MMS to Hold Workshop
on Archaeological Resource Surveys and Reports
(NTL 2002-G01)

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (GOMR) will conduct a workshop to discuss the new guidelines for archaeological resource surveys and reports submitted to the MMS, effective March 15, Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) No. 2002-GO1.

The half-day workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2002, from 9:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. at the Comfort Suite near the Galleria, 6221 Richmond Avenue, in Houston.

Gulf of Mexico Region archaeologists will discuss and clarify changes in the guidelines from the previous NTL 98-06 and will allow for an open forum for questions and comments. Participants are encouraged to fax questions and comments in advance to Dr. Jack Irion at (504) 736-2407.

The workshop is open to the public. Operators, hydrographic surveyors, environmental consultants, and consulting archaeologists are invited to attend. There is no charge, and there is no advance registration. For more information about the workshops, please call Dr. Jack Irion (504) 736-1742, or visit the GOMR website www.gomr.mms.gov at the Upcoming Events link.

MMS is the federal agency in the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages the nation’s oil, natural gas and other mineral resources on the outer continental shelf in federal offshore waters. The agency also collects, accounts for and disburses mineral revenues from federal and Indian leases. These revenues totaled nearly $10 billion in 2001 and more than $120 billion since the agency was created in 1982. Annually, nearly $1 billion from those revenues go into the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the acquisition and development of state and federal park and recreation lands.