Deepwater port project. Sec. (4D) Examination, Port of Galveston/Texas Offshore Port, Inc.

Given the many uncertainties affecting future U.S. petroleum imports, including availability, foreign sources, costs, throughput volumes, timing, tanker sizes, alternative domestic fuel developments, etc., as well as all of the other uncertainties that cloud our vision, particularly for such long-lived facilities as the ones in question, a definitive, confident comparative evaluation of such physically dissimilar proposals as TOP and Galveston is difficult. Thus, it must be underscored that this evaluation has focused on that part of the very broad range of possible scenarios that might be characterized as the most likely to occur. Were the future to develop differently, the conclusions reached herin might very well change drastically with respect to the relative advantages of either or both of these proposed projects against the current methods of delivery. In addition, it must be emphasized that both projects, as assessed within the scope and assumptions of this evaluation, were found to be independent, individually cost beneficial, otherwise acceptable, and in the national interest. Recognizing the foregoing, the major specific findings of the evaluation are: (1) On Economics, (2) On Environmental Matters, and (3) On Social/Economic Impact Matters.