Final environment impact statement. Proposed 1979 outer continental shelf oil and gas lease Sale 58A, western and central Gulf of Mexico

Book · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6484038

Leasing is proposed of 122 tracts on the outer continental shelf offshore of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas in the western and central Gulf of Mexico for the extraction of oil and gas. The tracts comprise 582.5 million acres at water depths of 6 to 500 meters and at a distance of 3 to 165 kilometers from shore. The total cost of development of the leases is approximately $255.8 to $652.0 million. The sale is tentatively scheduled for November 1979. Positive Impacts: an estimated 21.6 to 59.8 million barrels of oil and 359.6 to 893.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas could be produced as a result of the sale. Peak production rates could be 8500 to 23,000 barrels of oil per day and 140 to 350 million cubic feet of gas per day. Development operations resulting from the proposed sale would provide direct and indirect employment for roughly 4060 persons by 1985. Negative Impacts: oil spills that could occur during all phases of exploration and production would destroy or damage aquatic and bird life; beach and marsh vegetation and wildlife; the highly productive ecosystems supporting the menhaden, shrimp, and other fisheries; and shoreline recreational resources. Oil spills, construction activities, drilling, and increased marine traffic would lead to contamination of the habitat, food, and populations of various endangered species, including the sei, fin, blue, right, and sperm whales; the Kemp's Ridley, leatherback, loggerhead, and green marine turtles; the brown pelican and bald eagle; and the American alligator. Geologic accidents could jeopardize offshore-drilling platforms, personnel, and nearby aquatic life. The removal of sea floor from use and the presence of pipelines and other underwater obstructions would interfere with commercial fishing operations. Offshore-drilling platforms would degrade the scenic value of the lease area seaward of the shoreline.

• OSTI ID: 6484038
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
03 NATURAL GAS
030800 -- Natural Gas-- Environmental Aspects
530300 -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Environmental Impact Statements-- (-1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALABAMA
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENDANGERED SPECIES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GULF OF MEXICO
INDUSTRY
LEASING
LOUISIANA
MINERAL RESOURCES
MISSISSIPPI
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SPILLS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
PRODUCTION
RESOURCES
SEAS
SOUTHEAST REGION
SOUTHWEST REGION
SURFACE WATERS
TEXAS
USA