478 



Prepared Statement of Priscilla Chapman 



My name is Priscilla Chapman, and I am the Executive Director of 

 the New England Sierra Club. On behalf of our chapter, I wish to 

 express our thanks to Chairman D'Amours and the subcommittee members 

 for the opportunity to present testimony this morning. 

 The New England Sierra Club has been concerned with the potential, 

 effects of oil and gas drilling to the biological resources on 

 Georges Bank for several years. We have participated in administra- 

 tive procedures and legal action aimed at protecting the fishery. 

 Our position has been that until enough information is known to 

 assure that drilling activities pose no threat to the natural 

 resources, leasing in this area should proceed slowly and with 

 extreme caution, if at all. Recent drastic reductions in USGS 

 hydrocarbon resource estimates cbupled with the Department of 

 Interior's failure to evaluate alternative sources of energy argue 

 strongly that leasing on Georges Bank should be halted, at least 

 temporarily. For these reasons, we strongly support the legislation 

 proposed by Representative Gerry Studds and Senator Edward Kennedy 

 which would prohibit drilling in certain areas of Georges Bank until 

 either the year 1990 or the year 2000. 



We believe that the creation of the Biological Task Force and the 

 development and implementation of the monitoring program have so 

 far been of great value and importance; they provide a good beginning 

 for ongoing efforts to evaluate potential impacts to the biological 



