Department of the Interior
Departmental Manual
Effective Date: 6/18/08
Series: Organization
Part 118: Minerals Management Service
Chapter 1: Creation,
Objectives, and Functions
Originating Office: Minerals Management Service
118
DM 1
1.1 Creation. On January 19, 1982, by Secretarial Order No.
3071, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) was established under the authority
provided by Section 2 of Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1950 (65 Stat. 1262). On May 10, 1982, by Secretarial Order No. 3071,
Amendment No. 1, all Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leasing responsibilities of
the Department of the Interior were consolidated within MMS under the authority
provided by Section 2 of Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1950. Amendment No. 2, dated May 26, 1982, set
forth the basic organizational structure for MMS and provided for the transfer
of administrative functions. Secretarial
Order No. 3087, dated December 3, 1982, and Amendment No.1, dated February 7,
1983, provided for the transfer of royalty and mineral revenue management
functions, including collection and distribution within the Bureau of Land
Management, to MMS. It also provided for
the transfer of all onshore minerals management functions on Federal and Indian
lands to be transferred to the Bureau of Land Management.
1.2 Authorities. The basic responsibilities of MMS are derived
from Departmental regulations and delegations of authority issued to implement
various statutes, including the Mineral Leasing Act of February 25, 1920 (41
Stat. 437), as amended and supplemented (30 U.S.C. 181-287); the Mineral
Leasing Act for Acquired Lands, as amended (30 U.S.C. 351-359); Section 402,
Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1946 (60 Stat. 1099); the OCS Lands Act, as
amended (43 U.S.C. 1331-1356); the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq.); the
Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701, et seq.); the Geothermal Steam Act
of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001-1025); the Tribal Lands Leasing Act (25 U.S.C. 396a);
the Allotted Lands Indian Leasing Act (25 U.S.C. 396); the Federal Oil and Gas
Royalty Management Act of 1982, as amended (30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); the
Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996 (110 Stat.
1700, as corrected 110 Stat. 2421); various sections of the Energy Policy Act
of 2005 (119 Stat. 594), which codifies various U.S. Code sections; and the
Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006.
1.3 Objectives
and Functions. The MMS is
responsible for managing the mineral resources on and energy-related or other authorized
marine-related purposes across the OCS in an environmentally sound and safe
manner and to timely collect, verify, and distribute mineral revenues from
Federal and Indian lands.
A. The MMS assesses the nature, extent,
recoverability, and value of leasable minerals on and energy-related or other
authorized marine-related purposes across the OCS. It ensures the orderly and timely inventory
and development--as well as the efficient recovery--of mineral resources and
energy-related or other authorized marine-related purposes; encourages use of
the best available and safest technology; provides for fair, full, and accurate
returns to the Federal
Treasury for produced commodities; manages and
administers the program for disbursement of coastal impact assistance to
qualified recipients; and safeguards against fraud, waste, and abuse. The MMS ensures the protection of life,
health, and the natural environment in the course of
private sector activities on leased Federal OCS
lands. It promotes cooperative
relationships between the Federal Government, the States, and Indian
feeholders, with respect to national, regional, or local issues related to the
full scope of its responsibility.
B. The operations of MMS support a number of
national goals and objectives. National
security interests are promoted by encouraging the exploration for and
development of domestic resources, while economic growth is strengthened by the
stimulation of private sector participation and, in turn, employment.
1.4 Reporting
Relationships. The MMS reports to
the Assistant Secretary - Land and Minerals Management.
6/18/08 #3801
Replaces 3/20/06 #3702