477 



Finally, the final notice of sale for 52 included, in addition to 

 deepwater tracts, seven canyon tracts, despite repeated objections 

 expressed by environmentalists, the fishing community, and the 

 Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and despite the fact that the 

 studies completed to date on Lydonia and Oceanographer Canyons 

 indicate many gaps in our understanding of transport of materials 

 up and down canyon walls, and potential transport off the bank 

 into the canyons. 



The Department of the Interior must revise its approach to the 

 scheduling of lease sales and the preparation of environmental 

 impact statements, substituting bona fide consideration and incor- 

 poration of all available scientific information into its decisionmak- 

 ing for its present policy. The sensitivity of the Georges Bank area 

 and the value of the ecosystem there dictate a policy of proceeding 

 slowly with extreme caution. 



With accelerated leasing and drilling programs in this area, it is 

 possible that irreparable harm could already be done by the time 

 impacts are revealed by the studies. Furthermore, the huge areas 

 which are being offered for leasing, particularly as proposed in sale 

 82, make sound decisionmaking about exclusion of sensitive envi- 

 ronmental areas based on scientific facts virtually impossible. If 

 leasing is to proceed on Georges Bank at any time in the future, 

 smaller areas must be considered. 



In terms of funding decisions, while we support continued fund- 

 ing for the biological task force and for an expanded monitoring 

 program appropriate to the sale 52 area, we believe that funds 

 must also be provided for preleasing studies, particularly as men- 

 tioned before, for studies of the biological communities and physi- 

 cal oceanography of the deepwater areas. 



We emphasize that if funds are limited, future lease sales must 

 be scheduled in such a way that important information is available 

 before leasing decisions are made. 



I believe those are our important points. 



Mr. D' Amours. Thank you for testifying. 



[The statement of Ms. Chapman follows:] 



