Oilspill analysis for the Cook Inlet and Shelikof Strait (proposed sale 60) Outer Continental Shelf lease area

An oilspill risk analysis was conducted to determine the relative environmental hazards of developing oil in different regions of the Cook Inlet and Shelikof Strait (Proposed Sale 60) Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) lease area. The probability of spill occurrences, likely movement of oil slicks, and locations of resources vulnerable to spilled oil were analyzed. The times between spill occurrence and contact with various resources were estimated. The combined results yielded estimates of the overall risks associated with development of the proposed lease area. Assuming that oil will be found in all 153 proposed tracts of the lease area, and depending upon the routes chosen to transport oil from OCS platforms to the shore, the leasing of the tracts proposed for OCS Sale 60 will result in an expected 4.0 oilspills. The estimated probability that land will be contacted by one or more oilspills that have been at sea less than 30 days is 0.96.