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   Terry Scholten

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 5-Year OCS Leasing Program

Moratoria

Annually, for a number of years, Congress has imposed a restriction on what areas MMS can offer for OCS oil and gas leasing. This restriction, (also called a moratorium) limits MMS's latitude in spending appropriated funds. Therefore, some OCS planning areas are placed off limits for pre-lease activities and leasing. Congressional moratoria prohibit future oil and gas leasing but do not apply to activities on existing leases. Existing leases in areas subject to current moratoria are located offshore both California and Florida. These moratoria are enacted annually as part of the Department of the Interior's appropriations legislation.

The areas in the current moratoria are:

bullet Washington-Oregon Planning Area
bullet Northern California Planning Area
bullet Central California Planning Area
bullet Southern California Planning Area
bullet South Atlantic Planning Area
bullet Mid-Atlantic Planning Area
bullet North Atlantic Planning Area

Additionally, a portion of the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area and most of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area is under restriction until 2022 as part of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006.

Map of the Lower 48 Planning Areas

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Last Updated: 07/30/2008, 11:02 AM Central Time

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