Beaufort Sea Petroleum Development Scenarios: Man Made Environment Impacts (Tr 19)

Publication Title: Beaufort Sea Petroleum Development Scenarios: Man Made Environment Impacts (Tr 19)

Subject: Socio-economic and Infrastructure
Beaufort Sea; Alaska; Development Scenarios; Drilling; Development; Forecast; Barrow; Kaktovik; Nuiqsut; Wainwright; Alaska Region

CSE Reference: Smythe G. 1978. Beaufort Sea petroleum development scenarios: man made environment impacts (TR 19). US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 3 p. Obligation No.: 14-12-0001-29002 TR-019. URL: https://espis.boem.gov/Technical%20Summaries/2253.pdf

Abstract: The North Slope Borough presently is composed of two distinct population groups. One group is composed of the permanent regional residents, primarily of Eskimo heritage, who live in traditional communities. A second group is comprised of the transient petroleum-related personnel, primarily white, who live in a series of camps. The two groups have little direct contact. However, the petroleum industry's impact on the lives of people in regional traditional communities has been a major one. The purpose of this study was to assess future impacts of outer continental shelf (OCS) petroleum development in a non-OCS case and in four OCS scenario cases on the man-made environment of the Beaufort Sea region, in general, and of four communities, in particular, including Barrow, Kaktovik, Nuiqsut, and Wainwright. The four OCS cases included the Camden-Canning, large Prudhoe Bay, small Prudhoe Bay, and Cape Halkett scenarios. In each of the four OCS cases, emphasis was placed on additional impacts that such scenarios could be expected to have beyond what would be anticipated in the non-OCS case. To assist in this assessment, a series of projections were developed for anticipated population and employment changes in the individual communities, plus projections of Borough revenues and expenditures. Community infrastructural requirements in the non-OCS scenario and additional requirements likely to be generated by each of the four OCS scenarios were also examined.