96 



I feel that today's hearing is a proper response to fulfill the 

 subcommittee's responsibilities for environmental and technologi- 

 cal matters concerning the oceans. 



Mr. Pritchard, do you have a statement? 



Mr. Pritchard. Yes; Mr. Chairman, I do. 



STATEMENT OF THE HON. JOEL PRITCHARD, A 

 REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM WASHINGTON STATE 



Mr. Pritchard. Mr. Chairman, the most recent studies of our 

 Nation's future consumption and production of energy have had 

 some promising signs. They indicate that domestic consumption of 

 oil will most likely decrease by about 8 percent in 1990 over what 

 it was in 1979. Unfortunately, domestic production of oil is expect- 

 ed to drop by even higher rates during this period, requiring the 

 importation of about 60 percent of our oil needs in the year 1990, 

 as compared to roughly 45 percent today. 



These recent studies really do not tell us anything we have not 

 known from other studies, however, they graphically demonstrate 

 the need to accelerate the exploration for and development of our 

 enormous domestic oil and gas resources. 



According to the Department of the Interior, the Federal Govern- 

 ment owns 85 percent of our remaining oil, and 40 percent of our 

 remaining natural gas with about 60 percent of our oil being 

 located on the Outer Continental Shelf 



We must take steps now to accelerate production of these re- 

 sources, but we should not do so to the detriment of other consider- 

 ations. By acting now, we have enough time to give proper consid- 

 eration to all aspects of marine development. If we delay the pro- 

 duction of oil and gas, and a crisis develops, history tells us that 

 many safety and environmental protection programs may be sub- 

 ject to a considerable backlash. For the American public and for 

 the members of the committee who have worked long and hard for 

 the safety and environmental programs that were too long ignored, 

 this would indeed be a catastrophe. 



The safety and environmental record of the U.S. offshore oil and 

 gas activities has been quite good. However, some questions remain 

 to be answered. The 88-year history, as well as many studies, 

 indicate that oil and gas operations have not detrimentally impact- 

 ed commercial fisheries or other marine activities. What some of 

 these studies have indicated, however, is that there are some ques- 

 tions concerning long-term impacts of drilling mud sediments, 

 under particular conditions and at certain concentrations. 



We must take every step possible within reason to assure that 

 there is not economic displacement or irreversible harm from 

 Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas activities that would eliminate 

 other uses of our oceans and coastal areas. 



Public Law 95-372, the 1978 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act 

 Amendments, provides for these considerations which is evidenced 

 by the fact that out of six court challenges to Outer Continental 

 Shelf lease sales in 1979, none have been successful. 



There are 10 Federal departments and agencies involved in 

 Outer Continental Shelf leasings, two of which are testifying before 

 us today. 



