Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Effects of Oil and Gas Activities in the Arctic Ocean

	Current Schedule Release of Draft EIS December 2011 Draft EIS Public Comment Period December 30, 2011-February 28, 2012 Notice of Availability Published December 30, 2011 (76 FR 82275) Draft EIS Public Meetings late January-early February 2012 Past Schedule Notice of Intent to Prepare EIS Published February 8, 2010 (75 FR 6175) Notice of Public Meetings Published February 24, 2010 (75 FR 8304) Public Scoping Meetings February-March 2010 Scoping Comment Period Ended April 9, 2010
	Spotted Seal (Phoca largha) Photo: NOAA Bowhead Whales (Balaena mysticetus) Photo: Dave Rugh, NOAA

Overview
NOAA Fisheries has released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to analyze the impacts of oil and gas offshore exploration activities (such as seismic surveys and exploratory drilling) in Federal and state waters of the U.S. Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off Alaska.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) [pdf] [41.3 MB]

• Dear Reviewer letter [pdf]
• Executive Summary [pdf]
• Volume I: Chapters 1-3 [pdf] [5.1 MB]
• Volume II: Chapters 4-6 [pdf] [6.1 MB]
• Volume III: Chapters 7-8, Appendices A-D [pdf] [32.2 MB]

Comments
The comment period closed on February 28, 2012.

DEIS Public Meetings Schedule
late January-early February 2012

• Wainwright
  Monday, January 30, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
  Wainwright Community Center
• Barrow
  Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
  Inupiat Heritage Center
• Kaktovik
  Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
  Kaktovik Community Center
• Nuiqsut
  Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
  Nuiqsut Community Center
• Kivalina
  Monday, February 6, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
  McQueen School
• Kotzebue
  Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 9:30 a.m.
  Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly Chambers
• Point Lay
  Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
  Point Lay Community Center
• Point Hope
  Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.
  Point Hope Community Center
• Anchorage
  Monday, February 13, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.
  Loussac Library, Wilda Marston Theatre

Scoping Meetings
NOAA Fisheries conducted public scoping meetings in the following cities and communities during February and March 2010. The individual meeting transcripts are linked below:

1. Anchorage [pdf]
2. Barrow [pdf]
3. Kaktovik [pdf]
4. Kotzebue [pdf]
5. Nuiqsut [pdf]
6. Point Hope [pdf]
7. Point Lay [pdf]
8. Wainwright [pdf]

NOAA Fisheries invited comments and input from the public, organizations and interest groups, local governments, and Federal and state agencies on issues surrounding the proposal, including input on the range of actions, alternatives, and impacts that should be considered in the EIS. NOAA Fisheries received handwritten comments at public scoping meetings and comments that were submitted via mail, e-mail, and fax.

• Scoping Report [pdf]
• Handwritten Scoping Comments [pdf]
• Mailed, E-mailed, and Faxed Scoping Comments [pdf]
• Presentation Sample from Scoping Meeting [pdf]

More Information

• Public Newsletter #3 (January 2012)
• NOAA Federal Register Notice of Availability (December 2011)
  • Federal Register Notice of Comment Period Extension (January 2012)
• EPA Federal Register Notice of Availability (December 2011)
  • EPA Federal Register Notice of Comment Period Extension (January 2012)
• Public Newsletter #2 (July 2010)
• Public Newsletter #1 (February 2010)
• Federal Register Notice of Intent - (February 2010)

Updated: February 29, 2012