- in consultation with such other agencies as 
may be appropriate, determine and make provisions 
for implementing the monitoring programs that 
will be needed to detect the effects of 
exploratory and developmental activities on 
marine mammals and their habitats. 
The Bureau responded to the Commission's recommendations 
by letter of 18 September 1980. In its response, the 
Bureau indicated that: each of its regional offices and the 
Washington, D.C. office had been requested to designate an 
individual to be responsible for planning, coordinating, and 
Overviewing marine mammal studies; each regional OCS office 
would be requested to submit a schedule of FY 1981 coordination 
meetings related to marine mammal studies; a draft schedule 
for Endangered Species Act, Section 7 consultations had been 
developed for FY 1981, in consultation with the National 
Marine Fisheries Service; the guidelines for development of 
regional studies plans were under continuing review and 
there seemed to be no need for major changes at that time; 
OCS-related environmental assessments and impact statements 
are prepared by permanent environmental assessment staffs in 
each of the four OCS regions and these staff professionals 
are qualified to prepare their respective environmental 
impact statement sections; although the Secretary of the 
Interior is required to monitor the impacts of the OCS oil 
and gas program, the responsibility for conducting monitoring 
studies has not been defined clearly; and a long-term 
monitoring program may well result from on-going efforts to 
coordinate relevant research programs being conducted by the 
Bureau of Land Management and the National Marine Fisheries 
Service. 
The Commission responded by letter of 17 December 1980 
noting the significant positive steps that the Bureau had 
taken. The Commission requested additional information 
concerning the specific duties and authorities of the designated 
Marine mammal coordinators, the Bureau's plans to consult 
with the National Marine Fisheries Service and/or the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, and the steps the Bureau was 
taking to resolve the questions about responsibilities for 
environmental monitoring. The Commission also recommended 
that the Bureau: take such steps as may be necessary and 
possible to define its and other agencies' responsibilities 
relative to environmental monitoring; consider long-term 
monitoring needs in the development of the regional and 
overall environmental studies plans for marine mammals; and, 
in consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service, 
