State of Texas to receive CIAP grant for digital aerial photography acquisition

NEW ORLEANS – The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has awarded a grant for $383,313 to the State of Texas through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) for the development of a Digital Aerial Photography database and storage system of the Texas coast.   (08/03/2009)

MMS Approves $377,000 Grant for Mississippi Coast Species Control

State to implement aquatic invasive species assessment plan

NEW ORLEANS – The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has approved a grant package for $377,757 to the State of Mississippi Department of Marine Resources through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP), for the implementation of an Aquatic Invasive Species Coordination, Assessment, and Control Plan.   (08/03/2009)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruling on DOI’s request for clarification of the Court’s earlier decision to vacate the 2007-2012 Outer Continental Shelf oil and natural gas leasing program:

“I am pleased with the Court’s decision. Consistent with the Department’s request, the Court clarified that its prior ruling only applies to the Chukchi, Beaufort and Bering Seas. We are moving forward with the planned August 19th Gulf of Mexico lease sale.”   (07/29/2009)

NEW ORLEANS – Minerals Management Service (MMS) Director Liz Birnbaum today highlighted the 20th anniversary of the MMS Gulf of Mexico Region’s Unannounced Oil Spill Drill Program.  (07/23/2009) 

NEW ORLEANS — The Minerals Management Service (MMS) plans to hold the next Federal offshore oil and gas lease sale for the Gulf of Mexico on August 19, 2009 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in downtown New Orleans.  (07/16/2009) 

West bank project will protect and restore wetland swamps and forests

NEW ORLEANS – The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has awarded a grant for $718,620 to St. James Parish in Louisiana through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP), for the purchase of a 600-acre tract in the Coteau Chevreuil Wetlands area in South Vacherie, on the west bank of the parish.  (07/13/2009) 

Goose Bayou Ridge will protect substantial Jefferson Parish freshwater marsh area

NEW ORLEANS – The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has awarded a grant for $335,240.66 to Jefferson Parish in Louisiana through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP), for the Goose Bayou Ridge and Shoreline Protection Project.  (07/13/2009)

Grant will support coastal conservation activities in Gulf Shores, Alabama

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the Department has awarded an $8 million grant to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for a conservation education initiative that will restore part of the historic Gulf State Park Pier.  (06/30/2009)

Summary of Results

NEW ORLEANS — The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has accepted high bids valued at $690,163,194.40 and awarded 328 leases to the successful high bidders who participated in Central Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sale 208.  Funds from the total high bids will be distributed to the general fund of the U. S. Treasury, shared with the affected States, and set aside for special uses that benefit all fifty states.  (06/29/2009) 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today appointed Liz Birnbaum, an attorney with two decades of Federal Government and private sector experience in energy and environmental policy, as Director of the Department’s Minerals Management Service.  The appointment does not require Senate confirmation.  (06/25/2009)  

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – Calling it a major step forward in President Obama’s new energy frontier, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, joined by New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine, today issued five exploratory leases for renewable wind energy production on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore New Jersey and Delaware.  (06/23/2009)  

NEW ORLEANS – The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has awarded a $276,000 grant through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) to Mississippi’s Department of Marine Resources to build a new Marine Education Center in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  This is the first CIAP grant to be awarded since the state’s overall plan was approved in February 2009.  (06/01/2009)  

Funding to help conserve and protect state’s shoreline environments.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service announced today the approval of Alabama’s Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) Plan, calling it a major step forward in providing $51.1 million to the state of Alabama in the coming year, representing the first two years of funding under CIAP.  (04/21/2009)

Impact Assistance Funds will Help Gulf States, Alaska and California to Restore and Protect Coastal Areas

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Six U.S. coastal states will share nearly half a billion dollars from offshore oil and gas revenues in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 to help restore and protect coastal wetlands, wildlife habitat and marine areas, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today.  (04/20/2009)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than $25 million will be paid to Gulf of Mexico coastal states and communities this week as their share of bonuses and rents on energy leases in federal waters off their coasts, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today.  (03/23/2009)