associated with offshore oil and gas exploration and development may affect marine mammals; 

 identify and seek expert advice on how best to resolve uncertainties concerning effects and to 

 structure guidelines to prevent the possible adverse effects of different types of anthropogenic 

 sound on marine mammals and other marine organisms; and assess the possible use of active 

 sonar to reduce right whale mortalities from ship strikes. 



Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Exploration and Development (Chapter VII) 



Marine mammals may be affected adversely by oil spills, waste water discharges, and 

 noise from seismic profiling, drilling, and other activities associated with offshore oil and gas 

 exploration and development. Under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the Minerals 

 Management Service has lead responsibility for ensuring that such activities in U.S. waters 

 beyond the jurisdiction of coastal states do not adversely affect marine mammals and their 

 habitats. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has related responsibilities when development 

 projects require permits under section 404 of the Clean Water Act. As discussed in this chapter, 

 the Conmiission commented to the Corps in 1998 on a proposed project that required Clean 

 Water Act permits to construct an artificial island and a buried pipeline to enable recovery of 

 oil from the Northstar site in the southern Beaufort Sea. Also in 1998, a Commission 

 representative participated in a Minerals Management Service review of information concerning 

 marine mammals in the northern Gulf of Mexico and the effects on marine mammals of seismic 

 surveys and the use of explosives to remove drilling platforms. In partial response to the 

 review, the Service is plaiming to hold a workshop in June 1999 to assess and determine how 

 best to resolve related uncertainties. 



Research and Studies Program (Chapter VIII) 



The Marine Mammal Protection Act directs the Commission to conduct a continuing 

 review of marine mammal research supported by federal agencies to help identify and avoid 

 duplicative research. It also directs the Commission to facilitate or support such other activities 

 as it deems necessary to further the purposes of the Act. To meet these directives in 1998 the 

 Commission conducted its annual survey of federally funded marine mammal research. The 

 results are being summarized in a report to be completed early in 1999. The Commission also 

 organized or participated in numerous meetings and workshops bearing on the conservation of 

 marine mammals domestically (e.g., recovery programs for Hawaiian monk seals, Florida 

 manatees, and northern right whales) and internationally (e.g., programs for the conservation 

 of Arctic and Antarctic resources and the regulation of whaling) . Studies undertaken as part of 

 the Commission's research program during 1998 included preparations for the contaminants 

 workshop cited above and projects to identify and assess management needs related to the 

 dependence of Florida manatees on thermal power plant outfalls, human interactions with wild 

 bottlenose dolphins, the National Large Whale Conservation Fund, the introduction of diseases 

 to Antarctic wildlife, and the conservation of Arctic ecosystems. 



XIV 



