FOR RELEASE:  January 13, 1995          CONTACT:  Barney Congdon
                                                  (504) 736-2589
                                                        or
                                                    John Barclay
                                                  (202) 208-3983

          MMS NAMES NEW DIRECTOR FOR GULF OF MEXICO REGION

     The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management
Service (MMS) has announced that Chris Oynes has been named
Regional Director of the agency's Gulf of Mexico Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) Region.  That region's headquarters are
in New Orleans.

     Oynes, an Interior employee since 1976, had served as MMS's
Acting Regional Director in the Gulf since the retirement of J.
Rogers (Rod) Pearcy in August, 1993.  He had previously been
Deputy Regional Director in the Gulf Regional Office since 1986.

     Before becoming Deputy Regional Director, he was the chief
of the Leasing Management Division for MMS in its Washington,
D.C., headquarters office.  While there, he was responsible for
the development of the 1982-1987 Natural Gas and Oil OCS leasing
program.  

     Oynes holds a Juris Doctor Degree from George Washington
University and has 20 years' Federal experience directly related
to policy development and operational activities associated with
energy matters.

     He and his wife, Rena, have two sons, Erick and Jonathan.
They reside in Mandeville, LA.

     "Chris has been doing an outstanding job as Acting Regional
Director for more than a year," said MMS Acting Director Cynthia
Quarterman.  "He was chosen over some very stiff competition in a
nationwide search.  I'm confident that he will continue to build
on the record of achievement and service to MMS's customers that
he's already established."

     In his new position, Oynes will report to Thomas Gernhofer,
MMS's Associate Director for the Offshore Program.

                                -MMS-