743 



17 



events in the so-called frontier areas of the American OCS than the 

 developments in the Gulf of Mexico. This conclusion stemmed from 

 the fact that Alaska and Atlantic oil operations, like those in the 

 North Sea, will represent the entry of a wholly new kind of industry 

 in some areas. Furthermore, a rapid buildup to a high level of pro- 

 duction — assuming success in discovering oil or gas — will be required 

 in the new areas, as it is in the North Sea, in order to meet today's 

 energy needs and to reduce reliance on imported oil. Finally, the 

 severe weather conditions of the North Sea closely resemble those in 

 the Atlantic and the Gulf of Alaska ; these require new technologies 

 which, in turn, require new types of onshore facilities. 



The Conservation Foundation report found that the most noticeable 

 impacts in Scotland have been the result of support industries — such 

 as oil production platform fabrication — rather than the oil industry's 

 own operations. Employment and activity levels in these support activ- 

 ities peak even before oil production begins. Construction of any sort 

 is a labor-intensive activity, and massive construction activities involv- 

 ing platforms, pipelines, tanker terminals, and refineries — not to men- 

 tion schools, houses, offices, roads and other public facilities — bring 

 thousands of workers into areas experiencing oil development. When 

 this boom is over, an early "bust'' may follow. Shrinkage of popula- 

 tion and job opportunities also requires planning and management. 



Scotland, the Foundation report pointed out, enjoys the advantage 

 of many years' experience with comprehensive land use planning 

 mandated by the 1947 Town and Country Plannig Act. The only com- 

 parable law in the United States, the authors noted, is the Coastal 

 Zone Management Act. The report continued : 



Whether onshore facilities — such as platform construction 

 yards, refineries, supply bases, tanker terminals, and pipeline 

 landfalls — occur in presently industrialized and heavily popu- 

 lated areas, or alternatively in unspoiled rural regions, de- 

 pends largely on how States and communities plan and con- 

 trol their coastal zones. Ideally, such planning should begin 

 before Federal offshore leasing. Coastal land use controls 

 should be ready for application when oil or gas is discovered, 

 and should include suitable opportunities for public partic- 

 ipation. 



To permit such control, advance surveys of existing coastal 

 land use patterns — with particular attention to sites likely 

 to attract oil facilities — will be necessary * * * Virtually 

 all the coastal States are surveying their coastal zones with 

 Federal funds made available under the Coastal Zone Man- 

 agement Act of 1972. 



The Foundation report recognized, however, that planning alone, 

 without tangible assistance in coping with onshore impacts of offshore 

 oil, cannot relieve the burden created by federally licensed OCS 

 development : 



State and local governments bear the greatest burdens 

 of public expenditures associated with offshore oil develop- 

 ment. They should receive enough of the economic benefits 

 to offset at least the costs of accommodating support facilities 

 and providing infrastructure needs. 



65-319 O - 76 - 48 



