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Environmental Consequences, Cumulative Impacts (2002 - 2006), and Mitigation Measures

SECTION 5.3 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

On February 11, 1994, President Clinton issued

an executive order to address questions of equity in

the environmental and health conditions of impoverished communities. The Proposed Action is not expected to increase onshore development related to offshore oil and gas. Since the Proposed Action is located offshore the only direct Environmental Justice

implications would be related to subsistence fishing

and gathering or religious and cultural practices of

native populations. A discussion of cultural and religious practices of the native populations is contained

is section 4.7 of this document.

The percentage of minority population in each

county in the Study Area is shown on Table 5.3-1. The

Proposed Action is not expected to result in onshore

impacts in the study area and therefore is not anticipated to have a disproportionate effect on low income

and minority communities.

Table 5.3-1. Population by Ethnic and Racial Group

 1990 % of Total 2000 %Change/ 

% of Total 

2010 %Change/ 

% of Total 

San Luis Obispo 217,944 100.00% 254,818 16.92% 324,741 27.44% 

 White 177,031 81.23% 203,347 79.80% 253,097 77.94% 

 Hispanic 29,122 13.36% 37,122 14.57% 52,459 16.15% 

 Asian or Pacific Islander 5,783 2.65% 7,461 2.93% 10,527 3.24% 

 Black 4,351 2.00% 5,166 2.03% 6,770 2.08% 

 American Indian 1,657 0.76% 1,722 0.68% 1,888 0.58% 

Santa Barbara 370,893 100.00% 412,071 11.10% 468,457 13.68% 

 White 245,005 66.06% 244,212 59.26% 240,087 51.25% 

 Hispanic 99,104 26.72% 134,725 32.69% 188,294 40.19% 

 Asian or Pacific Islander 15,185 4.09% 20,218 4.91% 25,801 5.51% 

 Black 9,442 2.55% 10,293 2.50% 11,139 2.38% 

 American Indian 2,157 0.58% 2,623 0.64% 3,136 0.67% 

Ventura 670,274 100.00% 753,820 12.46% 854,580 13.37% 

 White 441,280 65.84% 452,133 59.98% 468,465 54.82% 

 Hispanic 177,998 26.56% 233,041 30.91% 293,969 34.40% 

 Asian or Pacific Islander 32,939 4.91% 48,284 6.41% 69,252 8.10% 

 Black 14,617 2.18% 16,738 2.22% 19,027 2.23% 

 American Indian 3,440 0.51% 3,624 0.48% 3,867 0.45% 

Total Study Area 1,259,111 100.00% 1,420,709 100.00% 1,647,778 100.00% 

 White 863,316 68.57% 899,692 63.33% 961,649 58.36% 

 Hispanic 306,224 24.32% 404,888 28.50% 534,722 32.45% 

 Asian or Pacific Islander 53,907 4.28% 75,963 5.35% 105,580 6.41% 

 Black 28,410 2.26% 32,197 2.27% 36,936 2.24% 

 American Indian 7,254 0.58% 7,969 0.56% 8,891 0.54% 
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Delineation Drilling Activities Offshore Santa Barbara County

5.4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF

ALTERNATIVE 2: ONSHORE

DISPOSAL OF MUDS AND CUTTINGS

Alternative 2 requires that all mud and cuttings

be barged to shore for onshore disposal at an approved

disposal site. This operation would entail storing the

mud and cuttings in bins, transporting the bins to

shore via workboat, and trucking the bins to an approved disposal.

Since the type and size of the semi-submersible

is unknown, the onboard storage capacity for muds

and cutting can not be estimated. For the Sedco 712,

the onboard storage capacity for liquid mud is 900 bbls.

There will likely be space to store cuttings on the semisubmersible until the transport boat arrives at the rig

to take the cuttings to shore for disposal. The amount

of muds that would be generated in the 5 proposed

wells ranges from 3000 – 12,250 bbls/well, while the

amount of cuttings ranges from 1805 – 4270 bbls/well.

Operators have only used the onshore disposal option

on rare occasions. Based on this past experience in

the Pacific OCS Region, a workboat would be used to

transport the mud and cuttings to shore. It is assumed

that the 180-foot class workboat described in the

Project Description would be used. The cuttings and

mud would be transferred to a workboat in U. S. Coast

Guard-approved storage bins, via crane. These bins

must be covered in order to fulfill regulatory requirements for travel over water (DOT) and to prevent

emissions from ventilating into the atmosphere.

The rate and number of workboat trips to port

depends on the volume and rate cuttings are produced

when drilling each well. Typically, the rate cuttings

are circulated to the rig floor is greater when drilling

the upper portion of the well because of the faster drilling rate and the larger diameter hole. The number of

bins that can be placed on the workboat is dependent

on weather, safety, available space, and other factors.

Costly rig downtime and raised serious health and

safety concerns are associated with offloading bins

during poor weather conditions. In consultation with

Port Hueneme, it is estimated that under good weather

conditions between 9 to15 bins could be transported

by a 180-foot workboat. An average of 12 bins per

trip was assumed for this analysis.

There are numerous facilities in California that

can take offshore-generated oil field wastes. The closest facility capable of accepting oil field waste is located near Bakersfield, approximately 150 miles from

Port Hueneme. In order to ensure compliance with

DOT regulations, a maximum load weight (not including the truck weight) of 20,000 lbs. should be utilized.

In consulting with trucking companies, depending on

the weight of the material, up to 8 or 9 cubic yards (38

to 42 bbls) could be transported per truckload.

Table 5.4-1 summarizes the estimated volumes

of mud and cuttings for each well, the approximate

number of bins, estimated number of trips to shore,

estimated miles from the unit to port, and estimated

number of tank trucks to transport the cuttings to an

approved disposal site. The table is based on the following assumptions:

• The operational storage capacity for the U. S.

Coast Guard approved storage bins is 35 bbls

• The estimated number of trips to port is calculated based on transporting 12 bins per trip

• The estimated round trip mileage from the Unit

to port is calculated based on taking drilling

mud and cuttings to Port Hueneme

• The estimated number of truck trips is calculated based on a tank truck volume of 35 bbls.

Table 5.4 -1. Estimated volumes of mud and cuttings for each well, the approximate number of

bins, estimated number of trips to shore, estimated round trip miles from the unit to port,

estimated number of tank trucks.

Well Mud Volume 

(bbls) 

Cuttings Volume 

(bbls) 

No. bins 

1

No. of 

Trips to 

Shore 2

Miles to Port 

Hueneme 3

No. of 

tank 

trucks 4

Bonito (well 1) 3000 1,805 140 12 204 miles 140 

Bonito (well 2) 3000 1,805 140 12 204 miles 140 

Purisima Point 12,250 2,112 410 35 240 miles 410 

Point Sal 12,250 2,112 410 35 240 miles 410 

Gato Canyon 3000 4,270 210 20 100 miles 210 

1 The operational storage capacity for the bins is 35 bbls (<20,000 lbs.) 

2 the estimated number of trips to port was calculated based on transporting 12 bins per trip

3 the estimated mileage from the Unit to port is calculated based on round trip to Port Hueneme

4 the estimated number of truck trips was calculated based on a standard tank truck volume of 35 bbls. 
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Environmental Consequences, Cumulative Impacts (2002 - 2006), and Mitigation Measures

Effects of Alternative 2: The analysis of Alternative 2 is based primarily on the scenario for the Proposed Action (delineation drilling) since the only differences are that offshore discharges of muds and cuttings would be eliminated. Therefore, the sources of

impacts associated with Alternative 2 and the impacts

will be the same as those discussed for the Proposed

Action with the exception of the following resources:

Air Quality: Air quality impacts associated with

the alternative barging of well muds and cuttings to

shore for onshore disposal was analyzed. The operation would entail the onsite storage of muds and cuttings in bins, transporting the bins to shore via

workboat, and trucking the bins to an approved site.

A 180-foot workboat is assumed for the analysis with

an average of 12 bins per trip transported to Port

Hueneme in Ventura County for offloading onto tanker

trucks. The tanker trucks will be transported 150

miles to an approved onshore disposal site located

outside of Bakersfield. Vessel and mobile source emission estimates were developed based on the following

estimates of vessel and truck trips necessary for the

transport of the muds and cuttings to shore.

Mobile source emission estimates for NOx, CO

and VOC were derived by utilizing emission factors

for heavy-duty diesel powered trucks located in Volume II, Appendix H of AP-42 (AP-42, EPA, 2000). A

1995 model year truck was assumed for calculation

purposes. Emission estimates for the workboat emissions were derived from AP-42 emission factors and

fuel usage assumptions as determined in the Santa

Barbara APCD Crew and Supply Boat Study

(SBCAPCD, 1987). Table 5.4-2 presents the estimated

emission increases expected per Proposed Action with

the additional workboat and onshore tanker truck trips

for Alternative 1.

Emission estimates for Alternative 2 are projected

to increase emissions ranging from 8-36 percent beyond those expected with the proposed onsite discharge

of muds and cuttings. The Bonito and Gato Units

would exhibit the lower percentage increases in emissions due to the lower volume of muds and cuttings

expected to be transported to shore and the shorter

distance to Port Hueneme from those units. A two

well scenario at Bonito would effectively double the

total emission estimate for Bonito. The Santa Maria

Basin Units are expected to exhibit a much greater

increase in emissions due to the increased volume of

muds and cuttings to be transported to shore and the

greater distance to shore requiring a greater frequency

of vessel and truck trips.

Alternative 2 is expected to increase total emissions ranging between 8-36 percent greater than those

predicted for the Proposed Action due to the projected

increase in vessel and truck trips. However, the increase in total emissions is not expected to increase

the peak hour emissions projected and modeled for the

site preparation stage of the Proposed Action. Therefore, no increases to onshore predicted concentrations

affecting the ambient air standards are expected with

this Alternative as the emissions do not overlap with

the modeled emissions during the site preparation

stage. Emission increases projected from the vessel

emissions will be subject to permit and emission offset

requirements per SBCAPCD Rules and Regulations.

Impacts to Santa Barbara County air quality from the

proposed Alternative are considered to be low.

Onshore impacts from additional tanker truck

trips will occur in Ventura County. Increases in onshore mobile source emissions will add approximately

1.6 tons of NOx over 14 months to the Ventura County

Table 5.4-2. Alternative 2 emission increase estimates.

( )

Unit NOx CO VOC SOx1 PM10

1

Bonito 

 Vessel 2.69 1.27 1.72 0.07 0.34 

 Truck 0.19 0.27 0.05 -- -- 

 Total 2.88 1.54 1.76 0.07 0.34 

Purisima Point 

 Vessel 9.24 4.37 5.89 0.24 1.16 

 Truck 0.56 0.78 0.14 -- -- 

 Total 9.80 5.15 6.03 0.24 1.16 

Point Sal 

 Vessel 9.24 4.37 5.89 0.24 1.16 

 Truck 0.56 0.78 0.14 -- -- 

 Total 9.80 5.15 6.03 0.24 1.16 

Gato Canyon 

 Vessel 2.20 1.04 1.40 0.06 0.28 

 Truck 0.28 0.40 0.07 -- -- 

 Total 2.48 1.44 1.47 0.06 0.28 

1- heavy duty diesel emission factors not provided for SOx And PM10
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Delineation Drilling Activities Offshore Santa Barbara County

mobile-source emission budget. The proposed increase

in on-road emissions is considered to have low impacts

to Ventura County air quality. Therefore, overall impacts to regional air quality from Alternative 2 are

expected to be low.

WaterQuality: Impacts to water quality from alternative remains the same as for the Proposed Action, except that no impacts to water quality will occur due to the discharge of drilling muds and cuttings.

Initial drilling of any of the wells entails penetration

of the seafloor with no direct connection to the drilling floor on the MODU. This means that as the drill

bit penetrates the sea floor, initial drilling fluid (composed of seawater and gel) and cuttings will be deposited onto the sea floor. These depositions will raise

sediment into the water column in a fashion similar

to that described in Section 5.2.2.1, when discussing

resuspension processes. Once this phase of the drilling operations is over and the casing is set, all drilling muds and cuttings will be returned to the drilling

rig, cleaned, and barged to shore.

As noted in Section 5.2.2, drilling muds and cuttings discharges from the drilling of the five proposed

wells, will cause a low impact to water quality. The

other discharges that could occur from the drilling

activities, also described in Section 5.2.2, caused only

a negligible impact to water quality. Thus, under this

alternative, only negligible impacts to water quality

will occur.

If, during the lifting the bins of drilling muds

and cuttings onto the supply boat by crane, a bin is

dropped into the sea and the muds are spilled, a negligible impact to water quality will occur. This is because a maximum of 35 bbl of muds and cuttings will

be exposed to being spilled at any one time. Even if

there is some hydrocarbon, or other contamination in

the muds, water quality will be impacted no worse that

at a negligible level.

Seafloor Resources: This alternative would benefit seafloor resources in general, reducing impacts to

both soft and hard substrate resources. Onshore disposal of muds and cuttings would all but eliminate the

introduction of turbidity at the wellsite locations (a

small amount of cuttings with seawater would be discharged until the first string is drilled) and would avoid

smothering impacts to potentially sensitive hard substrate communities at all wellsites.

Marine Mammals: Onshore disposal of muds and

cuttings would add about 2 supply boat trips per week

to the support traffic estimated to occur as part of the

proposed delineation activities. The effects of this alternative on marine mammals remain the same as

those described for the Proposed Action (Section 5.2.8).

Threatened and endangered Marine Mammals:

Onshore disposal of muds and cuttings would add

about 2 supply boat trips per week to the support traffic estimated to occur as part of the proposed delineation activities. The effects of this alternative on threatened and endangered marine mammals remain the same

as those described for the Proposed Action (Section

5.2.9).

Threatened and endangered Turtles: Onshore

disposal of muds and cuttings would add about 2 supply boat trips per week to the support traffic estimated

to occur as part of the proposed delineation activities.

The effects of this alternative on sea turtles remain

the same as those described for the Proposed Action

(Section 5.2.9).

Infrastructure: Onshore disposal of drilling of

muds and cuttings will have a short-term impact on

the number of truck trips from the Port of Hueneme.

The impact of the truck trips from the Port of Hueneme

will result in a 36% percent increase in truck traffic

for up to 6 days. While a short-term increase in traffic is generally considered to be a moderate impact,

the extremely short time periods this impact is likely

to occur reduces the impact to low. Table 5.4-3 shows

the number of trucks required and the daily increase

in trips, and the number of days required to complete

operations for each unit.

 Total 

Trucks 

Daily Trucks Percent of Port of 

Hueneme Daily 

Truck Traffic 

Number of Days Required 

Bonito Well 1 140 72 36% 2 

Bonito Well 2 140 72 36% 2 

Point Sal 410 72 36% 6 

Purisima Point 410 72 36% 6 

Gato Canyon 210 72 36% 3 

Table 5.4-3. Alternative 2 estimated number of trucks required, daily trips, percent of port

traffic and the number of days required to complete operations for each unit for the Port of

Hueneme.
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5.5 ALTERNATIVE 3 — NO ACTION

Alternative 3 would result in no delineation drilling on the four units. The opportunity for development could be precluded. However, it is important to

note that no action could occur under 3 different scenarios. First, MMS reviews the revisions to the EP’s

and disapproves the plans based on the OCSLA and

MMS regulatory requirements: because of probable

serious harm or damage to life (including fish and

other aquatic life), property, natural resources offshore

including mineral deposits, the national security or

defense, or the marine, coastal, or human environment, and the proposed activity cannot be modified to

avoid the harm (OCSLA Section 5 (a) (2) (A) (i) &

MMS regulations 30CFR 250.203 (i) (3). If the revisions are disapproved, no further activity will occur

unless MMS changes its determination that probable

serious harm will occur. For example, unanticipated

advances in technology may allow some activities to

continue without probable serious harm. This would

constitute a new Proposed Action and would receive

full NEPA, safety and operational analysis. Second,

MMS approves the plan but the operator decides not

to drill. Third, MMS reviews the revisions to the EP’s

and requires modifications. The applicant may decide

not to pursue the Proposed Action. As a result of the

No Action, the 4 - 5 delineation wells do not get drilled.

The applicant could legally submit development plans

proposing activities to recover the resources; however,

this would be more difficult without the information

from delineation wells. A new development plan would

undergo full NEPA, safety and operational analysis

prior to a decision being made to allow the activity to

proceed.

Effects of Alternative 3: If Alternative 3 is selected, all impacts, associated with the Proposed Action would be eliminated. This alternative would therefore result in no effect on the resources and activities

discussed in Section 5.2. The incremental contribution of the Proposed Action to cumulative effects would

also be foregone, but effects from other activities, including other OCS activities, would remain. If the

operators make a decision to pursue development, each

operator would submit a separate Development and

Production Plan (DPP) to the MMS. The DPP(s) would

be subject to full review and public coordination under the NEPA, the OCS Lands Act, and all other required Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.

Therefore, the impacts due to the Proposed Action

(Delineation Drilling) would not occur but the impacts

due to potential development could occur.

The potential oil and natural gas resources from

the Proposed Action could remain undeveloped. Strategies that could provide replacement resources for lost

domestic OCS oil and gas production include a combination of energy conservation; onshore domestic oil

and gas supplies; alternative energy sources; and imports of oil, natural gas, and liquefied natural gas.

These alternatives, except conservation, may have

environmental impacts of their own. Market forces

are assumed to be the predominant factor in determining substitutes for OCS oil and gas. Based on this,

increased imports of foreign oil are assumed to be the

largest replacement source. This is thoroughly analyzed in the Final EIS prepared by the Minerals Management Service for the Department of Interior’s 5 year

Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program:

1997-2002. In the event import tankers are substituted, the probability of a large spill associated with

import tankering could increase.

5.6 UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS

OF THE PROPOSED ACTION

The short-term uses of the environment considered in this Draft EIS from delineation drilling activities are compatible with the maintenance of long-term

productivity. Unavoidable adverse impacts are anticipated to be primarily short-term and localized in nature.

AIR QUALITY

Unavoidable adverse impacts to air quality could

occur onshore adjacent to the delineation drilling locations and along the route of support vessels. Increased NOx and SO2 emissions from exploratory drilling operations on the semi-submersible drilling rig will

be minimized through the application of the following

emission control measures on the main engines; 4 degree injection timing retard, turbo-charging, enhanced

inter-cooling with seawater, and low sulfur diesel fuel

(# 0.05 wt.%S). The crew and supply boats supporting the exploratory drilling activities will utilize the

same control measures as are planned for the drilling

rig. Additionally, the support vessels will limit their

cruising speed to 80 percent of full power.

Water Quality

Unavoidable adverse impacts to water quality

would occur at and near the sites of drilling activitiy.

Anchoring and drilling activities would cause an increase in the turbidity of the affected waters for the

duration of the activity. A turbidity plume would also

be created by the discharge of drill mud and cuttings.

Mud and cuttings discharges result in changes to standard, measurable water quality parameters. The

changes will be transient and temporary, and limited

to between 100 and 5,000 m from the discharge point

affecting water quality in the immediate vicinity of the

drilling unit. The discharge of treated sewage from
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Delineation Drilling Activities Offshore Santa Barbara County

the drilling unit would increase the levels of suspended

solids, nutrients, chlorine, and BOD in a small area

near the discharge point for a short period of time.

SEAFLOOR RESOURCES

Unavoidable adverse impacts to seafloor resources, soft-bottom and hard-substrate communities,

would occur at and near the sites of drilling activitiy

from anchoring and mud and cuttings discharges.

SOFT-BOTTOM: Physical disturbances to softbottom habitat results from placement and removal of

the drillplate, the physical drilling of a hole in the

substrate, and placement and removal of anchors and

associated chains and cause temporary changes in

species abundance or composition. Drill mud and cuttings smother soft bottom habitat in a concentrated

area under a well site result in sediment grain size

changes and resultant changes in species composition.

HARD-SUBSTRATE: Physical disturbances on

hard-substrate could include changes in species composition and community structure by altering the natural composition of the substrate, i.e. breaking the larger

rocks into smaller pieces which could be recolonized

by different species. Anchors and their chains, if placed

in high relief hard substrate habitat, can crush or

smother long-lived animals over the localized area contacted. Any biological effects due to the drilling muds

were related to physical effects of smothering and are

limited to within 1 km of the discharge source. Drill

cuttings would cause localized smothering if the

wellsite is located immediately adjacent to a hard substrate. Avoidance mitigation measures could reduce

impacts to both hard-substarate and soft-bottom communities.

FISH RESOURCES

Unavoidable adverse impacts to fish resources

would occur during well abandonment from explosive

removal of the wellhead. A small number of fish would

be expected to be lost. However, given the short duration of the project, few fish would be expected to be

attracted to the wellhead and a low mortality is expected. The use of explosives for well abandonment

would require the implementation of a wildlife mitigation plan designed to minimize impacts to marine life.

Typically, such a plan has included the use of shipboard observers who would be charged with collecting

injured or dead fish after the detonation. The detonation could also be postponed if the diver setting the

charge reports an appreciable number of fish over the

wellhead.

MARINE MAMMALS

Unavoidable adverse impacts to marine mammals

would occur during drilling, vessel and helicopter support activities, and well abandonment from explosive

removal of the wellhead. Impacts on marine mammals

from drilling noise are expected to be restricted to

minor, temporary (less than 1-hour) disturbances

within approximately 100 m of the drilling rig. Noise

from drilling activities will last less than 2 months at

each well location

The level of support vessel and barge traffic associated with the proposed exploratory activities is

expected to result in temporary (less than 1-hour),

localized disturbances to some marine mammals, primarily baleen whales. Collisions between support vessels and marine mammals, while possible, are considered to be highly unlikely events. Helicopter traffic is

expected to result in temporary (less than 1-hour),

localized disturbances to some marine mammals.

A marine mammal close to the detonation site

potentially could be injured or killed, or suffer permanent or temporary hearing damage. Some disturbance

of marine mammals present in the vicinity of the detonation area could also occur, but these would be expected to be minor and temporary (less than 1 hour in

duration). Impacts could be reduced through the implementation of a wildlife mitigation plan designed to

minimize impacts on marine mammals and other marine animals.

THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES

Unavoidable adverse impacts to threatened and

endangered species and blue and humpback whales

could occur during drilling, vessel and helicopter support activities, and well abandonment from explosive

removal of the wellhead. Impacts on blue and humpback whales from drilling noise are expected to be restricted to minor, temporary (less than 1-hour) disturbances within approximately 100 m of the drilling

rig. Noise from drilling activities will last less than 2

months at each well location. The level of support

vessel and barge traffic associated with the proposed

exploratory activities could result in temporary (less

than 1-hour), localized disturbances to blue and humpback whales. Surface traffic to and from the proposed

project areas is unlikely to have a detectable effect on

blue and humpback whales during their summer and

fall presence in southern California waters. Helicopter traffic is expected to result in temporary (less than

1-hour), localized disturbances to blue and humpback

whales. Blue or humpback whales close to the detonation site for well abandonment activities potentially

could be injured or killed, or suffer permanent or temporary hearing damage. Some disturbance of blue and

humpback whales present in the vicinity of the deto-
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Environmental Consequences, Cumulative Impacts (2002 - 2006), and Mitigation Measures

5.7 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE

SHORT-TERM USE OF MAN’S

ENVIRONMENT AND THE

MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT

OF LONG-TERM PRODUCTIVITY

In this section, the short-term effects and uses

of various components of the environment in the vicinity of proposed drilling of 4-5 delineation wells at

different locations are related to long-term effects and

the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity. Short-term refers to the total duration of

the Proposed Action, oil and gas delineation activities, whereas long-term refers to an indefinite period

beyond the termination of delineation activities. The

specific impacts of the Proposed Action vary in kind,

intensity, and duration according to the activities occurring at any given time. Air emissions and drilling

discharges result in result in short-term, localized

impacts. Anchor scars and mud and cuttings piles last

for decades and longer. Over the long-term, several

decades to several hundreds of years, natural environmental balances are expected to be restored. Many

of the effects discussed in Section 5 are considered to

be short-term (occurring only during drilling activities). These impacts could be further reduced by the

mitigative measures discussed in Section 5.

The short-term use of the leased areas is the drilling of 4-5 delineation wells at different locations. Delineation drilling activities would have air emissions,

water discharges, cause disturbance to and

resuspension of bottom sediments, and occupy a large

area with the drill rig and anchors. Support vessels

would have air emissions and routinely travel between

the drill rig and port. Helicopters would have air emissions and routinely travel between the drill rig and

nation area could also occur, but these would be expected to be minor and temporary (less than 1 hour in

duration). Impacts could be reduced through the implementation of a wildlife mitigation plan designed to

minimize impacts on blue and humpback whales and

other marine animals.

VISUAL RESOURCES

Unavoidable adverse impacts to visual resources

could occur during drilling operations. The effect of

the proposed action on visual resources is not significant on any of the four Units. The Visual Resource

Impact Aera (VRIA) from the Gato Canyon Unit drill

site crosses the shoreline for a short distance in the

vicinity of El Capitan State Beach. However, the VRIA

is outside the boundary of El Capitan State Beach.

MARINE RECREATIONAL FISHING

Unavoidable adverse impacts to marine recreational fishing could occur during drilling operations.

Vessels trolling for pelagic species would be expected

to avoid an area up to 1,525 m (5,000 ft) around the

proposed well sites while the MODU is on site. An

increase in navigational hazards to marine recreational fishermen would be expected due to increased

vessel traffic associated with the proposed project.

COMMERCIAL FISHING AND KELP

HARVEST

Unavoidable adverse impacts to commercail fishing could occur during drilling operations. Fishing

conflicts, lost fishing time and damage to equipment,

with fishing could occur as the MODU is towed to

each of the well sites. Fishing conflicts may also occur as crewboats and supply boats travel to and from

the drill site. Fishermen of all gear types would be

precluded from fishing in the vicinity of the MODU

for up to 90 days at each well site. The trawl fishery

may also experience long-term impacts due to artificial obstructions, such as drill mud and cuttings, anchor scars, and lost debris. Impacts to fishermen would

have indirect impacts to the rest of the industry including seafood processors, brokerage firms, dock

workers, shipping and boat yards.

Industry proposes, or plans to negotiate, the following mitigation measures; 1) transit to and from

drilling sites will occur within vessel corridors established for oil and gas service vessels in the SMB and

SBC, 2) consultation with fishermen and fishing

orginazations concerning drilling activities, 3) notification to fishermen and fishing orginazations of drilling activities compensation for preclusion of fishing,

4) identify and arrange for relocation of gear within

anchor scope prior to arrival of the MODU, 5) industry and boat captains associated with the proposed

project will keep logs documenting equipment lost

overboard. Industry will notify MMS of all lost items,

6) all offshore personnel involved in the proposed

project to attend the Western States Petroleum

Association’s Fisheries Training Program, appropriately abridged, and 7) industry will hold at least two

pre-survey coordination meetings with MMS and and

other interested agencies to review the status of the

implementation of these mitigation measures.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Unavoidable adverse impacts to infrastructure

would occur during drilling operations. Crew and

supply vessels trips are anticipated to increase as a

result of the proposal resulting in a small short-term

increase in supply vessel.
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Delineation Drilling Activities Offshore Santa Barbara County

support bases. The short-term delineation drilling may

have long-term impacts on sensitive hard substrate

communities (section 5.2). Delineation drilling and

support activities would also have temporary, shortterm impacts to air and water quality, marine life, visual resources, marine recreational and commercial

fishing, and infrastructure. After the completion of

the drilling and support activities, the marine and

coastal environment is generally expected to remain

at or return to its normal long-term productivity levels. There have been decreases in long-term marine

productivity in OCS areas where oil and gas have been

produced for many years. Reductions have been observed in plankton and fish populations off the West

Coast in the last 50 years which experienced exploration drilling, development and production during the

1960s,1970s, and 1980s. McGowan et al. (1996) attributes the reduction in macrozooplankton in southern California waters to warming of the California

Current since 1951. Impacts to plankton due to the

Proposed Action are not expected. Anchoring and mud

and cuttings discharges of the Proposed Action would

alter the ocean bottom resulting in a small change in

habitat for a small number of fish over a small area.

Because a small number of fish and a small area would

be affected, we conclude that decreases in long-term

productivity are not expected as a result of the Proposed Action.

5.8 IRREVERSIBLE AND

IRRETRIEVABLE COMMITMENT OF

RESOURCES

Irreversible and irretrievable may be confusing

terms to some because they are not part of everyday

language. Irreversible commitments are those that

cannot be reversed, except perhaps in the extreme long

term (millions of years). The classic instance is when

a species becomes extinct; this is an irreversible loss.

Irretrievable commitments are those that are lost for

a period of time. For example, fishermen would not be

able to trawl in the same space as an MODU for as

long (68-92 days) as the MODU is there. Once the

MODU is removed and the site cleared of any debris,

fishermen could again trawl the location where the

drill rig used to be.

WATER QUALITY

Irretrievable commitments to water quality

would result from resuspension of sediments during

anchoring and vessel discharges; for example cooling

water, sanitary and domestic wastes, deck drainage,

and drilling related discharges; muds and cuttings,

excess cement, and blowout preventer fluid.

AIR QUALITY

Irretrievable commitments to air quality would

occur from increased NOx

 and SO2 emissions from exploratory drilling operations on the semi-submersible

drilling rig, support vessels, and helicopter traffic.

SEAFLOOR RESOURCES

Irretrievable commitments to seafloor resources;

soft-bottom and hard-substrate communities, would

occur at and near the sites of drilling activitiy from

smothering due to resuspension of sediments from

anchoring and mud and cuttings discharges. Irreversible commitments to hard-substrate communities

would occur from anchors and their chains if placed

in high relief hard substrate habitat resulting in

crushing or smothering long-lived animals over the

localized area contacted and recolonization by other

species.

FISH RESOURCES

Irretrievable commitments to fish resources

would occur during well abandonment from explosive

removal of the wellhead resulting in the loss of a small

number of fish.
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Environmental Consequences, Cumulative Impacts (2002 - 2006), and Mitigation Measures

MARINE MAMMALS

Irretrievable commitments to marine mammals

would occur during drilling, vessel and helicopter support activities, and well abandonment from explosive

removal of the wellhead resulting in. minor, temporary (less than 1-hour) disturbances within approximately 100 m of the drilling rig.

THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES

Irretrievable commitments to threatened and

endangered species, blue and humpback whales, could

occur during drilling, vessel and helicopter support

activities, and well abandonment from explosive removal of the wellhead resulting in minor, temporary

(less than 1-hour) disturbances.

VISUAL RESOURCES

Irretrievable commitments to visual resources

could occur during drilling operations resulting from

viewing the drill rig from shore.

MARINE RECREATIONAL FISHING

Irretrievable commitments to marine recreational

fishing could occur during drilling operations resulting from preclusion of fishing around the proposed

well sites and vessel conflicts with support vessel traffic.

COMMERCIAL FISHING

Irretrievable commitments to commercial fishing could occur during drilling operations resulting

from lost fishing time and damage to equipment and

obstructions, such as drill mud and cuttings, anchor

scars, and lost debris.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Irretrievable commitments to infrastructure

would occur during drilling operations from increased

vessels trips.
5-200

Delineation Drilling Activities Offshore Santa Barbara County