FOR RELEASE: March 22, 1995                 CONTACT:  Tom DeRocco
                                                   (202) 208-3983

      PREPARATION OF THE 5-YEAR OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF (OCS) 
            OIL AND GAS LEASING PROGRAM FOR 1997-2002

                                  
   The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management
Service (MMS) has set the following schedule for preparing the
next 5-year program for 1997-2002.  The schedule was developed to
assure adequate opportunities for MMS to consult with
constituents on the new program while allowing a timely and
orderly transition from the current one.

          Date                       Step

  November 16, 1994      A Federal Register notice was published
                         soliciting comments for developing the
                         new 5-year program

  February 1, 1995       Comment period closed

  May 1995               Receive recommendations from Alaska 
                         Regional Stakeholders Task Force  

  July 1995              Issue Draft Proposed Program 
                         (60-day comment period)

  January 1996           Issue Proposed Program and Draft EIS 
                         (90-day comment period)

  August 1996            Issue Proposed Final Program and Final
                         EIS (60-day waiting period)

  October 1996           Approve 5-year Program for July 1997-
                         July 2002 


 BACKGROUND

 The process started with the November 16, 1994, Federal         
  Register notice requesting comments and suggestions for         
  preparing the new program and for information on issues and     
  alternatives that should be analyzed in the programmatic        
  Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).  The comment period was  
  extended for a total duration of 77 days.  More than 2,200      
  written responses were received from state and local            
  governments, environmental groups, industry, and individuals.  
  All input is being considered in formulating the draft proposed 
  program and determining the scope of the EIS.

 The Alaska Regional Stakeholders Task Force was established to
  assist the MMS in defining the Alaska Region elements of the
  new program; Task Force findings and recommendations will be
  presented to the OCS Policy Committee by May 4, 1995.  The Task
  Force report, as endorsed by the Policy Committee, is expected
  to play a key role in program formulation and EIS scoping.  

 Before the draft proposed program is issued, MMS regional and
  headquarters offices will conduct extensive outreach efforts
  nationwide to describe the overall 5-year program process,
  discuss formulation of the draft proposal, and continue the
  scoping of issues for the EIS.  Subsequently, meetings will be
  scheduled to explain the draft proposal and to facilitate
  preparation and receipt of constituent comments responding to
  it.  

 Similar outreach efforts are planned for the other steps in the
  program preparation process.  Such efforts will include
  hearings on the draft EIS that will be conducted during the 90-
  day comment period in each OCS region affected by the proposed
  program.

   For further information contact Ms. Carol Hartgen, 5-Year
Program Project Director, at (703) 787-1216.


                                   -MMS-