The OEMM oversees the safe and environmentally sound exploration and production of the Nation’s offshore energy and marine mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The Environmental Division supports all aspects of OEMM, including its leasing, resource evaluation, regulation, and inspection functions.  The Environmental Division is involved in all phases of OCS activity, from the development of the 5-Year Program through site clearance – “cradle-to-grave.”  The Division also provides environmental policy guidance, direction, and program oversight for OEMM with respect to:

	preparing the 5-Year Leasing Program;
	carrying out a national Environmental Studies Program (ESP);
	seeing that Congressionally provided grant assistance funds are appropriately distributed and used
	evaluating the potential and actual environmental impacts associated with extraction of offshore energy and marine minerals; and
	ensuring that OEMM polices and industry practices conform to the Nation’s environmental policies and laws.

How is the Environmental Division organized?

	Branch of Environmental Assessment.
	Branch of Environmental Sciences.
	Coastal Impact Assessment Program.

What are some of the key environmental issues addressed by this Division?

	Evaluating and providing scientific and technical information to support decisions needed to avoid potential environmental effects of offshore energy and marine mineral resource development.
	Collecting and making available to the public information needed to analyze, discuss, and guide future decisions pertaining to lease sales and exploration, development, and production activities.
	Developing, implementing, and assessing environmental monitoring efforts to determine the extent and duration of environmental effects and potential mitigation measures that can be used to minimize impacts.
	Assessing conformity with environmental legal mandates and regulations (e.g. the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act).
	Administering grants funds identified by Congress to be used to protect, conserve or restore the natural coastal environment and to mitigate impacts from offshore oil and gas activities.

What MMS regulations cover the OCS?

Essential components of our environmental program include creative and proactive examination and assessment strategies of our legal and regulatory mandates.  The MMS regulations governing operations on the OCS are codified at 30 CFR Subchapter B, Offshore.  The MMS issues Notice to Lessees (NTLs) to clarify, describe, or interpret offshore regulations or standards.  The NTLs may also provide guidelines on special lease stipulations, explain MMS's interpretation of requirements, or transmit administrative information.  There are two types of NTLs, those issued at the regional level, pertinent to a particular OCS Region, and those issued nationally that are effective nationwide for all MMS Regions.

General Information

	Environmental Studies Program Information System (ESPIS) - All completed ESP studies.
	Environmental Reports - Publications from the MMS Environmental Program.
	MMS Library & Reading Room - Environmental Section – Headquarters and Regional environmental publications.
	Social Science in MMS - A description of social science in MMS, relevant technical summaries, and other materials.
	Scientific Committee Meetings - Information about our annual meetings.
	MMS Ocean Science - MMS Science and Technology Journal.

Last Updated: 04/07/2009, 09:11 AM