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 OCS Scientific Committee Meeting Summary -
Environmental Studies Program Highlights - Alaska OCS Region
Drs. Cleve Cowles, Environmental Studies Chief, and Dick Prentki, oceanographer,
reported on Alaska activities:
 | Overview of Current ANIMIDA Activities. ANIMIDA is a multi-year, mulit-
disciplinary study to monitor impacts associated with development activities and initial
production of oil from the Northstar and Liberty units in the nearshore portion of the
Alaska OCS in the Beaufort Sea. Phase I, a 1.5-year program, is nearing completion and
includes initial program design, a literature synthesis, a preliminary (Year 1) field
sampling and analysis program, database management, and overall program management and
reporting. Phase II is now partially funded and builds on Phase I components.
Phase II is a 4-year program and includes further literature review updates and adds
specific tasks on: 1) monitoring hydrocarbon and metal concentrations in sediments and
sediment biota; 2) annual assessments of subsistence whaling near Cross Island and
perceived industrial effects; 3) sources, concentrations, and dispersion of suspended
sediments; 4) monitoring the Boulder Patch; 5) partitioning of potential contaminants
between dissolved and particulate phases in the water; and 6) baseline characterization of
persistent organic pollutants in the ANIMIDA study area. The project is being closely
coordinated with related ongoing MMS-managed studies and studies being conducted under the
MMS/University of Alaska Fairbanks cooperative Coastal Marine Institute.
A contract was awarded to Arthur D. Little, Inc., on June 30, 1999, to perform Phase I
tasks and to serve as Program Manager for the duration of the study. Total estimated cost
of the ANIMIDA multi-year monitoring project is estimated to be $3,217,000 through Fiscal
Year 2003.
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| Summary of October 2000 Planning Workshop. A workshop was held October 23 in
Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss Phase I program results and the Phase II program status. |
For more information, contact Julie Reynolds.
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