MMS Announces Milestones in Energy
Development
Includes Alternative Energy, Traditional
Sources
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Department of the Interior’s Minerals
Management Service (MMS) announced today three significant milestones
that will potentially lead to expanded domestic production of both
traditional and alternative energy resources.
The milestones are:
the notice of availability of the final environmental impact statement
(FEIS) for the Cape Wind Energy project off Massachusetts; a notice of
intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for
geological and geophysical studies, such as seismic surveys, off the
Atlantic coast; and the notice of availability of the Draft Proposed
2010-2015 Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program
and notice of intent to prepare an EIS for that program.
“MMS has been working
tirelessly to facilitate the responsible development of our domestic
energy resources and expand our nation’s energy portfolio,” said MMS
Director Randall Luthi. “Today, we are presenting options to the next
Administration. The final decisions regarding the next steps are
theirs.”
The final EIS for the Cape Wind Energy Project, a
proposed 130-turbine wind farm, was filed with the Environmental
Protection Agency last week, and will publish in the Federal Register
on January 16.
Luthi highlighted $3.8 million in Fiscal Year 2008
funding for environmental research related to offshore alternative
energy development.
“While we anxiously
await the publication of the Final Rule governing the OCS Alternative
Energy Program, we are moving forward with important environmental
work to ensure we have the best available scientific data upon which
to base our decisions,” Luthi said. “As with the development of
traditional sources of energy such as oil and gas, we must use a
balanced approach to developing alternative energy resources, weighing
the nation’s demand for energy with our responsibility to protect and
preserve the environment.”
MMS submitted the
Final Rule for the OCS Alternative Energy Program to the Office of
Management and Budget for review and approval in November.
Luthi also announced the notice of availability of the
Draft Proposed 2010 – 2015 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program (DPP) and a
notice of intent to prepare an EIS for the DPP. The two notices will
be published in the Federal Register January 21 beginning a 60-day
public comment period.
“We’re basically giving the next Administration a
two-year head start,” Luthi said. “This is a multi-step, multi-year
process with a full environmental review and several opportunities for
input from the states, other government agencies and interested
parties, and the general public.”
The agency estimates
the OCS contains about 86 billion barrels of oil and 420 trillion
cubic feet of natural gas in yet to be discovered fields.
These numbers are
conservative because little exploration has been conducted in much of
those areas during the past quarter of a century due to the Executive
and Congressional restrictions.
In response to the
lifting of the Executive ban and the expiration of the restrictions
included in previous Congressional Appropriations language, industry
has begun submitting requests to MMS to conduct geological and
geophysical studies, such as seismic surveys, in the Atlantic planning
areas. Before making a decision on such requests, the agency must
first conduct the necessary environmental reviews in accordance with
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
“In order to move
forward with expanded exploration and development responsibly, we need
current data. That is why we are also announcing today our intent to
prepare a programmatic EIS to evaluate potential environmental effects
of multiple geological and geophysical studies in the Atlantic OCS
planning areas,” Luthi said.
The public may submit
comments on the Draft Proposed Program during the next 60 days by
using the online commenting
system or by mail to:
Minerals Management Service
Attention: Leasing Division (LD)
381 Elden Street, MS-4010
Herndon, VA 20170-4817 |
The public may submit
comments on the scope of the Programmatic EIS, significant issues that
should be addressed, alternatives that should be considered, scenario
development, and the types of G&G activities and geographical areas of
interest on the Atlantic OCS. Comments may be
submitted electronically or in
written form enclosed in an envelope labeled “Comments on the
PEIS Scope” and mailed (or hand carried) to:
Regional
Supervisor
Leasing and Environment (MS 5410)
Minerals Management Service
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region
1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 |
For More Information:
Contact:
Nicholas
Pardi (202) 208-3985
MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America
U.S. Department of the Interior
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Last Updated:
01/29/2009,
09:32 AM
Central Time
