Action Alert:
Federal Outer Continental Shelf Five-Year Plan EIS
Overview:
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is taking public comments on the draft EIS for the proposed 2007-2012 5-Year Program through Wednesday, November 22. The EIS evaluates proposed sales in Alaska’s Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, North Aleutian Basin, and Cook Inlet.
According to MMS, Alaska’s offshore waters contain reserves estimated at 27 billion barrels of oil and 132 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The MMS believes the Chukchi Sea is the most promising offshore petroleum basin in the U.S. Improved access to Alaska offshore waters in a thoughtful and environmentally-sensitive way could significantly improve the nation’s domestic energy situation and provide economic stimulus to coastal communities and the state.
Action requested:
Please submit written comments on the DEIS to the MMS by November 22. RDC encourages its members to write letters in support of increased access to the Alaska OCS within a strong regulatory framework that protects the environment, other resource users and traditional ways of life for local residents. Specifically, RDC recommends that members comment favorably on allowing leasing in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, Cook Inlet, and the North Aleutian Basin.
It is critical proponents express their views as opposition is mobilizing for this new comment period. If you submitted comments during the previous comment periods, thank you. However, in order to be counted in this final round, you must participate again.
Written Comments may be submitted on the DEIS by November 22 to:
Renee Orr
5-Year Program Manager
Minerals Management Service (MS-4010), Room 3120
381 Elden Street
Herndon, Virginia 20170
or by visiting: http://www.mms.gov/5-year/2007-2012main.htm
Points to consider for your testimony:
- Support expanded leasing on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) during the 5-year period 2007 – 2012 in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, Cook Inlet, the Aleutian Basin, and future leasing in Bristol Bay.
- Exploration and production activities in Alaska offshore waters would provide many potential benefits, including many new jobs in rural and urban areas, additional tax and royalty income to the state, federal revenue sharing with local communities, new local sources of fuel and energy, and improved search and rescue operations.
- Allowing access would significantly reduce U.S. reliance on imports, improve domestic energy security, diversify supply, stimulate economic development and generate local, state and federal revenues.
- The U.S. must diversify its domestic oil and gas production to other Federal waters outside the Gulf of Mexico. After the hurricanes of 2005, 92 percent of the gulf’s oil output and 83 percent of its natural gas production was shutdown, resulting in sharply higher energy prices and an economic slowdown.
- New leasing in the Alaska OCS should move forward only after proper local stakeholder consultation, planning and environmental analysis is undertaken. Exploration and development should be based on a strong regulatory system with stringent discharge requirements. Any leasing plan should consider conflict avoidance with other resource industries and subsistence harvesters, seasonal operating restrictions, and impact mitigation.
- Encourage MMS to include revenue sharing with states and local communities in its leasing plan. Areas most directly affected by oil and gas development should be allocated a share of the government revenues it generates.
- OCS development has an outstanding safety and environmental record spanning decades. Development has coexisted with other industries, including fishing, in the North Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and Cook Inlet. The National Academy of Sciences recently determined that less than 1 percent of all oil entering the seas is from drilling and extraction activities.
- It is important that future OCS activities adhere to strong environmental standards in accordance with the law. Any final decisions from MMS should ensure that industry's footprint is minimized and that biological resources, traditional lifestyles and the environment are protected.
- Support the conclusions contained in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and request that the MMS properly consider all of the environmental impacts involved in Alaska’s offshore development.
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