Oil and Gas Development in the Arctic Ocean -- Understanding the Legal and Regulatory Framework

• Main Authors: Ahmad, Fatima, Rauch, Samuel, Hodor, Mark
• Other Authors: NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION SILVER SPRING MD
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Sociology and Law; Geology; Geochemistry and Mineralogy; Mining Engineering; Seismology; Fuels; Environmental Health and Safety; *LEGISLATION; *ARCTIC OCEAN; *CRUDE OIL; *NATURAL GAS; *AQUATIC ANIMALS; *OFFSHORE DRILLING; *SEISMIC REFLECTION; *ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; HABITATS; ENDANGERED SPECIES; INDIGENOUS POPULATION; GREENHOUSE EFFECT; ARCTIC REGIONS; ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; SYMPOSIA; BIOACOUSTICS; CONTINENTAL SHELVES; MARINE GEOPHYSICS; ALASKA; UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT; GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS; *OIL EXPLORATION; *NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION; *SEISMIC SURVEYS; OCSLA(OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS ACT); MMPA(MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT); ESA(ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT); IHA(INCIDENTAL HARASSMENT AUTHORIZATIONS); NEPA(NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT); NMFS(NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE); FWS(FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE); MMS(MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE); APA(ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT); ALASKA NATIVES; CLIMATE CHANGE; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Canada; Climate change; Sea ice; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA504404; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA504404

Oil and gas companies have been focusing their efforts and devoting substantial resources to the Arctic Ocean with the goal of extracting potentially large oil and gas resources. While the Arctic Region may provide significant sources of energy for the United States, industry and Federal regulatory agencies must consider the impact of increased development in the Arctic environment, which is currently experiencing deterioration of sea ice due to changing climactic conditions. This paper describes the current legal and regulatory requirements pertaining to oil and gas development in the Arctic Ocean, including the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). In addition, the paper highlights key issues that have arisen in this area, including biological effects on marine mammals from seismic surveys and drilling operations and Alaska Native subsistence users and their concern over the environmental impacts of oil and gas development. See also ADM002176. Presented at the MTS/IEEE Oceans 2008 Conference and Exhibition held in Quebec City, Canada, on 15-18 Sep 2008.