Assessment of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Studies Program III. Social and Economic Studies (1992) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
A Framework for Organizing OCS Socioeconomic Studies
A Framework for Organizing OCS Socioeconomic Studies
Pages 29-44
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 29... ...
here describes an approach that, if carefully applied by knowledgeable people, will lead to the development of a studies program that is responsive to the requirements of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act as amended in 1978 (43 U.S.C.
|
From page 30... ...
The contentiousness of the debates over lease sales in the Florida Keys, in northern California, and in Bristol Bay, Alaska, are evidence of opportunity-~reat impacts, and no one who attended a hearing in one of those communities would doubt~at people's lives had been altered, even though no change in the physical environment had yet occurred. These effects are real, and so are their consequences.
|
From page 31... ...
The plight of coastal communities in Louisiana that floated bond issues to build ports to handle OCS development could be illustrative. As the activity decided, We port brought in less revenue and supported fewer jobs, but their bonded indebtedness prevents communities from raising more money for new projects.
|
From page 32... ...
An adequate assessment of the effects of OCS development projects should, of course, include estimates of He more certain effects of normal operation as well. What is the size or severity of a given consequence?
|
From page 33... ...
found that white males enjoyed disproportionate employment benefits associated with escalating OCS activities in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Coastal communities are obviously more likely to feel direct effects than are inland communities.
|
From page 34... ...
Finally, other publicly owned natural resources, such as commercial and recreational fisheries, can be affected by OCS development. PREDICTING THE RESPONSE Response Functions Unlike physical systems Grimmer, 1950)
|
From page 35... ...
This discussion focuses on the evaluative criteria for significance. It also reviews valuation procedures for ranking and weighting preferences, and for designating a preferred alternative to a proposed action.
|
From page 36... ...
The rational calculation of socioeconomic preferences incurs difficulties of its own regarding the valuation of nonmarketables, which often are held to be inherently qualitative, subjective, or intangible. The invocation of higher principles mentioned previously is partly responsible for this impression in the evaluation of the legitimacy of computational techniques that can place one party's vital interests at risk, as happens, for example, in "negotiating a way of lifer Ma Rusic et al., 1979~.
|
From page 37... ...
Although the legal requirement for impact assessment leads participants to expect that the process itself will establish grounds for a decision, the result could rest on factors outside the assessment. Legislative authorizations such as the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
|
From page 38... ...
Noneconomic incentives range from granting access to information to allowing community supervision of proposed activities. They include access to information about site development and management, providing funds for hiring independent experts, allowing communities to monitor site operations, giving communities representation on facility governing boards, and awarding local authority to shut down a facility when treatment or management deficiencies are found.
|
From page 39... ...
Environmental and ecological systems monitoring traces indirect socioeconomic effects through media and biota. Trend impact monitoring compares actual with projected changes in social conditions and systems, compiled for the "future without" the proposed action in quality-of-life Indices.
|
From page 40... ...
follows: What Information Is Needed Assessment of the potential socioeconomic effects of OCS activity differs from the assessment of biological and physical effects in that significant socioeconomic effects can occur before a lease sale. On the other hand, socioeconomic impact assessment is similar to the assessment of physical and biological effects in that additional site-specific information should be obtained before decisions are made about development and production.
|
From page 41... ...
Because the data usually have been collected for purposes other than to assess the eKects of OCS activities, they have three shortcomings for impact assessment. First, they are almost always collected by a political, economic, or socially delimited geographic unit (state or county government, planning district, or national park)
|
From page 42... ...
· Dependencies created in state revenue bases and cumulative fiscal effects estimated for life of resource. · Social and political conflicts created, including institutional responses anticipated: citizen initiatives, new forms of government to cope with new demands and conflict, added legal burdens and costs.
|
From page 43... ...
Will there be archaeological effects of onshore facilities, and need to conduct retrieval and Individual Lease Sales Are estimates of petroleum resources presented in an array from lowest to highest and compared according to likely socioeconomic consequences? 43 Are likely negative socioeconomic consequences matched to stipulation or mitigation measures to prevent, reduce, or offset them?
|
From page 44... ...
Nonetheless, the service is coming under increasing pressure to move forward in this direction nationally. As MMS begins to establish a viable social science research program, it would do well first to recognize that the scientific community currently has the tools to assess and monitor the activities as required by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and amendments (43 U.S.C.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.