings of Technical Proposal 
Evaluation Committees convened by the Bureau to review 
proposals; and helped to organize several meetings to review 
and coordinate relevant research programs being conducted 
and planned by the Bureau and the National Marine Fisheries 
Service. 
