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

News Desk Alert:

Department of the Interior and Louisiana State University to Sign
Cooperative Agreement on Biotechnology Research Beneath Offshore Platforms

Wednesday, September 27 at 1:30 p.m.
Grand Salon of the LSU French House
(on the LSU Campus, corner of
Highland Road and South Campus Drive)

The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service and Louisiana State University will sign a cooperative research agreement to launch a $1.1 million, two-year marine biotechnology research initiative.  Scientists from both the MMS and the University will investigate whether the organisms that are encrusted on offshore oil and gas platform legs have pharmaceutical or other commercial applications.  MMS and LSU officials will sign the cooperative agreement and discuss the project.  A reception will follow.

MMS is the Federal agency that manages the Nation's natural gas, oil, and other mineral resources on the OCS, and collects, accounts for and disburses about $4 billion yearly in revenues from offshore Federal mineral leases and from onshore mineral leases on Federal and Indian lands.

Editor’s Note:  Media kits and digital images of some marine organisms to be studied will be made available on the day of the ceremony.

MMS's Website Address: http://www.mms.gov