The project task statement lists five specific objectives as follows: 



A. To determine and characterize the various sounds emitted from OCS 

 oil and gas operations (exploration, development, and production) and from 

 related vessel traffic. 



B. To characterize the sounds emitted and perceived by various cetacean 

 species, 



C. To evaluate the sound spectra created by human activities which 

 could disrupt the behavior of Cetaceans. 



D. To determine the effects of a physical structure, such as a 

 platform, on Cetacean behavior. 



E. To propose a range of mitigating measures which v;ould eliminate or 

 minimize the im, act of sounds, offshore physical structures, and associated 

 human activities on Cetaceans. 



Of these five specific objectives, this report deals with the first 

 three. It is intended to serve as an initial exploratory study illustrating 

 (1) the relationships between sound emitted from oil and gas platforms, (2) 

 perception of these sounds by cetaceans, and (3) distance limits to possible 

 disruption of behavior of cetaceans. Effects of the physical structure, such 

 as a platform, and noise mitigating measures will be treated in future reports. 



G-8 



