Alaska Outer Continental Shelf OCS EIS/EA MMS 2003-001 Beaufort Sea Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sales 186, 195, and 202 Final Environmental Impact Statement Volume II (Section VII, Bibliography, Index) B w e o a r r u a fo B rt Sea t le n I e s a e D h it m y S a B Cape Halkett H arriso n Bay ay oe B rudh Colville Delta P Kaktovik Nuiqsut NPR - A Deadhorse C A ANWR U N . A S D . A BEAUFORT SEA PLANNING AREA OIL AND GAS LEASE SALES 186, 195, AND 202 Final Environmental Impact Statement OCS EIS/EA, MMS 2003-001, in 4 volumes: Volume I, Executive Summary, Sections I through VI Volume II, Section VII, Bibliography, Index Volume III, Tables, Figures, and Maps for Volumes I and II Volume IV, Appendices The summary is also available as a separate document: Executive Summary, MMS 2003-002. The complete EIS is available on CD-ROM (MMS 2003-001 CD) and on the Internet (http://www.mms.gov/alaska/cproject/Beafort Sea/). This Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not intended, nor should it be used, as a local planning document by potentially affected communities. The exploration, development and production, and transportation scenarios described in this EIS represent best-estimate assumptions that serve as a basis for identifying characteristic activities and any resulting environmental effects. Several years will elapse before enough is known about potential local details of development to permit estimates suitable for local planning. These assumptions do not represent a Minerals Management Service recommendation, preference, or endorsement of any facility, site, or development plan. Local control of events may be exercised through planning, zoning, land ownership, and applicable State and local laws and regulations. With reference to the extent of the Federal Government’s jurisdiction of the offshore regions, the United States has not yet resolved some of its offshore boundaries with neighboring jurisdictions. For the purposes of the EIS, certain assumptions were made about the extent of areas believed subject to United States’ jurisdiction. The offshore-boundary lines shown in the figures and graphics of this EIS are for purposes of illustration only; they do not necessarily reflect the position or views of the United States with respect to the location of international boundaries, convention lines, or the offshore boundaries between the United States and coastal states concerned. The United States expressly reserves its rights, and those of its nationals, in all areas in which the offshore- boundary dispute has not been resolved; and these illustrative lines are used without prejudice to such rights. Alaska Outer Continental Shelf OCS EIS/EA MMS 2003-001 Beaufort Sea Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sales 186, 195, and 202 Final Environmental Impact Statement Volume II (Section VII, Bibliography, Index) Author Minerals Management Service Alaska OCS Region February 2003 SECTION VII REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF COMMENTS RECEIVED OCS EIS/EA MMS 2003-001 FEBRUARY 2003 Contents for Section VII VII. Review and Analysis of Comments Received ......................................................................................VII-1 VII.A. Summary of Comments Received on the Draft Beaufort Sea Multiple-Sale EIS ...........................VII-1 VII.B. Introduction and Process ....................................................................................................................VII-2 VII.B.1. Distribution of the EIS............................................................................................................... VII-2 VII.B.2. Response Approach to Comments ............................................................................................ VII-2 VII.B.3. Public Hearings Held................................................................................................................. VII-2 VII.B.4. Government-to-Government Meetings...................................................................................... VII-3 VII.B.5. E-mail Comments Received in Response to DEIS.................................................................... VII-3 VII.C. Comments and Responses ...................................................................................................................VII-4 VII.C.1. Letters........................................................................................................................................ VII-4 VII.C.2. Public Hearings ......................................................................................................................... VII-5 VII.C.3. Government-to-Government Meetings...................................................................................... VII-5 VII.C.4. E-mails ...................................................................................................................................... VII-5 VII.D. Comment Letters and MMS Responses to Comments......................................................................VII-6 Comment Letter L-0001 Mayor, North Slope Borough – July 22, 2002 ....................................................... VII-7 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0001 ................................................................................................ VII-16 Comment Letter L-0002 from Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission – July 22, 2002................................ VII-22 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0002 ................................................................................................ VII-29 Comment Letter L-0003 from the Alaska Northern Environmental Center – July 31, 2002 ....................... VII-34 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0003 ................................................................................................ VII-36 Comment Letter L-0004 from the Ocean Conservancy – July 26, 2002...................................................... VII-38 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0004 ................................................................................................ VII-41 Comment Letter L-0005 from Ben Kostival – August 2, 2002.................................................................... VII-43 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0005 ................................................................................................ VII-45 Comment Letter L-0006 from the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS) - Undated ................... VII-47 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0006 ................................................................................................ VII-49 Comment Letter L-0007 from Pam and Wallace Taylor – August 18, 2002 ............................................... VII-51 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0007 ................................................................................................ VII-52 Comment Letter L-0008 from the William L. Risser – August 26, 2002 .................................................... VII-54 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0008 ................................................................................................ VII-55 Comment Letter L-0009 from Reggie Joule – September 4, 2002 .............................................................. VII-56 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0009 ................................................................................................ VII-59 Comment Letter L-0010 from Kathleen Roberts – September 9, 2002 ....................................................... VII-61 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0010 ................................................................................................ VII-62 Comment Letter L-0011 from Kimberly Donovan/Bruce Hazen September 12, 2002................................ VII-63 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0011 ................................................................................................ VII-65 Comment Letter L-0012 from John Strasenburgh........................................................................................ VII-66 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0012 ................................................................................................ VII-68 Comment Letter L-0013 from Terry Cummings September 16, 2002......................................................... VII-70 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0013 ................................................................................................ VII-71 Comment Letter L-0014 from Jim Havlena - September 14, 2002.............................................................. VII-72 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0014 ................................................................................................ VII-73 Comment Letter L-0015 from K.A. Beckwith – September 14, 2002 ......................................................... VII-74 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0015 ................................................................................................ VII-75 Comment Letter L-0016 from K.A. Havlena – September 14, 2002 ........................................................... VII-76 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0016 ................................................................................................ VII-77 Comment Letter L-0017 from Manika Schultz & Others – September 19, 2002 ........................................ VII-78 MMS Response to Comment Letter L-0017 ................................................................................................ VII-81 Comment Letter L-0018 from Jenny Jacobs – September