344 



Organization of the Task Force 



The center of Georges Bank lies about 120 miles east-southeast of 

 the Massachusetts coast. The area comprises a vast plateau, ranging in 

 depth from 3 to 200 meters. The plateau is only slightly smaller than 

 the combined areas of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Through a unique 

 combination of ecological and oceanographic factors, Georges Bank 

 supports one of the largest marine fisheries in the world. 



Three agencies in October, 1979, signed the Charter setting up the 

 Biological Task Force for Georges Bank. These were the Department of the 

 Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic 

 and Atmospheric Administration. They formed the BTF shortly before Lease 

 Sale #42 occurred, December 19, 1979. This was the first leasing of 

 oil /gas tracts on the Bank. 



The Task Force was set up to assist the Department of the Interior 

 on environmental matters connected with Sale #42. Specifically, the 

 Charter instructs the Task Force "to advise the Geological Survey's Oil 

 and Gas Supervisor on those aspects of oil and gas operations resulting 

 from Lease Sale #42 that affect biological resources on Georges Bank and 

 their habitats, including the enforcement of stipulations relating to the 

 protection of biological resources and habitats and the design of 

 environmental studies and surveys, as well as periodic sampling of 

 environmental conditions, to provide warning of adverse impacts." 



