Cumulative Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Alaska's North Slope

This book identifies accumulated environmental, social and economic effects of oil and gas leasing, exploration, and production on Alaska's North Slope. Economic benefits to the region have been accompanied by effects of the roads, infrastructure and activies of oil and gas production on the terrain, plants, animals and peoples of the North Slope. While attempts by the oil industry and regulatory agencies have reduced many of the environmental effects, they have not been eliminated. The book makes recommendations for further environmental research related to environmental effects.Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1. Introduction 2. The Human Environment 3. The Alaska North Slope Environment 4. History of Oil and Gas Activities 5. Future Oil and Gas Activities 6. Effects on the Physical Environment 7. Effects on Vegetation 8. Effects on Animals 9. Effects on the Human Environment 10. Filling Knowledge Gaps 11. Major Effects and Their Accumulation Appendix A: Acknowledgements Appendix B: Abbreviations and Acronyms Appendix C: Petroleum Exploration and Development Appendix D: Oil-Field Technology and the Environment Appendix E: Aeromap Analyses and Data Appendix F: Oil Spills Appendix G: Saline Spills Appendix H: Traditional Knowledge Appendix I: Legal Framework for Activities on State Lands on the North Slope Appendix J: A Method of Addressing Economic Irreversibility Appendix K: Biosketches of the Committee's Members References Index