363 



Planning for the first North Atlantic lease sale, Sale #42, began in 

 1975. The Department has always recognized the importance of Georges 

 Bank fisheries to the New England and National economies, and has sought 

 all available means of mitigating the possible adverse effects of 

 offshore drilling on the fisheries and fishing industry. The Department 

 contracted for a 2-year North Atlantic environmental baseline study in 

 1976 and 1977 at a cost of $4.5 million, and a 5-year physical 

 oceanography program (1977-1982) at a cost of $14 million, acquired extensive 

 geophysical and meteorological information, and conducted a comprehensive 

 coordination and program review produce with States, Federal agencies, 

 and private institutions, the sum of vrtiich made up the decision process 

 that led to the sale. While there was litigation that delayed the sale 

 for nearly 3 years, a settlement agreement was eventually obtained that, 

 among other things, charged DOI with the responsibility to consider for 

 approval and funding the recommendations of the Georges Bank Biological 

 Task Force (BTF). 



The BTF was created in October, 1979, over a year before the settlement 

 agreement was approved by the District Court. During that year, the BTF 



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