Number: 1982-05
WHEREAS, the demand for energy is creating ever-greater pressure to develop outer continental shelf oil and gas resources; and
WHEREAS, the ocean contains immense renewable resources of fish and wildlife which may be impacted by oil and gas exploration and development; and
WHEREAS, conflicts between the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas, and the recovery and enjoyment of other resources such as fish and wildlife should be eliminated or minimized to achieve balance between energy development and environmental protection; and
WHEREAS, the 1982-86 Five Year OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program will offer for lease one billion acres, virtually all of the outer continental shelf, regardless of conflicts and potential impacts; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Interior has requested and is receiving fewer monies to carry out environmental studies on a much larger program; and
WHEREAS, these studies are needed to determine the potential impacts of OCS activities and needed mitigation measures for areas of high biological productivity and enormous fish and wildlife resources; and
WHEREAS, some areas are to be re-offered for lease before the impacts of initial leasing are known; and
WHEREAS, areas of identifiable sport and commercial fisheries concentration are being leased without adequate concern for their continued productivity; and
WHEREAS, streamlining procedures such as broad, large-acreage analysis and the elimination of specific tract selection are being implemented that preclude the Department of Interior from determining hydrocarbon potential to ensure fair market return from leases and avoiding geologically hazardous areas and areas of fish and wildlife concentration; and
WHEREAS, Secretary Watt’s accelerated leasing program includes areas with extreme water depths and hostile weather conditions which require new, unproven technology and increases the risk of accidents and spills; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Interior is granting 10-year leases contrary to the public interest in obtaining timely development of oil and gas resources at fair market value;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual meeting assembled March 18-21, 1982, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, hereby opposes leasing that fails to balance orderly energy resource development with the protection of the human, marine and coastal environments; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that adequate environmental information should be available before leasing in especially sensitive areas and that monitoring studies be completed prior to re-offering for lease such fishery-rich areas as Georges Bank.