Oil and Natural Gas - Energy Policy Analysis: A Conceptual Framework - page 90

When a government agency prepares an environmental impact statement (EIS) pursuant to na-
tional or state environmental legislation, it must consult with the appropriate historic preservation
officer concerning identification and location of any properties or remains that may be in the area.
When any of these properties or remains are located, the EIS must describe a plan for avoidance
or mitigation of damage to these properties or remains.
Any of the phases of oil and gas activity can impair various recreational pursuits that are enjoyed
on public lands, such as hiking, camping, ski touring, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, picnick-
ing, pleasure driving, and boating. The development of additional access (roads) into an area can
affect recreational pursuits in different ways. More access can change the types of recreational
uses available, but additional roads necessitated by oil and gas development are usually closed
and reclaimed as soon as possible (MDFWP 1983, 16). The visual quality (aesthetics) of an area
is impacted during all phases of activity from the perspective of those who value undisturbed
landscapes.
The scope and severity of social and economic impacts as a result of oil and gas development
are determined largely by the size of the discovery and the specific location (USFS 1979). The
larger the field and the more isolated it is from an existing area of high population density, the
more prominent impacts can become. The discovery of a large oil field far from any large towns
is likely to place significant burdens on community and county infrastructure, including hous-
ing, water supply, sewage treatment, schools, recreational opportunities, roads, and police and
fire protection. Social impacts are more difficult to analyze, but there will be a radical change of
lifestyles in the impacted area that can be difficult for local people to handle. Adverse impacts
such as an increase in violent crime, drug abuse, divorce, and other forms of family and social
disruption must be anticipated (MDFWP 1983, 16-17).
Fish and wildlife are impacted by onshore oil and gas exploration and development in ways
similar to those described for coal in Chapter 2. Because of the diversity of fish and wildlife species
and their unique habitat needs, impacts on these species can be significant and vary immensely,
falling within several major categories (USDOI 1981a):
1. Surface disturbance generally reduces the quantity and quality of forage and cover avail-
able for fish and wildlife.
2. Short- or long-term displacement of wildlife can occur as a result of disturbance, depend-
ing upon the species involved and the magnitude of the impact.
3. Stress to wildlife varies with the season during which an activity occurs and the species
involved. In winter and spring, stress on wildlife is most significant.
4. Increased road access can cause increased hunting and fishing pressure. Nonconsump-
tive recreational use of an area may increase, adding to stress and displacement impacts
caused by oil and gas activities.
5. Special management provisions may be necessary to close roads, increasing management
costs and enforcement requirements.
6. Noise from many oil and gas activities may displace wildlife species.
7. Direct mortality to wildlife can result from operation of equipment and machinery, but
primarily from collisions between vehicles and wildlife.
8. Vegetation removal and soil disturbances along streams for access roads may alter stream
flow patterns, raise water temperature, decrease insect production, and increase siltation
levels, adversely affecting fish and wildlife in the vicinity.
9. Retention ponds of produced water, drilling muds, and oil products may attract wildlife
to their detriment, unless measures are taken to cover them with screens or nets.