1008 

 122 



These considerable expenditures could prompt sizeable investment 

 in facilities of the second type^ thus incurring widespread negative 

 impacts. However, while facilities of the first type must be located in 

 certain areas, those of the second type have a greater range, thus en- 

 abling siting to occur in those areas which experience mostly positive 

 impacts. 



in actuality, there are many long-established suppliers to the oil 

 industry, which operate on a world-wide basis.^^ The U.S. needs will 

 comprise but part of their total production. As an illustration of the 

 siting mechanism, Scotland is now experiencing the demand for as- 

 sociated manufacturing facilities. "Because of the present structure 

 of the economy, these are most likely to be located (as has already 

 happened) in the traditional manufacturing areas." ^^ 



Associated manufacturing in many cases will provide economic 

 benefits and employment, rather than negative impacts, in existing 

 industrial areas. In some instances where water access is needed, facili- 

 ties may be built in more rural areas, causing infrastructure problems. 

 These impacts will be relatively minor, and again will be limited to 

 the coital copimunities. 



D. Transportation 

 Transportation of oil and gas involves the following dual problems : 

 (i) Getting oil from the platform to the refinery, 

 (ii) Getting gas from the platform to the onshore distribution 

 system in gaseous form. 



Oil 



Oil may be piped ashore either directly to a refinery or via a tanker 

 tern^inal, or stored at the well head and tankered to shore. Pipelines 

 are generall}^ used for larger fields, and within 50-150 miles from 

 shore (assuming pipelines can be laid on the seabed) . 



"Socioeconomic effects of pipelines are minimal. Very few persons 

 would be employed in operating and maintaining the facilities. Land 

 use impacts of onshore pipelines would be similar to those for any 

 pipeline." ^^ 



While offshore pipelines must generally run a beeline course to be 

 economical, onshore pipelines have far greater flexibility. Proper plan- 

 ning, thus, can influence pipeline location and hence minimize impacts. 

 The greatest damages occur placing pipelines through wetlands and 

 marshes. In the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana, some damage is un- 

 avoidable; on the East and West coasts, such placement is less 

 excusable. 



These OCS pipelines must necessarily link up with refineries. Neces- 

 sary components in the system are pumping transfer facilities which 

 gather production pipelines and then pump treated oil to the refinery. 

 Each facility has a 4—5 day storage capacity, and may be located at 

 various points along the pipeline.^^ 



The inland extent of the pipelines themselves can be assumed to be 

 the location of the nearest major refining center, or pipeline 

 link. In the South Atlantic area, pipelines generally parallel the fall 

 line, passing through Atlanta, which also houses several refineries.^^ 



" Scotland and Oil. p. 48. 

 " Scotland and Oil, p. 48. 



*> Bureau of Land Management, 1975, "Programmatic FEIS on OCS Leasing", Vol. II, 

 p. 192. 



!°- BLM. 1974. "FEIS on OCS Leasing off Louisiana Sale No. 36". Vol. U, p. 196. 

 ** Amertc^D Petj-plcum Institute, 1975, "Products Pipeline lktat>6". 



