467 



ies, such as scallops and lobsters. I don't think the biological task 

 force results so far provide much comfort in the way of leasing in 

 those areas. I have stated several times to the Department of Inte- 

 rior, I think that those areas should be deferred for some time. 



So I think you can draw some limited conclusions from what has 

 been done. They are preliminary conclusions which deserve much 

 additional interpretation and thought. 



I draw from that another conclusion which is that: when you try 

 to make decisions in government, you in the Congress or I in the 

 executive branch in Maine, we are always faced with a fair amount 

 of uncertainty. As I say, that is part of life. 



The question is, When do you make the decision and how much 

 information do you need at the time you make it? 



The balancing test you have placed on the Department of Interi- 

 or, and implicitly on those of us who participate in the OCS process 

 actively, including the States, is a test that requires that we make 

 a judgment about the reasonableness of the information available 

 to the time we have to make the decision. If that test is failed, then 

 the matter can be put off. If that test succeeds, then there is some 

 justification for going ahead. 



Mr. D' Amours. Is your conclusion that the exploratory drilling 

 done in lease sale 42 demonstrates that it is probably safe, or rela- 

 tively safe, based upon the amount of drilling that has been done 

 to date? Would you perhaps alter that conclusion given Mr. Foy's 

 point of a few minutes ago that there are still many, many tracts 

 in that area that could yet be developed? 



Mr. CoLGAN. There were 63 tracts sold in sale 42, 8 have been 

 drilled, 55 tracts are yet undrilled. Most of those tracts are clus- 

 tered in a relatively small area in the central portion of the south- 

 ern edge of Georges Bank. From the data that I have seen in the 

 environmental reports, the environmental impact statements and 

 the scientific literature, that area is relatively homogeneous in its 

 environment. In the absence of a detailed environmental report 

 which we get every time a tract is going to be drilled, I would con- 

 clude that the results of the biological task force studies are more 

 or less applicable to that area. 



I don't think they are applicable to the deep water and other 

 areas. 



Mr. D' Amours. I understand; that was clear. 



In answer to my question, you feel even if we did develop the 

 other 55 sites, that the early results should obtain? 



Mr. CoLGAN. I would expect them to at this point. But there is 

 an opportunity to review that decision on each exploratory plan, 

 and I would certainly want to undertake that opportunity. 



Mr. D' Amours. Ms. Hughes, do you want to comment? 



Ms. Hughes. Charlie has covered it very well. 



I think one point to make is that when States and other groups 

 have the opportunity to review a proposed lease sale, we really in- 

 herently do our own balancing, conduct our own balancing tests in 

 recommending to the Department of Interior what areas we feel 

 should be leased at this time and what areas should not be. Really, 

 I think in making that examination, we look really beyond explora- 

 tory drilling and to likely production and development. 



