The NewsRoom
Release: #3471
Date: March 7, 2006
MMS Requests Response from Six Coastal
States on
Draft Coastal Impact Assistance Program Guidelines
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Minerals Management Service (MMS) today sent
draft guidelines for the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) to
state offices in Alaska, California, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi
and Alabama.
The CIAP, which was established
under section 384 of the Energy Policy Act (EPACT) of 2005,
authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to distribute $250 million
annually to these six Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas
producing states in fiscal years 2007 through 2010. The funds will
be allocated to each producing State and eligible coastal
subdivision (such as counties, parishes or boroughs) based upon
allocation formulas prescribed by the Act. The EPACT of 2005
requires that all CIAP funds be used to directly conserve, restore,
enhance or protect renewable natural resources.
“Secretary Norton’s policy of
conservation through communication, consultation and cooperation is
a driving force in our implementation of the Coastal Impact
Assistance Program,” said Johnnie Burton, Director of the Minerals
Management Service. “As directed by the Energy Policy Act, the
Governors of each State will carry out a public consultation process
to elicit the views of their citizens. This input is critical to the
development of priorities and the use of CIAP funds to meet coastal
needs.”
MMS has requested a response to
the draft guidelines from each state by April 27, 2006. MMS will
work with each State and evaluate the written consolidated state
responses before developing the final CIAP guidelines. MMS projects
that the final guidelines will be made available by Fall 2006.
The
MMS, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, manages
offshore oil and gas exploration as well as renewable and
alternative energy sources such as wind, wave, and solar energy on
1.76 billion acres of the Outer Continental Shelf while protecting
the human, marine, and coastal environments. The OCS provides 30
percent of oil and 21 percent of natural gas produced in the United
States, along with sand used for coastal restoration. MMS collects,
accounts for, and disburses mineral revenues from Federal and
American Indian lands, and contributes to the Land and Water
Conservation Fund and other special use funds, with Fiscal Year 2005
disbursements of approximately $9.9 billion and more than $153
billion since 1982.
Relevant Web
Site:
MMS Main Website
Media Contact:
Nicolette Nye 703-787-1011
MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for
America
U.S. Department of the Interior
Privacy |
Disclaimers |
Accessibility |
Topic Index | FOIA
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090115065616im_/http://www.mms.gov/ooc/Assets/Icons/top.gif)
|