While this generalization is basically correct, the amount of loss to each of the mid-Atlantic fisheries would be highly variable depending upon the spawning characteristics of the species in question and the compensatory ability of the particular stock to recover from large initial mortalities. Mid-Atlantic commercially valuable species that spawn in late spring within the hypothesized spill location include bluefish, scup, black seabass, and summer flounder. These species could be subjected to large egg and larvae mortalities if a spill of this magnitude occurred. In addition, shellfish such as sea scallop, surf clam, and ocean quahog which are distributed throughout the affected area generate pelagic larvae which would be exposed to the oil spill with resultant mortalities. Because the well blowout is assumed to be in 60 m of water and blown by The spill also would be driven to the shore of Long Island. Should this happen, a large impact on Long Island sport fishermen would occur. Boats operating from such locations as Shinnecock Bay and Freeport would experience reduced charters or not be able to fish at all because of the fouled waters. Similarly, commercial fishermen harvesting nearshore fish and shellfish could expect reduced catches resulting from movement of affected stocks, or not be able to fish at all for fear of fouling nets and gear. A catastrophic spill of the nature hypothesized could be expected to produce locally severe impacts on mid-Atlantic commercial and sport fisheries. Impacts anticipated include direct mortality of eggs and larvae with resultant population reductions, mortality of important shellfish in waters less than 60 m between Hudson Canyon and the south shore of Long Island, reduced sport fishing activity, and fouling of commercial fishing gear. All these impacts would reduce fishingderived incomes for New York State and, to a lesser degree, the mid-Atlantic region as a whole. Effects on Coastal Recreation and Tourism: An oil spill of catastrophic proportions would have the potential for severe impacts on coastal recreation and tourism. If it were to contact the beaches of heavily tourist-dependent areas, serious effects would result. Such an area is exemplified by the south shore of Long Island. This area supports the full range of coastal recreational uses from intensively used day-trip beaches to overnight tourist areas and second-home communities. It is also one of the most heavily used coastal areas on the eastern seaboard. As noted in Chapter III, tourism provides a significant portion of the Island's income, forming the economic backbone of many areas, particularly near the Atlantic Ocean. A spring (especially late spring) accident with beaching of oil in mid- to late June could force the closure or partial closure of beaches during the peak season while cleanup operations proceeded. Such closure would result in substantial economic loss. A study by the Long Island State Park and Recreation Commission (1977) attempted to evaluate such economic impacts. The study concluded that a large spill coming ashore along a 60-mile stretch of beach on the eastern half of the Island could result in direct expenditure losses of up to $13.3 million per week. (This figure assumes 100 percent loss of beach-related revenues and 10 to 30 percent loss of boating and sports fishing revenues in 1977 dollars.) A catastrophic spill of 150,000 bbl or greater could contact all of Long Island's 120-mile southern coastline resulting in direct-expenditure losses which in this case could approach $16.9 million per week, according to study results. Unlike the experience in Santa Barbara, diversion of tourist activity to other local areas would be unlikely because of the limited number of available beaches and the relatively short season for beach-related recreational activity. Complete loss of these direct expenditures would have compound effects because of economic multipliers. The study indicates that each $1.00 spent on ocean-related recreational activity contributes $2.85 to the regional (Long Island) economy. As a result, direct-expenditure losses approaching $16.9 million could deprive Long Island of almost $48 million of economic activity per week. In the short term, much of the coastal recreational activity may be displaced to the Jersey shore or southern New England. However, large segments of an urban population which uses the beaches in Brooklyn and Queens are dependent upon public transportation for this day-trip recreational activity. If these beaches were closed because of an oil spill, much of this population would not be able to utilize alternative beaches. This would result in a greater loss of recreational opportunities than found in other areas with a more mobile population. This segment of the population might be forced to forego beach recreation altogether during the period of impact. Aside from direct expenditures and related economics activity, other economic impacts from a catastrophic spill would include the costs associated with cleanup, reductions in property values, and reduction in property and sales tax revenues. Non-economic impacts, for example, on aesthetic values, could also occur. Psychological dissatisfaction of visitors as well as residents could be substantial. Combined with the potential for changing preference patterns and long-term displacement of tourism to other non-local areas, factors might produce impacts from which it could take years to recover. IV.C. Oil Spill Cleanup and Contingency Planning in the Mid-Atlantic 1. National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency The framework for a coordinated Federal spill response and cleanup is detailed in the National Contingency Plan (40 CFR Part 1510), and developed in accordance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended (P.L. 92-500) and revised (40 CFR Part 300) in July 1982 (Federal Register, Vol. 47, No. 137: July 16, 1982). Those Federal Departments and Agencies charged with the responsibility for implementing the plan are the Departments of Agriculture, through the Forest Service; Commerce, through NOAA; Defense, through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Interior, through the Minerals Management Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service; Transportation, through the Coast Guard; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Federal responsibility for actual oil spill cleanup is assumed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard through an On-Scene Coordinator (OSC). The Coast Guard usually deals with spills that occur offshore. Within each region, the Coast Guard has designated an On-Scene Coordinator (OSC). Additionally, Regional Response Team (RRTs) have been set up. Responsibilities of Regional Response Teams are set out in the National Contingency Plan and include planning and preparedness action in the event an oil spill should occur and coordination and advice following a spill (Dept. of Commerce, OCZM, Correspondence, February 2, 1981). An RRT is activated after a major spill and serves as a technical advisory board to the local OSC. In the event of a spill the owner of the tanker or facility is responsible for cleanup. The OSC makes a determination as to whether or not the responsible party is able and willing to combat the spill adequately. Affected States are invited to participate in the deliberation. In the event that the responsible party is deemed to be taking adequate corrective action, the OSC maintains a role as coordinator. If it is determined that an adequate response cannot or will not be made by the responsible party, the OSC becomes an On-Scene Commander and cleanup activities are then taken over by the U.S. Coast Guard (or EPA in inland waters). Each of these Agencies maintains Regional Response Centers where equipment and/or communications are located. In addition, the Coast Guard maintains a strike force on each coast which would be activated to respond to major spills. Within the Federal framework, there exists a National Strike Force with three strike teams. The closest one to the proposed sale area is the Atlantic Strike Team, located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. If necessary, the Coast Guard strike teams are capable of providing equipment and personnel. In addition to acting in an advisory capacity to the OSC, the strike teams assist in cleanup operations during a major spill determined to be a Federal cleanup responsibility. In the event of a catastrophic spill, all equipment of the National Strike Force could be mobilized by the OSC. The Coast Guard districts do not rely primarily on the National Strike Force for pollution response equipment, but use contractor, oil spill cooperative, and local Coast Guard equipment to respond to most spills. National Strike Force equipment is used to supplement locally available equipment when required and is available via rapid transportation, including air, to the port nearest the spill. For the Argo Merchant spill, which occurred during adverse weather conditions, the response time for the Atlantic Strike Team to reach the spill site was approximately 7 hours (U.S. Coast Guard, Correspondence, February 3, 1981). This response time was because of the relative ease of transporting the offloading pumping system typically used to deal with vessel incidents. However, a spill resulting from a well blowout and requiring larger, heavy skimming barriers would require a longer response time--at least 11 to 16 hours or more for a spill within the northern sector of the proposed sale area (U.S. Coast Guard, Personal Communication, 1981). Table IV.C.1-1 contains a list of equipment maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team. Table IV.C.1-1. U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team Equipment Stockpile (*) Two of the barges have a capacity of 240,000 gallons, four have a capacity of 40,000 gallons, and the remaining barge has a capacity of 10,000 gallons. Use of dispersants for oil spills is also regulated under the national and regional plans. The final revised National Contingency Plan allows the OSC to authorize the use of dispersants in oil spill cleanups, but only if the dispersants appear on a dispersant acceptance list. The dispersant acceptance list includes 28 products tested and accepted by EPA (011 Spill Intelligence Report, June 23, 1982). In addition, use of a dispersant must be concurrently approved by the EPA, a Regional Response Team (RRT) representative, and any States with jurisdiction over the affected waters. Concurrent approval, however, is not necessary if the use of dispersants is necessary to prevent or substantially reduce the hazard to human life. IV.C.2. Industry Oil Spill Containment and Cleanup Capabilities The oil industry cleanup cooperative for the Atlantic region is Clean Atlantic Associates (CAA), which includes those companies presently holding offshore oil and gas leases in the Atlantic and is open to additional companies that acquire leases in subsequent Atlantic sales. The primary objectives of CAA are to provide and maintain oil spill containment and cleanup equipment (Table IV.C.2-1) for use by member companies and to help ensure the availability of trained personnel for cleaning up oil spills. CAA has established a base of operations at Davisville, Rhode Island to serve the mid- and north Atlantic OCS regions. For presently established bases, CAA has contracted with Halliburton Services Company to stockpile and maintain equipment and to coordinate responses to a spill incident. Pursuant to U.S. Coast Guard guidelines, MMS requires that CAA maintains for each OCS region, equipment that can be deployed within a 6 to 12 hour time period. The equipment should have an initial recovery rate of 1,000 bbl per day or greater. Operators' oil spill contingency plans also include provisions whereby the operator would use additional equipment and manpower supplied by private contractor if needed (USGS Correspondence, December 1981); cleanup and containment equipment stockpiled at Davisville, Rhode Island, could serve in the Mid-Atlantic if needed. |