Dear Mr. Gonzales:

COPCo is considering building oil loading and unloading facilities on each coast of the United States. Our site selection committee has chosen six possible ports for the new terminals. They are:

• San Francisco, California
• San Diego, California
• Galveston, Texas
• Pensacola, Florida
• Charleston, South Carolina
• Baltimore, Maryland

Please direct your staff to conduct in-depth studies of each city, provide us with summaries of their findings, and recommend three (one per coast) as sites for our oil terminals. Be sure to include the following:

1. Specific harbor characteristics of the area including topography, location of the loading/unloading facility, and the types of ships the harbor can accommodate.
2. Physical-ocean characteristics of the area including local currents, wave action in the harbor and along the coast, seasonal weather changes, and tidal influences on the harbor.
3. Biological factors of the area such as ocean life zones, life cycles of ocean plants and animals, coast profiles for each city, and the possible effects of an accidental oil spill on each.
4. Economic factors of the area including the impact of a new oil terminal on business, future fuel needs in the area, and possible new industries.
5. Emergency-preparedness measures needed, such as human, material, and monetary factors involved in a cleanup effort, as well as contingency plans, reaction time, priority procedures, communication networks, and suggested port operation guidelines.

With this information, we hope to safely expand our operations into new areas and increase our profits.

Enclosed is a check for you to begin the study. The balance will be paid upon delivery.

Sincerely,
M. Johnson
Margaret Johnson, President