515 



June 30, 1983 

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This change would entail a requirement that the Secratary of 

 the Interior regularly consult with NOAA on how best to use 

 marine resources. Such regular relationships between the agencv 

 responsible for oil and the agency responsible for fisheries can 

 only improve OCS management. 



5 . Congressional exclusion of leasing in certain areas. 

 Any Congressional action to limit leasing should be consistent 

 with the balancing requirements contained in sections 18 and 19 

 of the OCSLAA or as modified as suggested above. Blanket 

 exclusions of certain areas would not be consistent with those 

 requirements. 



However it may be appropriate to modify the standard 

 somewhat for areas of unique ecological or commerical value, such 

 as the canyons found on the Atlantic continental slope. In these 

 areas, Congress could set a presumption against drilling in the 

 absence of evidence that drilling would not be harmful. The 

 Department of the Interior already has the authority to designate 

 such areas in the stipulations attached to leases, although this 

 authority has rarely if ever been exercised. 



It should be recognized that limited drilling under closely •• 

 supervised and monitored conditions might be necessary to 

 discover whether harm would occur. In such areas, a small number 

 of tracts, selected for both hydrocarbon potential and as part of 

 a scientifically valid experimental design to examine the 

 possibility of harm could be offered for lease. A special market 

 for such tracts could be established, with the high bidder on all 

 tracts winning the right to drill the first well, and other tract 

 winners being allowed to hold off paying for their leases until a 

 determination of environmental harm was made. 



This system would be consistent with sound marine resource 

 management, existing regulatory procedures, and existing leasing 

 systems. Most importantly it would allow recognition of those 

 unique and high value resources most deserving of special 

 attention. 



6. Limit the size of lease sales and spread out leasing. 

 In the course of developing the concept of "areawide" leasing, 

 the Department had agreed with a suggestion which Maine made two 

 years ago that the "area" under consideration be that which had 

 some potential for hydrocarbons. These areas are readily 

 identfiable, and it was my impression that Secretary Watt had 

 directed that sales would focus on these areas. 



