151 



and gas activities in a 1989 report. 9 Further, in 1991 congressional testimony, polar bear 

 expert and Marine Mammal Commissioner Jack Lentfer noted: "Any new activity that 

 adversely affects denning would likely decrease cub survival and thereby lower 

 recruitment and cause the population to decline." 10 In commenting on proposals to 

 permit oil exploration and drilling on Alaska's coastal plain, Mr. Lentfer added: "A 

 prohibition on oil and gas development on the refuge is especially necessary in order to 

 protect polar bears during the denning period." 11 While the Chukchi and Beaufort Sea 

 populations appear stable, the fact that polar bears have low reproductive rates and are 

 easily disturbed by the noise, sights and smells of human activities make them highly 

 susceptible to population crashes. 



The level of oil exploratory activity in the Arctic Ocean waters off the coast of 

 northern Alaska has been relatively low in recent years. Over the next five years, 

 however, the level of oil and gas company activity may increase as exploration and 

 development continues and more state and federal lands and waters are offered for 

 lease. Oil industry documents recently cited by the FWS estimate that, in the Beaufort 

 Sea over the next five years, 28,000 miles of seismic exploration and 2-19 exploratory 

 wells are planned for the open-water, and 7,000-10,000 miles of seismic exploration and 

 5-15 exploratory drilling operations are planned on the coastal plain and ice-covered 

 waters. 12 The FWS has noted that winter activities "have a far greater possibility of 

 having a detrimental impact on the polar bear," 13 yet the incidental take regulations 

 issued on November 16, 1993 for the Beaufort Sea cover oil and gas exploration, 

 development, and production year-round. 14 Moreover, as the FWS has pointed out: 

 "Future oil discoveries, if determined to be economically viable, could change the level 

 of activity." 15 Rising oil prices or a major find in the Chukchi or Beaufort Sea could 

 dramatically increase the level of oil and gas activity in the region and directly increase 

 the risk to polar bears and their habitat. 



* Marine Mammal Commission. Workshop on Measures to Assess and Mitigate the Adverse Effects of 

 Arctic Oil and Gas Activities on Polar Rears (1989). 



10 J. Lentfer, Testimony Before the House Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and 

 the Environment (June II, 1991). 



"]± 



12 58 Fed. Reg. 60405 (199.1). 



" 58 Fed. Reg. 60406 (1993). 



' 4 58 Fed. Reg. 60402 (1993). 



15 FWS Plan, at 18. 



