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