Chukchi Sea Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193 and Seismic Surveying Activities in the Chukchi Sea. Final Environmental Impact Statement. Volume I. Executive Summary, Sections I Through VI

摘要

This environmental impact statement (EIS) examines a proposal and oil and gas leasing in the Chukchi Sea and three alternatives to this Proposed Action. This EIS also examines two alternatives for exploration seismic-survey permitting in 2007 in the proposed sale area. Sale 193 is currently scheduled to be held in 2008. The proposed sale includes consideration of 6,156 whole or partial blocks in the Chukchi Sea Planning area, covering about 34 million acres. The proposed sale area and two deferral alternatives (Alternatives III and IV) exclude a 15- to 50-mile-wide corridor along the coast, the polynya or Spring Lead System. For each alternative, the EIS evaluates the effects to the human, physical and biological resources from routine activities and from the unlikely chance of a large oil spill. Alternative II is the No Lease Sale Alternative, which means cancellation of the sale. A cumulative-effects analysis evaluates the environmental effects of the Proposed Action with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future OCS lease sales, as well as non-OCS activities. Seven standard lease stipulations and 24 Information to Lessees clauses are evaluated as part of the lease sale Proposed Action.