Louisiana State University (LSU), is providing assistance to that 

 State in its deepwater-port planning efforts. Initiated in 1972, at the 

 request of the State Planning Office, the LSU deepwater port studies 

 have evolved into a broad multidisciplinary effort devoted to the 

 legal, economic, and environmental aspects of deepwater-port 

 development. Working closely with Government agencies and 

 private industry, the center recently completed a comprehensive 

 report that provides detailed recommendations for the formulation 

 of an environmental protection plan by the Louisiana Deep Draft 

 Harbor and Terminal Authority. An environmental assessment 

 undertaken by the center provided important baseline data for an 

 environmental-impact statement prepared by private industry in 

 conjunction with a construction permit application to the Deep Draft 

 Harbor and Terminal Authority. 



Offshore Powerplants 



Increasing needs for electrical power in coastal areas, land-use 

 competition, local environmental effects, and the great capacity of 

 the oceans to absorb heat and other wastes provides incentives for 

 offshore siting of electricity-generating powerplants, in particular, 

 nuclear power stations. Siting of nuclear power reactors on floating 

 barges within a few miles of shore is a viable concept for maximizing 

 dispersal of the waste products and achieving the greatest economic 

 benefits from offshore electrical generation. If nuclear plants are 

 sited short distances from shore, however, the coastal zone would be 

 vulnerable to any accidents that might occur, and as a result 

 widespread public concern has arisen concerning the safety of 

 proposed offshore stations. The research program of the Atomic 

 Energy Commission (AEC) in 1974 audits successor ERD A in 1975 is 

 dedicated to assuring that such undertakings are safe and that the 

 surrounding complex, dynamic, and yet fragile environment is 

 protected and preserved. 



At the request of AEC, the Council on Environmental Quality 

 undertook a comprehensive environmental assessment of offshore 

 nuclear powerplant sitings. The assessment, receiving significant 

 contributions from most of the agencies participating in the Federal 

 Ocean Program, as well as from public and other outside interests, 

 has helped to define many specific aspects of local environments that 

 require continuing study. The fate of waste discharges, including 

 heat, from existing power generating stations on land is particularly 

 pertinent to offshore siting and is included among the aspects 

 requiring further investigation. 



ERDA's marine research program focuses on developing detailed 

 baseline environmental information through studies performed in 



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