366 



The GBMP has been useful in policy-making in several ways. The 

 Department has a wide range of actions it may take if information is 

 obtained that indicates detrimental effects to the environment. We may, 

 for example, invoke the provisions of the biological stipulation vrtiich 

 would require lessees to conduct environmental surveys to determine the 

 existing conditions and the extent and composition of biological habitats 

 in the area of proposed operations. To date, the results of our 

 monitoring efforts have indicated little or no adverse effects on the 

 environment so we have not had to invoke any survey requirements or 

 require modifications of operations. However, these measures remain 

 available to us to protect against or mitigate any detrimental effects we 

 might identify. 



The design and implementation of the GBMP by DOI allowed the 

 Environmental Protection Agency to issue NPDES discharge permits 

 contingent on information derived from the program. While EPA noted in 

 hearings in Boston that there was insufficient information available to 



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