WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, March 18, 2009, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will officially open an offshore oil and gas lease sale in New Orleans, Louisiana, visit an offshore oil production rig, make an aerial tour of state coastal restoration efforts and hold a community forum in New Orleans City Park.
The Secretary will open the Minerals Management Service's Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 208 for the Central Gulf of Mexico at 9 a.m. CDT in the New Orleans Superdome. Secretary Salazar will make opening remarks and read the first bids. Sale 208 includes acreage in the "181 South Area" which was mandated by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006. Revenue from leases in this area will be eligible for revenue-sharing with Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. There will be a media availability with the Secretary at the Superdome, beginning at 9:40 a.m.
There will be a media teleconference at about 11:45 a.m. to announce the results of Lease Sale 208. The call-in number is 1-888-942-9262. The passcode is: MMS.
At about 10:40 a.m, the Secretary will depart via helecopter for the Medusa Spar offshore oil production rig. He will tour the facility and receive a safety briefing. On his return, the Secretary will make an aerial inspection tour of Louisiana state coastal restoration efforts.
At 2:20 p.m. the Secretary will arrive at New Orleans City Park where he will host a community forum on the Land and Water Conservation Fund at the Pavilion of Two Sisters. A media availability will be held beginning at 3:05 p.m.
Event # 1
| Who: | Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar |
| What: | Central Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sale 208. |
| When: | March 18, 2009: 9 a.m. CDT, Secretary will make opening remarks and read first bid; a media availability with the Secretary will be held in the Superdome at about 9:40 a.m. Later that morning, at about 11:45 a.m., there will be a media availability and teleconference to announce the results of Lease Sale 208. |
| Where: | Louisiana Superdome: St. Charles Club Room (2nd Floor), 1500 Sugarbowl Dr. New Orleans, La. Enter ground level, Gate A. |
| Media: |
Media representatives unable to attend the Lease Sale in New Orleans may participate in the media teleconference announcing the results of Lease Sale 208 by calling 1-888-942-9262. The passcode is: MMS. |
Event # 2
| Who: | Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar |
| What: | Community Forum on Land and Water Conservation Fund |
| When: | March 18, 2009, 2:20-3:05 p.m. |
| Where: | Pavilion of Two Sisters, City Park, 1 Palm Drive, New Orleans. |
| Media: | Open |
Event # 3
| Who: | Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar |
| What: | Secretary's Media Availability |
| When: | March 18, 2009, 3:05-3:20 p.m. |
| Where: | City Park following community forum |
| Media: | Open |