Environmental Monitoring

Structure Lighting Protocols to Minimize Bird Collisions with OCS Facilities

Potential for birds to collide with OCS facilities is a specific concern in the Arctic due to the variety and density of bird populations, including species protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the amount of lighting used for oil and gas facilities. The Alaska Region, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, issued protocols to minimize radiation of light outward from exploration/delineation drilling structures to minimize the likelihood that birds would be attracted to and strike structures. These protocols were also adopted as one of the OCS Lease Sale 195 stipulations.