This document is the development plan for the studies program that was named later in the year as Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program. The document defines the program components, and describes the assessment elements, needs, and tasks for each subprogram: biology, chemistry, geology, bathymetry, and physical oceanography, and meteorology. The purpose of the program was to obtain baseline information on the marine environmental of the outer continental shelf areas off Alaska to access effects of future oil and gas development in those areas and to protect the environment.