8 



The Atlantic Continental Shelf contains enormous deposits of sand 

 and gravel which have potential for construction purposes as well as 

 for restoration and stabilization of storm-damaged beaches. 



Uncertainty regarding the enviromnental impact of offshore mining 

 has hindered development of this resource. It is known that such ac- 

 tivities disturb the bottom sediment and cause increased turbidity 

 which may have a significant adverse impact on marine organisms. 



There liave been a number of studies of these impacts on ecosystems. 

 Most of these studies, however, have been in connection with dredging 

 or other practices in fresh and estuarine waters. This experience can- 

 not be directly extrapolated offshore. 



To develop environmental information on this practice, NOAA has 

 been working on a program in cooperation with the State of Massa- 

 chusetts to study, under controlled conditions, environmental impact 

 of sand and gravel mining in Massachusetts Bay. 



ENERGY DEVELOPMENT 



The energy crisis highlights the fact that oil and gas exploration, 

 development, and transportation will have increasing impact on the 

 oceans. Oil shipment and oil imports to the United States will increase 

 greatly. 



The President's energy message, in setting forth a series of actions 

 designed to attack energy shortages, called for a threefold increase in 

 oil and gas leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf during this decade. 

 NOAA is participating with the Council on Environmental Quality 

 and otlier Federal agencies to assess the environmental impact of oil 

 and gas drilling in the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf and the Gulf 

 of Alaska. 



Construction of major offshore structures for energj' development 

 and other purposes, also promises to be increasingly important in 

 future years. Construction of offshore airports, floating powerplants, 

 superpoits, and even offshore cities could pose a variety of pollution 

 and related environmental impacts, unless carefully regulated. 



Recently, Chairman Russell Train of the Council on Environmental 

 Quality testified before this committee concerning findings of studies 

 of the environmental impact of potential superports, including studies 

 sponsored by the XOAA Sea Grant program. We are also participat- 

 ing with CEQ and other Federal agencies in a broad scale study of 

 offshore nuclear generating facilities. 



Senator Hollings. Doctor, what is being done as a practical matter 

 to reduce the doubt and concern and bring it down to realistic terms 

 for shoreline locating of oil refineries ? 



In other words, in addition to the offshore and the Continental Shelf 

 and the superports and all that, I am talking in terms of 3, 5, or 10 

 years; in the next year, the next 2 years, there are going to have to 

 be some refinery facilities, and the cry of the big oil companies now 

 is that we in tlie Congress are breathing down their necks, and that 

 after all. wo are not allowed to locate a refinery, and do you want one 

 on j^our coastline? 



I don't know how to answer the question. What danger is there? 

 T\Tiat cost, what impact is there? Can it be tied in a little more 

 directly to the immediate problem rather than the offshore superport, 

 which we are veiy much interested in ? 



