U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region NEWS RELEASE

Notice of Opportunity to Comment on a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment
on Geological and Geophysical Exploration in the Gulf of Mexico

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is preparing a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) to evaluate potential environmental impacts of geological and geophysical (G&G) exploration on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The PEA is needed in light of advances in G&G technology, expansion of activities into deep water, and improved knowledge of acoustic impacts on marine life. The PEA is in a draft stage of preparation but is being made available to allow public comment on the document prior to its completion. Comments on the draft PEA must be received by MMS on or before September 6, 2002, at the following address: Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (MS 5410), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, or via email at environment@mms.gov.

NOTE: The public comment period expired on September 19, 2002. The alternatives described in this Programmatic Environmental Assessment have been superseded by mitigative procedures now required by MMS (see MMS Notice to Lessees 2002-G07.)

Interested parties may obtain a copy of the draft G&G PEA by calling 1-800-200-GULF.

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.

-MMS-GOM-