RIASSUNTO
1.0 Abstract
The selection of candidate deepwater petroleum terminal sites from an area hounded by Boston Harbor on the south and the New Hampshire border on the north was the object of this investigation. Four zones in the study area were defined, and one site in each area was selected for environmental evaluation. Three addition al sites further offshore were also-included. Sites have been ranked on the basis of available information and recommendations for ancillary actions have been made.
2.0 Study Background
In 1969, the Massachusetts Port Authority (MASSPORT) sponsored an engineering feasibility study to determine whether deepwater terminal facilities to receive crude oil directly from foreign sources could be built in the greater Boston area. It was concluded that either a deepwater facility or a crude oil receiving terminal in Boston Harbor was feasibility from an engineering viewpoint. MASSPORT felt that the next logical step was an investigation of the environmental and economical aspects of the current methods to supply petroleum products to the Port of Boston. The study area accounted for approximately 50 percent of New England's consumption (See OTC paper 1978, 1974). Using that baseline, these methods were compared and evaluated, in a subsequent study conducted in 1973, against a variety of alternatives that could be employed to improve the delivery system. The latter study, performed by Raytheon Company (Environmental), Arthur D. Little (Economics, and Frederic R. Harris (Engineering Support), concluded that local crude oil receipt and refining has a significant economic incentive is accompanied by increase employment opportunities and an improved tax base for Massachusetts. In addition, it was concluded that each of the alternatives can have an acceptable impact on the environment.
In January, 1974, the Raytheon Company was engaged to conduct site specific studies of possible crude oil receiving terminals for MASSPORT. In conducting this study, Raytheon, acting as prime contractor, secured the services of Frederic R. Harris, Inc. as engineering consultant and Raytheon Oceanographic & Environmental Services as environmental consultant. This work builds on the previous studies for MASSPORT and evaluates a project demand area that serves Greater Boston.