CONTACT:   Stephanie Dorezas               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
                                           10/22/98

The Commerce Departments' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking comment on an application and proposed authorization for BP Exploration to potentially disturb a small number of marine mammals while conducting the Northstar oil development project in the federal and state waters of Alaska's Beaufort Sea.

Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, BP Exploration applied for an authorization to incidentally disturb a small number of marine mammals, principally ringed seals, as it conducts drilling operations from the Northstar Unit, which is located between two and eight miles offshore. Northstar is the first outer continental shelf oil production project in this area. This unit is adjacent to the Prudhoe Bay industrial complex, and is approximately 54 miles northeast of Nuiqsut, a Native Alaskan community.

The proposed activity includes the construction of three ice roads; construction of a gravel island work surface for drilling and oil production facilities; two pipelines, one to transport crude oil and one for gas for field injection; and the transport and installation of the drilling rig. The sounds generated from the construction operations will be detectable underwater and in the air some distance away from the area of activity. At times, some of these sounds are likely to be strong enough to cause behavioral disturbances in a small number of ringed seals.

The Fisheries Service has concluded that the BP Exploration's drilling and related activities will result, at worst, in a temporary modification in behavior of these marine mammal species. The type and significance of behavioral reaction of the marine mammal is likely to depend on the distance and level of the sound relative to the drilling conditions. No rookeries, mating grounds, areas of concentrated feedings, or other areas of significance for marine mammals occur within or near the planned area of construction. No marine mammals are expected to be seriously injured or killed during construction of Northstar.

NOAA will accept comments on the application and proposed authorization through Nov. 25, 1998. Comments should be addressed to Michael Payne, Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3225.