369 



conduct broad surveys first, and then focus on areas of specific 

 interest. MMS has followed that advice in planning our FY 1983 studies, 

 also developed in conjunction with the NARTWG, by first conducting the 

 information sununary, then providing for regional characterization, and 

 finally providing for monitoring of operations vrtien locations are chosen 

 and exploration plans approved. Specifics of the deep water field 

 studies will be made public shortly. Field studies will be conducted for 

 at least 2 years on deep waters of the North Atlantic. The Department 

 remains convinced, however, as has been noted in recent NEPA documents, 

 that there are sufficient controls on drilling operations and that deep 

 water environments would suffer no greater risk of damage than those in 

 shallower areas. 



We hope the good working arrangement we have with the BTF and NARTWG will 

 continue. We are committed to active coordination with these and other 

 groups in order to ensure we are applying the latest and most accurate 

 environmental information to decision-making, and to plan additional 

 monitoring studies to ensure the compatible development of both living 

 and non-living resources. 



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