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3.12 SOCIOECONOMIC RESOURCES

This section identifies those aspects of the social and economic environment in the action area that may 

be affected by the Proposed Action. The Proposed Action is essential to the coastal economy because it 

ensures safe navigation for coastal-dependent industries and provides data for local communities to plan 

for coastal resiliency in response to climate change. Potential socioeconomic impacts with the greatest 

magnitude, duration, and extent would occur in U.S. coastal communities and the U.S. Ocean and Great 

Lakes economies (referred to as the “ocean economy” from here on). U.S. coastal communities and the 

ocean economy are the focus for the analysis of direct socioeconomic impacts. 

There are over 120 million people living in U.S coastal counties (OCM, 2021). Although some NOS projects

would occur in coastal areas, they would not substantially affect social values, aesthetics, or demographic 

composition of the action area and likely would not have a substantial direct or indirect social impact. The 

Proposed Action would not require hiring at a scale which would substantially alter any local economies 

or stimulate migrations of populations. Furthermore, all of NOS’s activities except for the installation, 

maintenance, and removal of tide gauges would occur offshore, so sound and visual intrusions from all 

other activities would not be experienced by the general public. In addition, due to the expansive 

geographic scope of the action area and the programmatic nature of this Final PEIS, any social impact to 

demographic composition, aesthetics, or social values of communities would be difficult to quantify.

A discussion of coastal minority and low-income communities that rely on subsistence hunting and fishing 

is presented in detail in Section 3.13, Environmental Justice. 

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused many changes in the ocean economy. 

Widespread reductions in consumer behaviors and demand have drastically disrupted the maritime 

shipping, tourism, and commercial fishing sectors. Given the unprecedented nature of the situation, it is 

currently unclear how the ocean economy will continue to adapt and change moving into the future. Longterm ocean economic trends will be contingent upon many highly unpredictable variables, including the 

impacts of the COVID-19 virus on the global population level, international trade policy, consumer 

attitudes/behavior, and demand for tourism. Considering the uncertainty of the situation, any current 

projections of future economic activity based on the small quantity of available pandemic economic data 

would be highly speculative and may not accurately represent future economic conditions. Therefore, the 

analysis of socioeconomic impacts does not attempt to account for the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic 

and instead uses the best available pre-pandemic data. Although the magnitude and extent of impacts 

described by these data may be inflated compared to current economic conditions, the trends suggested 

by these analyses should remain constant. 

The data supporting this analysis were collected and derived from standard sources, including federal 

agencies such as NOAA, the U.S. Census Bureau (USCB), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and Bureau of 

Economic Analysis (BEA). All of the tables in this section present data from the NOAA Economics: National 

Ocean Watch (ENOW) dataset, which is developed by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management in 

partnership with the BEA, BLS, and USCB. National and regional economic data presented in this section 

focus on the ocean economy and its supporting sectors. 
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3.12.1 Affected Environment

The ocean economy consists of six sectors: marine construction; living resources; offshore mineral 

extraction; ship and boat building; tourism and recreation; and marine transportation. Marine 

construction includes dredging navigation channels, beach renourishment, and pier building.

In 2016, the ocean economy’s 154,000 business establishments employed about 3.3 million people, paid 

$129 billion in wages, and produced $304 billion in goods and services (OCM, 2022). As described in the 

2019 NOAA Report on the U.S. Ocean and Great Lakes Economy, this accounted for 2.3 percent of the 

nation’s employment and 1.6 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016. Employment in the 

ocean economy rose 2.7 percent (adding 85,000 jobs) from 2015 to 2016 – faster than the national 

average employment growth of 1.7 percent. To put this in perspective, the ocean economy generated a 

larger share of the U.S. economy in 2016 than many better-known economic activities such as crop 

production, telecommunications, and building construction. In 2016, the ocean economy employed more 

people than these three sectors combined (OCM, 2022b).

National data by industry sector for the ocean economy in 2016 are shown in Table 3.12-1. The tourism 

and recreation sector was the largest in terms of establishments, employment, wages, and contribution 

to GDP. 

Table 3.12-1. U.S. Ocean and Great Lakes National Economy by Sector (2016)

Industry Sector Establishments Employment

Wages 

($000)

Contribution to 

GDP ($000)

Tourism and Recreation 125,972 2,367,746 58,727,878 124,232,520

Marine Transportation 10,191 467,453 32,726,192 64,313,381

Offshore Mineral Extraction 4,960 132,007 20,241,667 80,130,037

Living Resources 8,517 87,869 3,941,825 11,292,923

Marine Construction 3,053 45,092 3,267,443 6,397,310

Ship and Boat Building 1,751 157,912 10,521,187 17,498,842

Total 154,492 3,258,081 129,426,193 303,865,013

Source: OCM, 2022a10

National data by region for the ocean economy in 2016 are shown in Table 3.12-2. The Mid-Atlantic Region 

had the most establishments (41,407) and employees (787,652) compared to the other regions; but the 

Gulf of Mexico paid the most in wages (about $33.6 billion) and produced the most in goods and services 

(about $104 billion). 

10 The values used to quantify the contribution of living resources to GDP were published by OCM in the NOAA Report 

on the U.S. Marine Economy which uses Economics: ENOW data. There may be discrepancies between state 

collected data and data collected by NOAA. This may be the result of the contribution of self-employed workers 

which are a large part of the living resources sector; however, the ENOW data cited in this section looks exclusively 

at the component of the data that focuses on businesses with employees. The purpose of this analysis was to review 

the economic impact of this programmatic action over the entire action area and the OCM data was the best 

available data for the entire action area.
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Table 3.12-2. U.S. Ocean and Great Lakes National Economy by Region (2016)

Region Establishments Employment

Wages 

($000)

Contribution to 

GDP ($000)

Mid-Atlantic 41,407 787,652 2,937,154 57,192,282

Gulf of Mexico 24,570 598,311 33,607,076 104,355,021

West 32,887 733,118 29,517,336 62,118,004

Southeast 18,888 402,438 11,108,623 24,650,323

Northeast 15,185 260,056 9,775,768 19,253,186

Great Lakes 14,805 310,855 8,835,522 19,027,089

North Pacific 2,412 47,561 2,744,865 8,643,807

Pacific 4,338 118,083 4,465,464 8,625,298

Total 154,492 3,258,074 102,991,808 303,865,010

Source: OCM, 2022a

Note: Totals from Table 3.12-2 may not exactly match the total or the “All Ocean Sectors” row from Table 3.12-1 

due to rounding.

Economic data from NOAA’s ENOW 2016 dataset are presented in Sections 3.12.1.1 through 3.12.1.6 for 

each of the six sectors that compose the ocean economy, highlighting the importance of contributions 

from ocean and Great Lakes-dependent activities to the nation’s economy. As stated above, NOS data 

acquisition informs charting that provide for safe navigation that is crucial to the ocean economy. NOS 

data serve a variety of users including commercial and recreational mariners, emergency and coastal 

managers and responders, researchers, educators, and others. Furthermore, these data provide 

information that is essential for coastal resiliency planning for coastal communities, particularly on the 

East Coast. 

3.12.1.1 Tourism and Recreation

In 2016, the tourism and recreation sector of the ocean economy had more business establishments and 

employed more people than all the other five sectors combined. It was also the largest sector measured 

in terms of GDP, accounting for about 41 percent of the total ocean economy. This sector includes a wide 

range of businesses that attract or support ocean-based tourism and recreation: eating and drinking 

places, hotels and lodging, scenic water tours, parks, marinas, recreational vehicle parks and campsites, 

and associated sporting goods manufacturing (OCM, 2022b). 

While this sector employs more people and pays more in total wages than any of the other sectors of the 

ocean economy, the seasonal nature of the activities and the large number of part-time jobs (which are 

often held by students and others just entering the workforce) accounts for the relatively low average 

annual wages for employees ($25,000). From 2015 to 2016, tourism and recreation gained 73,000 jobs, 

accounting for most of the employment growth in the ocean economy. The majority of the jobs are in 

hotels and restaurants. These two industries together account for 94 percent of employment and 92 

percent of GDP in this sector. Although vacationers stay at hotels and eat in restaurants, many of the 

coastal and oceanic amenities that attract visitors are free, such as beach visitation and swimming. These 

“nonmarket” activities generate no direct employment, wages, or GDP. However, they are usually key 

drivers for all of the market-based activity, and can be greatly affected by ecosystem health, water quality, 

and the associated aesthetics (OCM, 2022b). 
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California and Florida are the two major contributors to the sector, accounting for more than one-third of 

the sector’s total employment and GDP in 2016 (OCM, 2022b). A summary of the tourism and recreation 

sector by region is shown in Table 3.12-3. 

Table 3.12-3. Tourism and Recreation Sector by Region (2016)

Region Establishments Employment

Wages 

($000)

Contribution to 

GDP ($000)

Mid-Atlantic 36,407 600,271 16,520,850 34,367,599

West 27,363 535,852 14,075,099 29,398,853

Gulf of Mexico 16,249 338,837 7,096,812 14,781,708

Southeast 15,502 335,204 7,611,164 16,378,267

Great Lakes 12,355 240,214 4,929,997 11,097,080

Northeast 12,458 189,098 4,520,523 9,732,781

Pacific 4,020 105,573 3,439,781 7,400,476

North Pacific 1,618 22,691 533,652 1,075,758

Total 125,972 2,367,746 58,727,878 124,232,520

Source: OCM, 2022a

3.12.1.2 Marine and Coastal Transportation

The marine and coastal transportation sector includes businesses engaged in the traffic of deep-sea and 

intracoastal freight, marine and intracoastal passenger services, warehousing, and the manufacturing of 

navigation equipment. This sector accounted for 14.3 percent of the employment and 21.2 percent of the 

GDP of the U.S. Ocean and Great Lakes economy. About 21.5 percent of employment and 25.1 percent of 

GDP attributable to the sector are supported by California. The rest is distributed across the nation, 

concentrated around major ports (OCM, 2022b). A summary of the marine and coastal transportation 

sector by region is shown in Table 3.12-4. 

Table 3.12-4. Marine and Coastal Transportation by Region (2016)

Region Establishments Employment

Wages 

($000)

Contribution to 

GDP ($000)

West 2,384 127,202 10,398,448 20,053,221

Mid-Atlantic 2,217 124,407 8,770,712 15,833,490

Gulf of Mexico 1,980 80,392 5,127,189 11,637,926

Great Lakes 1,231 55,354 3,107,550 5,652,450

Southeast 1,417 45,053 2,488,822 5,638,885

Northeast 430 23,178 2,007,429 3,599,582

North Pacific 229 2,253 158,625 393,735

Pacific 102 3,806 303,100 687,602

Total 10,191 467,453 32,726,192 64,313,381

Source: OCM, 2022a

Warehousing is the largest component of this sector in terms of employment, accounting for 50 percent 

of total sector employment. These figures include loading, unloading, and warehousing cargo and the 

movement of cargo in and out of harbors, but they do not include the value of the cargo itself. The $1.5 

trillion of cargo imported or exported through U.S. ports in 2016 is suggestive of the large indirect effects 
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of coastal ports; not only are maritime commerce and navigation linked to other ocean uses, they are also 

linked to land-based transportation needs(OCM, 2022b). Over 82,000 vessel calls were made at U.S. ports 

during 2015 (USDOT, 2017). Vessels carrying cargo are becoming larger and have deeper drafts than ever 

before. These vessels include bulk ships carrying iron, coal, and grain for export; heavy-load vessels 

carrying project cargo (large, heavy, high value or critical pieces of equipment for the project they are 

intended for); container ships carrying general export and import cargo for markets around the U.S. and 

the world; and tankers carrying petroleum and other liquids used to power U.S. transportation systems 

and industry (OCM, 2022b). Many of these goods are also transported along coastal and inland waterways, 

which transport approximately 15 percent of U.S. freight at the lowest unit cost of any transportation 

method (USACE, 2012a). Imported and exported goods account for 40 percent of U.S. foreign trade as 

measured by value and 69 percent as measured by weight. These effects are realized across the nation, 

accruing as benefits to the producers of agricultural and manufactured products that are sold in 

international markets and to the manufacturers and retailers whose businesses rely on imported goods 

(OCM, 2022b).

3.12.1.3 Offshore Mineral Extraction

Offshore mineral extraction includes oil and gas exploration and production, as well as limestone, sand, 

and gravel mining in the coastal and marine environment. This sector accounted for 4.1 percent of the 

total employment in the ocean economy in 2016, but contributed 26.4 percent of the GDP. Offshore 

mineral extraction is capital-intensive, requiring substantial investments in research, engineering, 

infrastructure, and operational equipment such as oceangoing vessels and drilling platforms. Much of the 

work in this sector takes place in hazardous conditions, and is one of the reasons the average annual wage 

per employee in this sector was $153,000 – almost three times the national average (OCM, 2022b). 

Oil and gas production is the largest component of this sector and is principally located in the Gulf of 

Mexico, as shown in Table 3.12-5. The Gulf of Mexico, both onshore and offshore, is one of the most 

important regions for energy resources and infrastructure. Gulf of Mexico federal offshore oil production 

accounts for 17 percent of total U.S. crude oil production and federal offshore natural gas production in 

the Gulf accounts for 5 percent of total U.S. dry gas production. Crude oil production in federal waters 

exceeds 1.5 million barrels/day and dry gas production is 1.2 trillion cubic feet annually. Over 45 percent 

of total U.S. petroleum refining capacity is located along the Gulf Coast, as well as 51 percent of total U.S. 

natural gas processing plant capacity (EIA, 2022a, 2022b). Oil prices fell sharply between 2015 and 2016, 

leading to declines in the inflation-adjusted GDP of the offshore mineral extraction sector (down 18 

percent) and the ocean economy as a whole (down 7 percent).

Table 3.12-5. Offshore Mineral Extraction by Region (2016)

Region Establishments Employment

Wages

($000)

Contribution to 

GDP ($000)

Gulf of Mexico 3,336 106,792 17,411,920 70,099,694

West 548 9,710 1,030,956 2,930,128

Mid-Atlantic 318 1,700 119,839 387,286

Great Lakes 277 921 64,564 305,312

North Pacific 170 11,525 1,529,061 5,972,744

Southeast 152 522 24,845 65,239

Northeast 123 659 45,198 314,739

Pacific 11 110 11,828 45,866
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Region Establishments Employment

Wages

($000)

Contribution to 

GDP ($000)

Total 4,960 132,007 20,241,667 80,130,037

Source: OCM, 2022a

Limestone, sand, and gravel production is generally performed in support of marine and coastal 

construction activities and is, therefore, widely distributed among the U.S. coastal states. Generally 

speaking, states with large economies and long coastlines such as California, Washington, Florida, and 

Texas have the greatest production of sand, gravel, and limestone (OCM, 2022b).

3.12.1.4 Living Resources

The living resources sector includes the commercial fishing, fish hatcheries and aquaculture, seafood 

processing, and seafood markets industries. The living resources sector accounted for 3 percent of the 

employment and 4 percent of GDP of the ocean economy in 2016 (OCM, 2022b). Seafood processing 

converts the whole fish or shellfish harvested by fishermen or produced by aquaculture operations into 

the products that are sold at retail stores or restaurants. It is the largest producer in the living resources 

sector, accounting for 41 percent of the contribution to GDP. The seafood market industry retails fresh, 

frozen, and cured fish and seafood items such as tuna, salmon, lobster, and shrimp. Products are sold at 

various brick-and-mortar locations including independent markets, delicatessens, fishmongers, and 

butcher shops. Fish and seafood markets and counters operating within a supermarket are excluded from 

this industry, as are online sales of fish products. The seafood market industry accounts for most of the 

employed workers at 46 percent of the sector (OCM, 2022b). In 2015, the seafood industry supported 1.2 

million full-and part-time jobs and generated $144.2 billion in sales, $39.7 billion in income, and $60.6 

billion in value-added impacts nationwide. The seafood retail sector generated the largest employment 

impacts across sectors at 573,000 jobs, the largest income impacts ($13.3 billion), and the largest valueadded impacts ($18.2 billion) (NMFS, 2017e).

Commercial fishing can be an important component of a community’s identity. Lobster, crab, oysters, and 

finfish are important to cultural identities from Maine to the Chesapeake Bay on the Mid-Atlantic Coast, 

Apalachicola Bay in Florida, and Grays Harbor in Washington. Shrimp and crawfish are an integral part of 

Cajun culture and Creole cuisine in Louisiana. Even seafood processing and marketing can shape cultural 

identities; consider the examples of Cannery Row in Monterey, California, and the Pike Place Market in 

Seattle, Washington (OCM, 2022b). The impact of fishing and seafood in the Western, Gulf of Mexico, 

Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast regions’ cultural identities is reflected in the number of establishments, 

employment, wages, and contribution to GDP (see Table 3.12-6). 

Table 3.12-6. Living Resources Economy by Region (2016)

Region Establishments Employment

Wages 

($000)

Contribution to 

GDP ($000)

West 1,802 21,654 1,137,858 2,899,629

Gulf of Mexico 1,625 17,117 590,094 1,943,584

Mid-Atlantic 1,667 14,102 572,160 1,947,744

Northeast 1,637 11,791 658,892 1,892,138

Southeast 855 7,143 275,500 841,473

Great Lakes 451 4,101 172,990 486,094

North Pacific 324 10364 469,313 1,116,862
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Region Establishments Employment

Wages 

($000)

Contribution to 

GDP ($000)

Pacific 153 1,591 65,019 165,399

Total 8,517 87,869 3,941,825 11,292,923

Source: OCM, 2022a 

The living resource sector relies on the health of coastal and ocean ecosystems. The sector also depends 

on coastal wetlands that serve as habitat, juvenile nurseries, and feeding grounds for marine fish; 

estuaries that are the primary habitat for oysters and other shellfish; and the open ocean ecosystems 

where much of the finfish harvesting occurs. The health of these ecosystems can be affected by a wide 

range of other activities which underscores the need for wise use, conservation, monitoring, and 

management of ocean and coastal resources. For example, Figure 3.12-1 shows coastal wetlands in Alaska 

that serve as a nursery and rearing habitat for juvenile Pacific salmon. These “salmon factories” are crucial 

for maintaining the wild salmon stocks upon which the commercial salmon fishery industry in Alaska 

depends. 

Photo Credit: Leon Kolankiewicz

Figure 3.12-1. Coastal Wetland in Alaska Serves as Nursery

and Rearing Habitat for Juvenile Pacific Salmon
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3.12.1.5 Marine Construction and Planning

The marine construction sector accounts for heavy construction activities associated with dredging of 

navigation channels, beach renourishment, and pier building11. Marine construction accounted for 1.4 

percent of the employment and 2 percent of the GDP in the ocean economy in 2016. While the sector 

represents a small percentage of the ocean economy, it is an integral component, paying one of the 

highest annual average wages per employee of $72,000, much higher than the national average of 

$54,000. Furthermore, construction activities such as dredging navigation channels and renourishing 

beaches are vital to the marine transportation and tourism and recreation sectors (OCM, 2022b). 

Coastal resilience planning is an increasingly important component of marine and coastal construction. 

Rising sea levels and extreme weather events are constantly eroding coastlines throughout the action 

area. Erosion rates vary considerably from location to location and year to year, but average less than 1 

m (2-3 ft) annually along the Atlantic coast and over 2 m (6 ft) annually in areas bordering the Gulf of 

Mexico (Heinz Center, 2000). Pacific coastlines tend to erode less than 0.3 m (1 ft) each year, but this 

lower rate is primarily a result of averaging episodic cliff erosion events, which can erode over 31 (100 ft) 

of coastline at one time, over many years (Heinz Center, 2000). Nationwide, annual coastal erosion may 

be responsible for $500 million in property loss to coastal landowners, including both damage to 

structures and loss of land. Approximately 87,000 homes are currently located in low-lying land or coastal 

bluffs that are likely to erode into the ocean by 2060. The federal government currently spends over $150 

million annually on coastal resilience enhancement, including beach nourishment and other erosion 

prevention measures such as structural rip-rap installation (USGCRP, 2018).

Marine construction activities occur in most regions of the U.S., but are highly concentrated in Florida, 

Texas, California, and Louisiana, which together in 2016 accounted for about 56 percent of the 

employment and about 54 percent of GDP contribution from this sector. Marine construction economics 

by region are shown in Table 3.12-7.

11 Data for activities supporting offshore oil and gas production would normally be considered a form of marine 

construction. However, the underlying data on these activities are almost always suppressed because of the small 

number of businesses in any one area. In many cases, protecting the confidentiality of these businesses requires the 

suppression of the entire sector, including information for activities that could otherwise be reported. For this 

reason, these activities are not included in ENOW’s data on the ocean economy. The effect of this omission is most 

prominent in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska (OCM, 2022b).
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Table 3.12-7. Marine Construction Economy by Region (2016)

Region Establishments Employment

Wages 

($000)

Contribution to 

GDP ($000)

West 486 8,653 784,166 1,569,650

Gulf of Mexico 719 15,904 1,055,460 1,974,990

Mid-Atlantic 617 8,571 681,813 1,360,598

Northeast 159 2,425 110,256 193,613

Southeast 597 5,550 300,605 639,694

Great Lakes 326 2,074 154,677 303,677

North Pacific 47 354 35,066 59,171

Pacific 30 1,126 116,360 238,177

Total 3,053 45,092 3,267,443 6,397,310

Source: OCM, 2022a

3.12.1.6 Ship and Boat Building

This sector includes the construction, maintenance, and repair of ships, recreational boats, commercial 

fishing vessels, ferries, and other marine vessels. The ship and boat building sector accounted for 4.8 

percent of employment and 6 percent of GDP in the ocean economy in 2016. The construction, 

maintenance, and repair of ships in particular (as opposed to recreational boats, commercial fishing 

vessels, ferries, and other marine vessels) accounted for about 83 percent of the sector’s employment 

and 84 percent of GDP (OCM, 2022b).

Large shipyards are concentrated in a few locations around the country. However, boat building and repair 

activity is spread throughout the country, with concentrations in areas with high levels of commercial 

fishing and recreational boating. In 2016, Virginia contributed most to employment in this sector, 

accounting for 22 percent of the national total. Washington State was the largest contributor to GDP, 

accounting for 23 percent of the total. Kitsap County, Washington contributed more to the nation’s ship 

and boat building sector than any other county in the U.S.; it alone accounted for about 9 percent of the 

employment and 18 percent of the GDP in the nation’s ship and boat building sector (OCM, 2022b). The 

number of establishments, employment, wages, and contribution to GDP are shown by region in Table 

3.12-8.

Table 3.12-8. Ship and Boat Building by Region (2016)

Region Establishments Employment

Wages

($000)

Contribution to 

GDP ($000)

West 304 30,044 2,090,809 5,266,522

Gulf of Mexico 573 37,561 2,225,882 3,737,732

Mid-Atlantic 173 38,528 2,702,482 3,288,397

Northeast 188 28,371 2,139,833 2,825,495

Southeast 365 8,959 407,687 1,086,764

Great Lakes 81 6,920 351,895 928,987

North Pacific 24 372 19,147 25,538

Pacific 22 5,873 529,376 87,778

Total 1,751 157,912 10,521,187 17,498,842

Source: OCM, 2022a 
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3.12.2 Environmental Consequences for Socioeconomic Resources

This section discusses potential impacts of Alternatives A, B, and C on socioeconomic resources. 

3.12.2.1 Methodology

NOS activities would not substantially directly impact socioeconomic resources. The collection of oceanic 

data in Alternatives A, B, and C would not result in the hiring of personnel. Instead, NOS projects would 

support the collection of ocean data in order to provide information for a variety of users including 

commercial and recreational mariners, commercial and recreational fishing industries, renewable and 

non-renewable energy developers, emergency and coastal managers and responders, researchers, 

educators, and others (NERACOOS, No Date). The data collected would allow businesses and coastal 

economies to increase operational efficiency and reduce risks associated with oceanic activities. 

As discussed in Section 3.2.2, significance criteria were developed for each resource analyzed in this Final 

PEIS to provide a structured framework for assessing impacts from the alternatives and the significance 

of the impacts. The significance criteria for socioeconomic resources are shown in Table 3.12-9.

Table 3.12-9. Significance Criteria for the Analysis of

Impacts to Socioeconomic Resources

Impact 

Descriptor Context and Intensity

Significance 

Conclusion

Negligible

There would be no detectable effect on businesses and 

employment; the recreational experience and revenue 

from recreational expenditures; coastal economic 

systems; or sectors of the larger Ocean and Great Lakes 

economies in response to NOS projects and the resulting 

data. Several coastal towns or the coastal economy of a 

state could be impacted by NOS activities. Impacts would 

be temporary and would last the duration of and 

immediately after project activities.

Insignificant

Minor

There would be a detectable effect on businesses and 

employment; the recreational experience and revenue 

from recreational expenditures; coastal economic 

systems; or sectors of the larger Ocean and Great Lakes 

economies in response to NOS projects and the resulting 

data. Several coastal towns or the coastal economy of a 

state and/or the coastal economies of several states 

could be impacted by NOS activities. Impacts would be 

short-term and would last beyond activities, up to one 

year. 

Moderate

There would be a sizeable effect on businesses and 

employment; the recreational experience and revenue 

from recreational expenditures; coastal economic 

systems; or sectors of the larger Ocean and Great Lakes 

economies in response to NOS projects and the resulting 

data. The coastal economies of several states and/or 

most of or all of the coastal economies in the Exclusive 
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Impact 

Descriptor Context and Intensity

Significance 

Conclusion

Economic Zone (EEZ) would be impacted by activities. 

Impacts would be short-term and/or long-term, lasting 

longer than one year.

Major

There would be a substantial effect on businesses and 

employment; the recreational experience and revenue 

from recreational expenditures; coastal economic 

systems; or sectors of the larger Ocean and Great Lakes 

economies in response to NOS projects and the resulting 

data. The coastal economies of several states and/or 

most of or all of the coastal economies in the EEZ would 

be impacted by activities. Impacts would be short-term 

and/or long-term, lasting longer than one year.

Significant

3.12.2.2 Alternative A: No Action - Conduct Surveys and Mapping for Coastal and 

Marine Data Collection with Current Technology and Methods, at Current 

Funding Levels

Although the survey effort under Alternative A would vary by year (see Table 3.4-4), the greatest number 

of nautical miles surveyed over the five-year period would be in the Southeast Region (over 50 percent). 

The survey effort in each of the other four regions are of a similar order of magnitude (approximately 10 

percent in each region for each of the five years), and is slightly greater in the Alaska Region where the 

survey effort would be somewhat higher overall (approximately 16 percent). Additionally, survey effort in 

the Great Lakes would average 2,917 nm (5,402 km) annually, as compared to the remaining annual 

average survey effort of 529,592 nm (980,803 km). In general, it is expected that level of effort and overall 

impacts trend together (i.e., greater impacts where the survey effort is higher), but there are other factors, 

such as the type, location and depth of surveys, that add nuance to this trend.

3.12.2.2.1 Economic Benefits of Coastal and Marine Data

NOS conducts recurring surveys throughout the action area to characterize ocean features (e.g., habitat, 

currents, bathymetry, marine debris). Data collected from these projects are used by NOS and other 

entities, both public and private, to produce charts, maps, and other hydrographic products that are relied 

upon by mariners, scientists, shipping and fishing industries, and many other users in the U.S. and beyond. 

Therefore, although few direct economic impacts (i.e., job creation, large capital investment) are 

anticipated as a result of Alternative A, the distribution and availability of data collected as a result of NOS 

activities could indirectly benefit ocean economy stakeholders by increasing the efficiency and risk 

management of ocean-related operations.

Quantifying the indirect economic benefits of increased ocean surveying and mapping data, quality, and 

availability is inherently difficult due to the lack of available data necessary to quantify economic impacts 

over the entire action area. The economic benefits of ocean surveying and mapping data are derived from 

the value of the information and the effects that information has on the behavior of individuals and 

organizations. The standard measure of these economic benefits is the value that users of the information 

place on it, based on their willingness to pay for such information to either enhance their uses of ocean 

resources or to avoid harms that may come from oceanic or atmospheric phenomena affecting individuals 

and organizations. The propensity of users to pay for such information is a measure of “social surplus” 

(i.e., the value of the information in excess of the costs of acquiring it). When such value accrues to 
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businesses, it is referred to as “producer surplus”; when it accrues to individual users, it is “consumer 

surplus” (Kite-Powell et al., 2004). The economic information needed to compile estimates of both the 

total users of such information and the value they place on such information is only sporadically available 

and usually incomplete. As such, attempts to quantify these values would be highly subjective, 

speculative, and would not accurately represent the intensity or extent of impact across the entire action 

area. 

Nearly all sectors of the ocean economy would benefit from the data tools and products resulting from 

data collection during NOS projects. Kite-Powell et al.’s 2004 “Estimating the Economic Benefits of 

Regional Ocean Observing Systems” evaluates the potential economic benefits that can be realized by 

developing and deploying enhanced data collection systems (e.g., data collection buoys) within the action 

area. Although NOS uses different methods than those analyzed by Kite-Powell et al. (2004) to collect 

data, the primary economic impacts of the alternatives would result from data products and tools 

developed from data collected during NOS projects and would be consistent with the resulting impacts of 

increased data collection described by Kite-Powell et al. (2004) regardless of the differing collection 

methods. As such, the results of the Kite-Powell et al. (2004) report serve as the primary basis for this 

economic impact analysis. The report examines five major affected economic activities, including 

recreational activities (e.g., boating, beach going, fishing); transportation (e.g., freight, cruise ships); 

health and safety (e.g., search and rescue, oil spill and hazard cleanup, property damage); energy (e.g., oil 

and gas development, electric generation management); and commercial fishing. 

Kite-Powell et al. (2004) conducted reviews of these activities in 10 coastal regions (Pacific Northwest, 

California, Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Southern Atlantic coast, Mid Atlantic coast, New England/Gulf of 

Maine, Alaska, Hawai’i, and the Great Lakes) to establish baseline economic conditions and the potential 

impact of improved coastal and marine data quality and availability. Benefits were estimated using a 

multi-phased modeling process. Baseline estimates were first calculated by conservatively assuming that 

total social surplus generated from increased coastal and marine data quality and availability within a 

specific economic sector was one percent of the total economic activity (i.e., revenues or expenditures, 

depending on the benefit) of the sector reported in publicly available economic data sources. This 

assumption reflects the likelihood that changes in consumer and producer surplus elicited by coastal and 

marine data are small relative to the total aggregate level of expenditures and revenues within a sector, 

and is standard in the estimation of economic benefits from weather and atmospheric data. The second 

phase of the estimation process used fine-scale economic modeling of representative regional economic 

activities as case studies to validate the magnitude of estimates from the first phase of modeling; the 

activities modelled in phase two were selected on the basis of data availability (Kite-Powell et al., 2004). 

Table 3.12-10 summarizes the potentially affected economic sectors, their predominant region(s) of 

influence, and descriptions of the types of indirect benefits from increased coastal and marine data, 

quality, and availability. 

Table 3.12-10. Summary of Benefits to Activities Affected by Coastal and Marine Data

Activity Region* Description of Benefit

Health & 

Safety

Search & 

Rescue

Pacific Northwest, Gulf of 

Maine, Mid Atlantic coast, 

South Atlantic coast, 

California, Alaska, Hawai’i, 

Costs saved to U.S. Coast Guard 

plus value of lost lives saved; cost 

saved to local rescue squads plus 

value of lost lives saved; value of 
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Activity Region* Description of Benefit

Florida, Great Lakes, Gulf of 

Mexico

life; avoidance of costly accidents 

or collisions 

Oil Spills Pacific Northwest, 

California, Gulf of Mexico

Reductions in clean up and 

compensation costs

Tropical Storm 

Prediction South Atlantic Reduced loss of life, evacuation cost, and lost tourism revenue

Residential 

Property

Florida

South Atlantic

Avoided costs from earlier 

preparation for storms; coastal 

resilience planning

Beach 

Restoration California

Daily cost saving on beach 

restoration from optimized 

planning

Recreational 

Activities

Recreational 

Fishing

Pacific Northwest, Mid 

Atlantic coast, Southern 

Atlantic coast, Florida, Gulf 

of Mexico, California, 

Hawai’i, Great Lakes

Willingness to pay for improved 

charts and maps; increased 

licensing and chartering 

expenditures

Recreational 

Boating

California, Gulf of Mexico, 

Gulf of Maine, Mid Atlantic 

coast, South Atlantic coast, 

Alaska, Hawai’i, Florida, 

Great Lakes, California

Willingness to pay for improved 

charts and maps; increased 

chartering and fuel expenditures

Beaches Florida, Great Lakes, 

California

Beach-related consumer 

expenditures; increased economic 

impact; operating cost savings; 

increased business sales; increased 

visitor daily values; increased 

consumer surplus

Transportation Freight

Pacific Northwest, Gulf of 

Maine, Mid-Atlantic coast, 

South Atlantic coast, Alaska, 

Florida, Great Lakes, 

California, Gulf of Mexico

Daily cost savings from optimized 

route-planning

Cruise Ships Pacific Northwest

Energy

Electric Load 

Planning Great Lakes

Avoided use of most expensive 

peak generators; operating cost 

savings 

Oil and Gas 

Development Gulf of Mexico

Operating cost savings; increased 

accuracy of oceanographic risks in 

design

Commercial Fishing

Pacific Northwest

Gulf of Maine

Mid-Atlantic coast

Increased landed values; total 

regional economic impact in 

industries dependent on living 

resources (e.g., seafood processing, 
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Activity Region* Description of Benefit

retail seafood market); reduced 

operating costs

Source: Kite-Powell et al., 2004.

*The regional designation of impacts reported in this table were contingent upon the availability of economic data 

for the region and therefore may not fully represent the overall regional influence of a given economic activity. 

Also note that the Gulf of Mexico region in this study excludes the west (Gulf) coast of Florida.

The Kite-Powell et al. (2004) report provides information on the general order of magnitude of economic 

benefits produced as a result of improved coastal and marine data quality and availability; estimates of 

economic activity resulting from enhanced data quality and availability can range broadly and are not 

meant to be a descriptive accounting of all possible economic outcomes. As such, the estimates provided 

in the subsequent paragraphs serve only to provide context for the general economic impacts of 

Alternative A. Nonetheless, Kite-Powell et al. (2004) indicate that annual benefits to recreational fishing, 

recreational boating, energy development and production, and commercial fishing from improved coastal 

and marine data quality and availability range in the hundreds of millions of dollars per year for each 

sector. The following sections provide descriptions of the economic impacts to each of these sectors.

3.12.2.2.2 Health and Safety

Health and safety activities refer to planning and operations that contribute to the health and safety of 

ocean users and their property (i.e., coastal real estate, boats, or small businesses). These activities 

contribute to all other sectors of the ocean economy by reducing inherent risks involved with other 

commerce-producing maritime activities or capital (e.g., recreational boating, commercial fishing) and 

primarily benefit from increased data quality and availability through increased operational efficiency and 

risk reduction related to extreme weather events. Search and rescue operations, oil spill modeling and 

hazard cleanup, and reduction of property damage are anticipated to contribute an additional $275 

million to the ocean economy per year with increased ocean data quality and availability (Kite-Powell et 

al., 2004). 

Search and rescue teams rely on bathymetric charting and mapping to establish search areas and plan 

rescue operations. Improving the spatial and temporal resolution of ocean data would continue to 

increase the likelihood of successful search and rescue operations while also reducing their cost. 

Successful search and rescue operations additionally contribute to the ocean economy by minimizing loss 

of life in the event of catastrophe, which preserves future economic contributions from saved individuals 

and reduces inherent risk associated with oceanic activities or employment. Improved ocean mapping 

would also allow ocean resource managers to more effectively predict the spread of volatile chemicals, 

such as oil, in the event of a spill, allowing for more precise targeting of response efforts and reducing the 

overall cost of restoration. Similarly, more precise bathymetric charting and mapping of collision hazards 

would allow for more optimized route planning that could reduce the occurrence of costly marine 

accidents; collisions and groundings accounted for 16 percent of all marine vessel insurance claims at a 

total cost of $1.56 billion from 2013 to 2018 or approximately $300 million annually (Allianz, 2019). These 

savings are demonstrated in the success of the PORTS system, which uses an integrated network of realtime oceanographic data collectors to aid navigation and is estimated to generate $300 million in 

economic benefits annually from reducing risk and increasing the operational efficiency of vessels (NOAA, 

No Date-f). 
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Data collected during NOS projects would continue to reduce costs associated with recovery from extreme 

weather events and natural disasters. After hurricanes or other severe weather events have moved 

through an area, NOS would continue to survey areas of critical marine infrastructure such as ports and 

shipping channels to identify submerged storm debris or transported sediment that could prevent ships 

carrying food and medical supplies from reaching affected areas. These efforts would reduce the risk of 

collisions with storm debris and would increase the operational efficiency of recovery and restoration 

efforts. 

Although no direct economic impacts (i.e., job creation, capital investment) are anticipated within the 

health and safety sector as a result of Alternative A, the indirect economic benefits of increased 

operational efficiency of rescue missions and risk reduction related to extreme weather eventsfacilitated 

by data collected under Alternative A would range in the magnitude of hundreds of millions of dollars and 

would be distributed among coastal economies throughout the action area. Furthermore, the data 

collected under Alternative A would be available to the public indefinitely, and indirect economic benefits 

resulting from its use and distribution would persist beyond the conclusion of activities. Overall, the 

economic impacts of ocean data procured under Alternative A on health and safety would be indirect,

beneficial, and moderate, and therefore insignificant.

3.12.2.2.3 Recreational Activities

Recreational activities, for the purposes of this analysis, refer to recreational consumption of ocean 

resources primarily through beach visitation, boating, and sport fishing. Recreational activities are a main 

component of the ocean economy; recreation and tourism contributed 2.4 million jobs and $124 billion 

to the GDP in 2016. Increased coastal and marine data availability and quality greatly benefit the 

recreational activity sector by allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions about ocean resources. 

Beachgoing, recreational boating, and recreational fishing would be expected to increase their 

contribution to the ocean economy by approximately $430 million per year with increased ocean data 

quality and availability (Kite-Powell et al., 2004). 

Recreational boaters rely on accurate ocean charts and maps to transit ocean waters safely; improved 

ocean data quality would continue to allow recreational boaters to more effectively plan potential routes 

around prevailing winds, currents, and bathymetry. Finally, improved bathymetric data would continue 

to improve transit efficiency for recreational fishermen.

Although few direct economic impacts (i.e., job creation, large capital investment) are anticipated within 

the recreational activity sector as a result of Alternative A, the indirect economic benefits of enhanced 

decision-making by ocean economy stakeholders facilitated by data collected under Alternative A would 

range in the magnitude of hundreds of millions of dollars and would be distributed among coastal 

economies throughout the action area. Furthermore, the data collected under Alternative A would be 

available to the public indefinitely, and indirect economic benefits resulting from its use and distribution 

would persist beyond the conclusion of activities. Overall, the economic impacts of ocean data procured 

under Alternative A on recreational economic activity would be indirect, beneficial, and moderate, and

therefore insignificant. 

3.12.2.2.4 Transportation

Transportation activities refer to the transit of goods and passengers throughout the EEZ and are a 

substantial component of the ocean economy, contributing 467,000 jobs and $64 billion to the GDP. 

Transportation activities benefit from increased data quality and availability primarily through improving 
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operational efficiency of vessel transit. The transportation of freight and the transportation of passengers 

via cruise ships are expected to increase their contribution to the ocean economy by approximately $127 

million per year with increased ocean data quality and availability (Kite-Powell et al., 2004). 

The primary benefit of increased ocean data to the transportation sector is enhanced route-planning 

capabilities. Improved charts, maps, and bathymetry resulting from data collected during NOS projects 

would continue to allow ship crews and decision-makers to plan transit routes more efficiently, avoiding 

costs associated with longer routes and delays. Furthermore, much of the transport along the Alaska coast 

involves cargo that is critical to businesses and projects owned and operated by Alaska Natives. Accurate 

surveying and mapping data would continue to yield additional social and economic benefits to these 

groups. However, it is important to note that much of the navigationally important part of the action area 

has been previously surveyed, and ocean data collected under Alternative A are not expected to open a 

substantial number of novel transit routes or shipping lanes. NOS data collection efforts in the Alaska 

region could potentially yield a small number of novel shipping routes in areas previously restricted by sea 

ice, but the economic impact of these routes is difficult to estimate given the current lack of mapping 

coverage and underlying risks of arctic maritime navigation (NOS, No Date-c). As such, the increased ocean 

data quality and availability resulting from Alternative A would primarily increase the efficiency of existing 

routes as opposed to discovering new routes. Nonetheless, the current operating performance efficiency 

of maritime shipping is low when compared to other industries (Panayides et al., 2011) and improved 

route planning could have a substantial marginal impact on the overall efficiency of the industry. 

Although no substantial direct economic impacts (i.e., job creation, large capital investment) are 

anticipated within the transportation sector as a result of Alternative A, the indirect economic benefits of 

enhanced route-planning capabilities and daily cost savings stemming from the data collected by NOS 

would range in the magnitude of hundreds of millions of dollars and would be distributed among coastal 

economies throughout the action area. Furthermore, the data collected under Alternative A would be 

available to the public indefinitely and indirect economic benefits resulting from its use and distribution 

would persist beyond the conclusion of activities. Overall, the economic impacts of ocean data procured 

under Alternative A on transportation would be indirect, beneficial, and moderate, and therefore 

insignificant. 

3.12.2.2.5 Energy

Energy-related activities, for the purposes of this analysis, refer to the development and distribution of 

energy resulting from ocean resources and contributed 132,000 jobs and $80 billion to the GDP in 2016. 

These activities primarily benefit from increased ocean data quality and availability by increasing the 

operational efficiency of energy planning and more precise targeting of potential oceanic oil and gas 

resources. The predominant oceanic energy activities, electric load planning and oil and gas development, 

would likely contribute an additional $70 – $138 million to the ocean economy per year with increased 

ocean data quality and availability (Kite-Powell et al., 2004). 

Increased precision and resolution of bathymetric data resulting from NOS data collection would reduce 

the uncertainty and risk associated with oceanic oil and gas development as well as the operating costs of 

existing energy infrastructure. Risk reduction also allows for greater levels of investment in the 

development of oceanic oil and gas resources, which spurs economic activity in coastal regions through 

job creation and revenues from employees. However, it is important to note that NOS projects and 

activities would not specifically identify or quantify offshore oil and gas resources; doing so is outside of 

the scope of this analysis and is typically accomplished by private companies using proprietary equipment 

and methodologies. 
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Although no direct economic impacts (i.e., job creation, large capital investment) are anticipated within 

the energy sector as a result of Alternative A, the indirect economic benefits of increasing the operational 

efficiency of energy planning and more precise targeting of potential oceanic oil and gas resources

facilitated by data collected under Alternative A would range in the magnitude of tens or hundreds of 

millions of dollars and would be distributed among coastal economies throughout the action area. 

Furthermore, the data collected under Alternative A would be available to the public indefinitely, and 

indirect economic benefits resulting from its use and distribution would persist far beyond the conclusion 

of activities. Overall, the economic impacts of ocean data procured under Alternative A on energy-related 

activities would be indirect, beneficial, and moderate, and therefore insignificant. 

3.12.2.2.6 Commercial Fishing

Commercial fishing refers to the harvest of living ocean resources for market and is a critical component 

of the ocean economy; in 2016 the living resource sector provided nearly 90,000 jobs and $11 billion to 

the GDP. With increased ocean data quality and availability, commercial fishing activities are expected to 

increase their contribution to the ocean economy by over $500 million (Kite-Powell et al., 2004).

Commercial fishermen rely on marine charts, maps, and bathymetry information that are updated using 

data collected during NOS projects. These data products are used to select potential fishing locations and 

plan transit routes. Improving the spatial and temporal resolution of these data products would continue 

to increase the landed values of fish and reduce risks of unsuccessful voyages, particularly in fisheries with 

short seasons and limited fishing grounds such as the Alaskan salmon fishery. These benefits are especially 

important to small, independent fishing operations with limited cash reserves and coastal fishing 

communities with local economies largely dependent on the commercial fishing industry. Improved data 

collection would also continue to increase the efficiency of route planning, thereby reducing the 

operational costs of fishing vessels while increasing the safety of crew members. 

Impacts to commercial fishing from vessel presence or gear interaction during NOS projects would be very 

unlikely. NOS communicates with the public on future survey projects through announcements such as 

the annual Office of Coast Survey story map and, when appropriate, public “Notices to Mariners” to 

provide general information on timing and locations of planned projects. This helps minimize interference 

with commercial and recreational fishing and reduces the potential for interactions with fishing gear like 

lobster traps.

Alternative A could adversely impact fishery resources, but impacts would be minor and insignificant. 

Detailed analysis can be found in Section 3.7 (Fish), Section 3.8 (Aquatic Macroinvertebrates) and Section 

3.9 (Essential Fish Habitat). Effects to fish from Alternative A may include some stress responses without 

permanent physiological damage and disruption to breeding, feeding or other activities but without any 

impacts on population levels. There would not be long-term changes in habitat availability and use or in 

fish behavior. NOS developed mitigation measures in coordination and consultation with expert agencies 

including NMFS to avoid and minimize any potential effects. Mitigation measures to protect fisheries 

include implementing mandatory invasive species prevention procedures, following MARPOL discharge 

protocols, and minimizing bottom disturbance. Overall, impacts to commercial fishing under Alternative 

A would be adverse, but negligible, and therefore insignificant.

Although no direct economic impacts (i.e., job creation, large capital investment) are anticipated within 

the commercial fishing sector as a result of Alternative A, the indirect economic benefits of increased 
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landed values and operating cost reductions facilitated by data collected under Alternative A would range 

in the magnitude of hundreds of millions of dollars and would be distributed among coastal economies 

throughout the action area. Furthermore, the data collected under Alternative A would be available to 

the public indefinitely, and indirect economic benefits resulting from its use and distribution would persist 

beyond the conclusion of activities. Overall, the economic impacts of ocean data procured under 

Alternative A on commercial fishing would be indirect, beneficial, and moderate, and therefore 

insignificant. 

3.12.2.2.7 Overall Economic Impacts of Alternative A

Data collected under Alternative A would continue to improve the quality and quantity of ocean data and 

related data products, including marine charts, maps, and hydrographic models of ocean conditions. 

These data and data products would contribute to the ocean economy indirectly, primarily by increasing 

operational efficiency and reducing risks associated with using ocean resources in a variety of economic 

sectors (e.g., route-planning, fishing ground selection, targeting of oil and gas resources, closing/opening 

recreational areas). Indirect economic benefits would likely range in the magnitude of hundreds of 

millions of dollars for each sector, although it is important to note these estimates are broadscale and 

contingent on assumptions of data use and availability. Benefits would be most pronounced in the 

recreational, commercial fishing, and health and safety sectors of the ocean economy; the energy and 

transportation sectors would also indirectly benefit from data collected under Alternative A, but to a 

lesser extent. Overall, Alternative A would have an indirect, beneficial, and moderate impact on the ocean 

economy, and therefore insignificant. 

3.12.2.3 Alternative B: Conduct Surveys and Mapping for Coastal and Marine Data 

Collection with Equipment Upgrades, Improved Hydroacoustic Devices, and 

New Tide Stations

Under Alternative B, all of the activities and equipment operations proposed in Alternative A would 

continue but at a higher level of effort, although the percentage of nautical miles covered by project 

activities in each region would be the same as under Alternative A. As under Alternative A, the greatest 

number of nautical miles surveyed over the five-year period would be in the Southeast Region (over 50 

percent). The survey effort in each of the other four regions are of a similar order of magnitude 

(approximately 10 percent in each region for each of the five years), and is slightly greater in the Alaska 

Region where the survey effort would be somewhat higher overall (approximately 16 percent). 

Additionally, survey effort in the Great Lakes would average 3,208 nm (5,942 km) annually, as compared 

to the remaining annual average survey effort of 582,551 nm (1,078,884 km). In general, it is expected 

that level of effort and overall impacts trend together (i.e., greater impacts where the survey effort is 

higher), but there are other factors, such as the type, location and depth of surveys, that add nuance to 

this trend.

Project activities under Alternative B would take place in the same geographic areas and timeframes as 

under Alternative A; however, Alternative B would include a larger number of activities and projects, and 

thus nautical miles traveled, than Alternative A. Overall, there would be an additional 264,796 nm 

(490,402 km) of survey effort under Alternative B as compared to Alternative A. The types and 

mechanisms of impacts would remain the same in Alternative B as discussed for Alternative A; ocean data 

collected under Alternative B would be used by other entities to create data products to increase the 

operational efficiency and reduce inherent risks of the oceanic industry. Since these impacts are largely 

indirect in nature and data collected would be available to a wide variety of users throughout the action 

area, the resulting impacts would not necessarily be geographically correlated with the collection of data. 
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Therefore, the difference between the two alternatives is primarily a matter of scale with an increased 

activity level, although distributed unevenly among the different types of activities, leading to a 

corresponding, incremental increase in effects under Alternative B as compared to Alternative A.

As such, the economic benefits of impacts of Alternative B would be the same or slightly, but not 

appreciably, larger than those discussed above under Alternative A. Overall, the economic impacts of 

Alternative B on the ocean economy would be indirect, beneficial, and moderate, and therefore 

insignificant. 

3.12.2.4 Alternative C: Upgrades and Improvements with Greater Funding Support

Under Alternative C, all of the activities and equipment operation proposed in Alternatives A and B would 

continue but at a higher level of effort, although the percentage of nautical miles in each region would be 

the same as under Alternatives A and B. In addition, there would be an overall funding increase of 20 

percent relative to Alternative B, thus the level of survey activity would increase further. As under 

Alternatives A and B, the greatest number of nautical miles surveyed over the five-year period would be 

in the Southeast Region (over 50 percent). The survey effort in each of the other four regions are of a 

similar order of magnitude (approximately 10 percent in each region for each of the five years), and is

slightly greater in the Alaska Region where the survey effort would be somewhat higher overall 

(approximately 16 percent). Additionally, survey effort in the Great Lakes would average 3,500 nm (6,482 

km) annually, as compared to the remaining annual average survey effort of 635,510 nm (1,176,964 km). 

In general, it is expected that level of effort and overall impacts trend together (i.e., greater impacts where 

the survey effort is higher), but there are other factors, such as the type, location and depth of surveys, 

that add nuance to this trend.

Project activities under Alternative C would take place in the same geographic areas and timeframes as 

under Alternatives A and B; however, Alternative C would include more projects and activities, and thus 

more nautical miles traveled, than Alternatives A and B. Overall, there would be an additional 264,796 nm 

(490,402 km) of survey effort under Alternative C as compared to Alternative B, and an additional 529,592 

nm (980,803 km) as compared to Alternative A. The types and mechanisms of economic impacts would 

remain the same in Alternative C as discussed for Alternatives A and B; ocean data collected under 

Alternative C would be used by other entities to create data products to increase the operational 

efficiency and reduce inherent risk of oceanic industry. Since these impacts are largely indirect in nature 

and data collected would be available to a wide variety of users throughout the action area, the resulting 

impacts would not necessarily be geographically correlated with the collection of data. Therefore, the 

difference between the alternatives is primarily a matter of scale with an increased activity level, although 

distributed unevenly among the different types of activities, leading to a corresponding, incremental 

increase in effects under Alternative C as compared to Alternatives A and B. 

As such, the economic benefits of impacts of Alternative C would be the same or slightly, but not 

appreciably, larger than those discussed above under Alternatives A and B. Overall, the economic impacts 

of Alternative C on the ocean economy would be indirect, beneficial, and moderate, and therefore 

insignificant.