Conditions of plan approval are mechanisms determined by MMS to control or mitigate potential environmental or safety problems associated with a proposal. Comments from other Federal and State agencies (as applicable) are considered during the review process. In addition, Minerals Management Service technical evaluations (including geological and geophysical; royalty, Suspension of Production schedule, and competitive reservoir considerations; potentially hazardous situations involving existing or proposed pipelines; conflicts with archaeological resources and sensitive biological areas, and other uses; and NEPA compliance) are also considered.

Alternatives to a proposed action are evaluated as part of the NEPA process to assess reasonable alternative activities that could result in lower adverse environmental impacts. In addition to alternatives proposed by the lessee/applicant, alternatives or mitigation that are not part of the proposal that may be needed to minimize environmental effects, are given full consideration. Mitigating measures have addressed resource-use concerns such as endangered/threatened species, geologic and manmade hazards, military warning and ordnance disposal areas, air quality, oil-spill contingency planning, chemosynthetic communities, operations in H2S prone areas, and shunting of drill effluents in the vicinity of biologically sensitive features. Conditions that may be necessary to provide environmental protection may be applied to any OCS plan, permit, right of use of easement, or pipeline right-of-way grant.