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Minority Statement The recommendations of the committee do not adequately address the fact that the specific location of oil and gas fields remains unknown until exploration occurs. lithe report recommends that exploration and discovery should proceed with stipulations, then a second decision should be made by the Agency as to whether or not the discovered oil or gas could be produced. The report further recommends that in some areas no exploration should take place until environmental concerns are compared with the potential for oil or gas field development. Both of these approaches to planning for oil and gas use on federal lands, not already withdrawn from leasing, are unrealistic operating procedures for industry, and further they provide undefined reasons for protests by groups opposed to oil and gas activities on federal land. There has been very little input to the report from the industry. It would benefit the agencies and congressional committees greatly to get additional input as to whether or not the recommendations are realistic and the report is usable. The report that we produced very adequately addresses the environmental concerns of oil and gas use, but due to the makeup of the committee the recommendations are inadequate and unrealistic as to the practical effect on oil and gas development. This Minority Statement is submitted with the sincere hope that the agencies and committees will consider the reasonableness and workability of the recommendations. Implementing the recommendations would move us toward a set of rules in which industry cannot function and that are counter to the best interest of our counters economic and national securing. Submitted by: James ~ Barlow, Jr. September 18, 1989 141