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Economic Inventory of Environmental and Social Resources Potentially Impacted by a Catastrophic Discharge Event Within OCS Regions

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Economic Inventory of Environmental and Social Resources Potentially Impacted by a Catastrophic Discharge Event Within OCS Regions OCS Study BOEM 2014-669 Economic Inventory of Environmental and Social Resources Potentially Impacted by a Catastrophic Discharge Event within OCS Regions Prepared by Industrial Economics, Incorporated 2067 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02140 U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management October 2014 [This page intentionally left blank] Contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Description of a Catastrophic Discharge Event ................................................................................................. 4 2.1 OCS Catastrophic Event Spill Sizes ............................................................................................................................ 4 2.2 Large Tanker Spill Sizes ............................................................................................................................................ 4 3. Potential Impacts of a Catastrophic Event on Coastal Areas ............................................................................. 6 3.1 Potential Effects on Physical and Biological Resources ............................................................................................ 8 3.2 Potential Effects on Economic Activity ..................................................................................................................... 9 3.3 Potential Effects on Public Use ............................................................................................................................... 11 4. The North Atlantic ......................................................................................................................................... 13 4.1 Physical and Biological Resources in the North Atlantic and the Nearby Coastal Area ......................................... 13 4.2 Economic Activity in the North Atlantic and the Nearby Coastal Area .................................................................. 14 4.2.1 Commercial Fishing .............................................................................................................................. 14 4.2.2 Tourism and Recreation ....................................................................................................................... 15 4.2.3 Commercial Shipping and Transport .................................................................................................... 16 4.2.4 Oil and Gas Production ........................................................................................................................ 17 4.3 Public Use in the North Atlantic and the Nearby Coastal Area .............................................................................. 17 4.3.1 Coastal Recreation ............................................................................................................................... 17 4.3.2 Recreational Fishing ............................................................................................................................. 20 4.3.3 Subsistence Use ................................................................................................................................... 21 5. The Mid-Atlantic ........................................................................................................................................... 22 5.1 Physical and Biological Resources in the Mid-Atlantic and the Nearby Coastal Area ............................................ 22 5.2 Economic Activity in the Mid-Atlantic and the Nearby Coastal Area ..................................................................... 23 5.2.1 Commercial Fishing .............................................................................................................................. 23 5.2.2 Tourism and Recreation ....................................................................................................................... 25 5.2.3 Commercial Shipping and Transport .................................................................................................... 26 5.2.4 Oil and Gas Production ........................................................................................................................ 27 5.3 Public Use in the Mid-Atlantic and the Nearby Coastal Area ................................................................................. 27 5.3.1 Coastal Recreation ............................................................................................................................... 27 5.3.2 Recreational Fishing ............................................................................................................................. 30 5.3.3 Subsistence Use ................................................................................................................................... 31 6. The South Atlantic ......................................................................................................................................... 33 6.1 Physical and Biological Resources in the South Atlantic and the Nearby Coastal Area ......................................... 33 6.2 Economic Activity in the South Atlantic and the Nearby Coastal Area .................................................................. 34 6.2.1 Commercial Fishing .............................................................................................................................. 34 6.2.2 Tourism and Recreation ....................................................................................................................... 36 6.2.3 Commercial Shipping and Transport .................................................................................................... 38 6.2.4 Oil and Gas Production ........................................................................................................................ 38 i 6.3 Public Use in the South Atlantic and the Nearby Coastal Area .............................................................................. 39 6.3.1 Coastal Recreation ............................................................................................................................... 39 6.3.2 Recreational Fishing ............................................................................................................................. 41 6.3.3 Subsistence Use ................................................................................................................................... 42 7. Straits of Florida ............................................................................................................................................ 43 7.1 Physical and Biological Resources in the Straits of Florida Planning Area and the Nearby Coastal Area .............. 43 7.2 Economic Activity in the Straits of Florida Planning Area and the Nearby Coastal Area ....................................... 44 7.2.1 Commercial Fishing .............................................................................................................................. 44 7.2.2 Tourism and Recreation ....................................................................................................................... 45 7.2.3 Commercial Shipping ........................................................................................................................... 46 7.2.4 Oil and Gas Production ........................................................................................................................ 47 7.3 Public Use in the Straits of Florida Planning Area and the Nearby Coastal Area ................................................... 47 7.3.1 Coastal Recreation ............................................................................................................................... 47 7.3.2 Recreational Fishing ............................................................................................................................. 48 7.3.3 Subsistence .......................................................................................................................................... 49 8. The Eastern Gulf of Mexico............................................................................................................................ 50 8.1 Physical and Biological Resources in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Nearby Coastal Area ........................... 50 8.2 Economic Activity in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Nearby Coastal Area ..................................................... 51 8.2.1 Commercial Fishing .............................................................................................................................. 51 8.2.2 Tourism and Recreation ....................................................................................................................... 52 8.2.3 Commercial Shipping and Transport .................................................................................................... 53 8.2.4 Oil and Natural Gas Production ........................................................................................................... 54 8.3 Public Use in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Nearby Coastal Area ................................................................ 56 8.3.1 Coastal Recreation ............................................................................................................................... 56 8.3.2
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