Literature and information related to the natural resources of the North Aleutian Basin of Alaska.

• Main Authors: Stull, E.A., Hlohowskyj, I., LaGory, K. E., Environmental Science Division
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: 02 PETROLEUM; 03 NATURAL GAS; 29 ENERGY PLANNING; POLICY AND ECONOMY; AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS; BERING SEA; BIRDS; CETACEANS; COMMUNITIES; CONTINENTAL SHELF; ECONOMICS; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS; EXPLORATION; FISHERIES; HABITAT; HYDROCARBONS; INFORMATION NEEDS; MAMMALS; NATURAL GAS; OCEANOGRAPHY; OIL SPILLS; OTTERS; PLANNING; SEAS; Bering Sea; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/924695; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/924695; https://doi.org/10.2172/924695

The North Aleutian Basin Planning Area of the Minerals Management Service (MMS) is a large geographic area with significant natural resources. The Basin includes most of the southeastern part of the Bering Sea Outer Continental Shelf, including all of Bristol Bay. The area supports important habitat for a wide variety of species and globally significant habitat for birds and marine mammals, including several federally listed species. Villages and communities of the Alaska Peninsula and other areas bordering or near the Basin rely on its natural resources (especially commercial and subsistence fishing) for much of their sustenance and livelihood. The offshore area of the North Aleutian Basin is considered to have important hydrocarbon reserves, especially natural gas. In 2006, the MMS released a draft proposed program, 'Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, 2007-2012' and an accompanying draft programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS). The draft proposed program identified two lease sales proposed in the North Aleutian Basin in 2010 and 2012, subject to restrictions. The area proposed for leasing in the Basin was restricted to the Sale 92 Area in the southwestern portion. Additional EISs will be needed to evaluate the potential effects of specific lease actions, exploration activities, and development and production plans in the Basin. A full range of updated multidisciplinary scientific information will be needed to address oceanography, fate and effects of oil spills, marine ecosystems, fish, fisheries, birds, marine mammals, socioeconomics, and subsistence in the Basin. Scientific staff at Argonne National Laboratory were contracted to assist MMS with identifying and prioritizing information needs related to potential future oil and gas leasing and development activities in the North Aleutian Basin. Argonne focused on three related tasks: (1) identify and gather relevant literature published since 1996, (2) synthesize and summarize the literature, and (3) identify and prioritize ...