coast. Second, monobuoy technology provides the most efficient, 

 economic, and environmentally acceptable method of 

 accommodating very large crude oil carriers at offshore locations. 

 Third, deepwater ports are environmentally preferable to the 

 present method of transporting crude petroleum in small tankers. By 

 decreasing the number of ships, the chances of collision and 

 grounding are reduced. Fewer ships will also reduce the number of 

 transfer operations and the consequent risk of spills. Fourth, 

 landside adverse environmental impacts resulting from expanded 

 oil refinery and petrochemical complexes should be carefully 

 controlled through coordinated land-use planning by local interests 

 who have the ability to regulate the extent and nature of such growth 

 through permits and through local land-use control. Fifth, private or 

 non-Federal public ownership, financing, and operation of 

 deepwater port facilities are compatiQle with the public interest if 

 accomplished under adequate and effective Federal control and 

 regulation. Finally, there is presently no precedent or foreseeable 

 need for the Federal Government to undertake the major capital 

 investments that would be required to bring deepwater crude oil 

 transshipment facilities, storage facilities, and pipelines into 

 operation. Federal involvement should be limited to permits or 

 licenses, except for traditional Federal activities such as providing 

 access channels, nautical charts, and pertinent facilities for 

 deepwater ports. 



Should further initiatives be undertaken by States or other non- 

 Federal interests to develop crude oil transshipment facilities, the 

 reports contain considerable economic, engineering, and 

 environmental data that should be employed in any Federal 

 evaluation of such facilities. 



MarAd completed a broad study of offshore ports in 1972 and is 

 now supporting a study to evaluate techniques of offshore single 

 point moorings from which petroleum can be piped ashore. The 

 MarAd is also supporting an investigation to determine means of 

 reducing wave heights in the vicinity of offshore moorings to reduce 

 periods when such terminals may be inoperable because of sea-state. 

 In FY '75, MarAd is planning a study to evaluate deepwater port 

 construction costs and will start work on the design of a tug, or 

 service vessel, to handle the arrival and departure of large petroleum 

 carriers at the offshore sites. 



Other Federal agencies have also conducted studies relating to 

 deepwater ports. This work was largely concerned with the 

 environmental impact of these facilities. Additional data useful in 

 planning deepwater ports may be gathered in environmental studies 

 performed for other purposes. 



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