21 



So I think we will have significant cooperation from the nations 

 of the world. 



Senator Stevens. Doctor, you mentioned your studies in Alaska re- 

 lated to Prince William Sound. Do you have any timetable for those 

 studies- 



Dr. White. I can't give you one at the moment, Senator Stevens, but 

 I will be able to give you that for tlie record, sir. 



Senator Stevens. I would be veiy interested to see how that ties 

 in with the projected construction scheduled for the trans- Alaska 

 pipeline. 



[The following information was subsequently received for the 



record :] 



The XOAA studies of hydrocarbon effects upon the marine resources of Prince 

 "William Sound are presently underway under the direction of the NMFS Auke 

 Bay Laboratory. These integrated studies (laboratory and field) include deter- 

 mination of the effects of various hydrocarbons on the survival, Itehavior. physi- 

 ology, and migration of the fish and crab resources of the Sound. The information 

 obtained will provide an insight to what might be anticipated as a result of 

 the development of the transshipment facilities at Yaldez. 



In addition, we have initiated a NOAA-Xational Bureau of Standards cmipera- 

 tive chemical baseline study of the present level of aromatic hydrocarbons in 

 the sediment and living resources of Prince William Sound and its seaward 

 approaches. (Analysis will be conducted on clams, mussels, limpets, algae, crabs, 

 and fish as well as the sediment at a series of sampling sites and during differ- 

 ent seasons.) This project was initiated in June 1973 with completion expected 

 in mid-1974. 



Establishment of the aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations within these orga- 

 nisms and sediment \vil] provide knowledge of the pre-pipeline conditions. Moni- 

 toring programs of hydrocarbon levels following construction of the Trans- 

 Alaska Pipeline System can then be related to these baseline data. 



Projects being planned and proposed to be initiated prior to the completion of 

 the Tran.s-Alaska Pipeline System are comprehensive ecosystem studies of both 

 Prince William Sound and northern Puget Sound analogous to the study currently 

 being conducted in Xew York Bight, and the determination of baseline hydro- 

 carbon levels at selected shore stations along the marine leg of TAPS. 



Senator Stevens. Yon also montionod you wei'e goin<2: to do surveys, 

 I nnf1(M-stand, in answcM- to (lucstions tJiat Senator Ploliiiigs raised con- 

 cerning the samples that you described. 



You said you wore going to take samples on the west coast and 

 Alaska. 



Arc those the ones to be done in Prince William Sound? 



Dr. White. If I could turn to the Director of Research of the Marine 

 Fisheries, Dr. Royce, perhaps he might be able to comment on that. 



Dr. RoYCE. ]Mr. Chairman, the Auke Bay LaboratorA' is engaged in 

 baseline studies, finding out wliat is the current condition in Prince 

 William Sound in the vicinity of the proposed tenninal, and these 

 studies we expect will be integrated with more compreliensive studies 

 in the rather near future, within the next couple of years. 



Senator Stevens. How are you going to do the Alaska study ? 



Dr. HiRSCH. They are not directly identical to the ones in the New 

 York Right, Senator. The studies in Prince William Sound are to 

 provide a baseline for conditions that exist there now Avith respect to 

 oil contaminants, so should the Alaska pipeline come into practice, 

 we would be able to see whether any cumulative effect is occurring. 



Senator Ste\t:ns. You would be able to monitor it as it goes along 

 to see if 1:he reports provided on the operation of the pipeline are con- 

 sistent with your findings with the situation that exists today ? 



