Oil and Gas Involved Areas Along the U.S. Gulf Coast: Evidence from Public Sources and Non-Public Population and Economic Censuses (GM-92-42-79)

MMS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM: ONGOING STUDIES
MMS OCS Region:	Gulf of Mexico
Title:	Oil and Gas Involved Areas Along the U.S. Gulf Coast: Evidence from Public Sources and Non-Public Population and Economic Censuses (GM-92-42-79)
Planning Area:	Gulfwide
Total Cost: $154,000	Period of Performance: FY 2001-2008
Conducting Organization:	Coastal Marine Institute, Louisiana State University
MMS Contact:	Dr. Harry Luton
Description: Background: Socioeconomic analysis of the implications of offshore oil and gas development requires valid temporal and spatial measures. A critical example for Minerals Management Service is the defining of geographical areas of significant exposure to the impacts of offshore oil and gas-related activity. Previous research has necessarily relied on publicly available data sources such as household census PUMS files, summary tape files, economic censuses, and County Business Patterns data. In Louisiana, this material is reported at the parish level and suffers from a logical problem known as "specification error" or "ecological fallacy" in statistics -- areas of oil involvement do not match the boundaries of the parishes. This problem might be addressed using nonpublic information not aggregated at the parish level.
Objectives: The overall goal of this study is to specify with geographic precision those land areas along the Gulf of Mexico that exhibit significant involvement in the oil and gas industries. It will: (1) develop with the U.S. Census Bureau and approach to using nonpublic records; and (2) analyze 1990 census data and 1992 and 1997 economic census data.
Methods: The study will develop gradational indices of involvement in oil and gas based on measures derived from various public and non-public data sources included: Census of Minerals Industries, MMS regulatory data, ES-202 employment data, nonpublic 1992 and 1997 economic census data, the 1997 Commodity Flow Survey, and the nonpublic long-form reports from the 1990 U.S. Census. Factor and cluster analytic techniques will be used to develop a typology of industry-involved and non-involved areas.
Products: A final report.
Importance to MMS: Virtually all MMS work in this area has relied on county/parish-level data, an approach highly criticized by each of the National Research Council reviews of MMS socioeconomic research as being at an inappropriate level of data aggregation (ecological fallacy). This current research may develop a methodology that addresses this issue without resort to questionnaire-based approaches.
Current Status: This study has been delayed due to problems caused by Katrina. The period of performance has been extended and the draft final report is now expected October 2008.
Final Report Due:	October 2008
Publications:	None
Affiliated WWW Sites:	Louisiana State University, Coastal Marine Institute Social Science in MMS information page
Revised date:	March 2008
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