Bruce W. St. Pierre, Jr.

Docket No. USCG-2009-0955 Summary: ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. (CPAI) support the establishment of temporary safety zones around the drillship Frontier Discoverer during their exploration drilling operations in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. CPAI agrees the there is an need to establish the safety zones to reduce the threat of accidents, oil spills, and releases of natural gas. This action will improve the safety for human life, property and the environment. CPAI concurs that the USCG should establish the safety zones based on relevant safety factors, such as levels of vessel traffic in the vicinity, safety of the personnel onboard the drilling vessel, protection of the environment, and consideration for the local subsistence activiities. These factors are listed in the Background and Purpose section on page 804. Safety is paramount to operations in such a remote area, and because the national spotlight is on the activities in the Arctic, CPAI feels the area around the drilling vessel needs to be managed to minimize accidents of any kind. This temporary safety zone will improve the management of the surrounding area. CPAI agrees that 500 meters is an appropriate safety radius from each point of the vessel, see page 805, section labeled Discussion of Proposed Rule. CPAI concurs that establishing these safety zones will not impose additional costs to other vessels in the area. In the section labeled "Environment" on page 806, CPAI agrees that establishing temporary safety zone is not a significant federal action and it should fall under a category of actions that do not cause significant effect on the human environment. CPAI appreciates the opportunity to comment on this proposed rule as we anticipate conducting future exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea. We will be apply for similar approvals in the near future.