491 



and Interior failed to perform a new risk/benefit analysis for the lease 

 sale, instead claiming that lower resources would equate to lower environmental 

 risks. But the change in risk due to the change in resource estimates is 

 not proportional, and Interior must not be allowed to pretend that it is. 

 Indeed, the drilling of an exploratory well involves a degree of risk, whether 

 or not there is a million or a billion barrels of oil underground. But 

 weighing on the other side of the balance are the potential benefits that 

 society might receive should the risks be taken. When those benefits decrease 

 by 97%, clearly, a new balance is struck. 



Regardless of the error nede by Interior in this particular case, Section 

 18 should be interpreted in a broader sense. In particular, the one factor 

 that has never been included in the balancing eq\aation is the value of "the 

 renewable and nonrenewable resources contained in the outer Continental Shelf" 

 as required by Section 18. If we are to fulfill our roles as trustees of 

 the earth for future generations, we have to begin to weigh our priorities 

 differently Vi*ien we make balances such as that required by OCSLA. The Dept. 

 of Interior, as managers of lands valued by conpeting interests must be 

 required to protect those resources over the long term. For this reason, as 

 part of the balancing, a different kind of assessment should be included, 

 as a PRIORITY. The life of the oil field, as explained in the impact state- 

 ment for lease sale 52, is estimated to be approximately 30 years. The life 

 of the Georges Bank fishery, if protected, will remain as it is now, as far 

 into the future as we can see. This should be part of the balance. Moreover, 

 the developinent of renewable alternative energy sources, v^ich once developed 

 also have an indefinite life span, is not considered in the EIS as a possible 

 substitute for offshore oil and gas development. This too should be part of 

 the balance. Similarly, the environmental hazards should be coirpared between 

 tiie various sources of energy alternatives, and should enter into the balance. 

 I have often times heard Mr. V/att claim that offshore development is necessary 

 to reduce our dependency on foreign oil and increase national security. But 

 never have I seen an objective look at the potential for developing safe 

 renewable resources that wDuld achieve the same goal. 



While Greenpeace interprets the OCSIA as its currently written to require 

 this kind of balance, perhaps a requirement of this sort should be written into 

 OCSIA, in more explicit terms, to prevent Interior frcm continuing to shirk 

 its responsibility. 



Thank You. 



Mr. D' Amours. Now we will hear from Dr. Ayers. Welcome. 



STATEMENT OF ROBERT C. AYERS, JR. 



Mr. Ayers. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My written statement was 

 brief for two reasons: One, I have limited knowledge. The other is I 

 had to carry it all the way from Houston, so I had to have it brief. 



My name is Bob Ayers. I am a senior research associate at Exxon 

 Production Research Co. in Houston. I hold a Ph. D. in physical 

 chemistry and a B.S. in chemical engineering both from the Uni- 

 versity of Texas at Austin. I have been with Exxon for 21 years and 

 have spent much of this time working in the field of environmental 

 conservation. 



During the past few years I have concentrated my research ef- 

 forts on the fate and effects of drilling discharges in the marine en- 

 vironment. I am a member of the National Research Council Panel 

 on Fate and Effects of Drilling Discharges in the Marine Environ- 

 ment. 



I also serve on several industry committees concerned with envi- 

 ronmental issues and am representing the American Petroleum In- 

 stitute and the Offshore Operators Committee today. 



I have been asked to address certain aspects of the Georges Bank 

 biological task force and the Georges Bank monitoring program. I 

 assisted the task force in the development of the program and 



