Proposed Five-Year Ocs Oil and Gas Lease Sale Schedule; March 1980-February 1985 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1979* edition. Excerpt: ...for feeding and foraging. Large oil spills occurring near these areas or under the ice during the winter could have a very severe impact on these populations. In the northeast corner of Alaska fronting the Beaufort Sea is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It is important for mammals, migratory waterfowl and shorebirds which could be adversely affected by oil and gas activities. For information on sensitive fish areas, see discussion under Gulf of Alaska. Smith and Harrison Bays and the lagoon systems near Barrow, Beacby Point, Flaxman and Barter Islands are the major habitats in this area. While the number and diversity of fish in the Beaufort Sea is much less than in more southerly areas, the fisheries resources are important subsistence resources to the Native population. Conclusion: The Beaufort Sea is particularly sensitive to adverse impacts from oil spills resulting from the proposed schedule in spring and summer. During these periods, marine mammals and migratory birds could be adversely impacted by about four oil spills, greater than 1,000 bbls. estimated to result from the proposal. Northern Aleutian Shelf The proposed Northern Aleutian Shelf lease area encompasses important wildlife habitat for marine mammals and birds with some of the world's largest concentrations of seabirds and waterfowl. Large oil spills, chronic oil pollution of food sources, air traffic, construction, drilling, and other support activities could have a severe impact on this biologically sensitive area. Izembek Lagoon which is located mid-shore in the proposed lease area has been designated as a National Wildlife Range. Izembek Lagoon is used by several million waterfowl, seabirds, and shorebirds for feeding in the spring and fall with many of these birds...