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This page last updated:
July 27, 2004


Environmental Comment - Public Review

Comment Process  |  Current EIS/EA's  |  Obtaining Copies  |  Mailing List


An Overview of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Process


Comment Process

In accordance with NEPA, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) prepares environmental documents on various actions related to the OCS Program. These documents may be Environmental Assessments (EA’s) or Environmental Impact Statements (EIS’s), depending upon the nature of the action in question or the significance of potential impacts associated with the action. It is the policy of MMS to involve the public in preparing and implementing our NEPA procedures. In addition to posting opportunities for public participation on this web page, we typically place announcements in the Federal Register and/or in newspapers covering the areas potentially affected.

The Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region of MMS has been conducting environmental analyses of the effects of OCS oil and gas development since the inception of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969.  We have prepared and published more than 40 draft and final EIS’s.  Our goal has always been to provide factual, reliable, and clear analytical statements in order to inform decisionmakers and the public about the environmental effects of proposed OCS activities and their alternatives.  We view the EIS process as providing a balanced forum for early identification, avoidance, and resolution of potential conflicts.  It is in this spirit that we welcome comments from all concerned parties. 


Recent EIS's and major EA's

Documents Open for Comment

            No documents currently open for comment.
 

Documents Closed for Comment

Title Status
Geological and Geophysical Exploration for Mineral Resources on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf - Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (MMS 2004-054) Final
July 2004

Proposed OCS Lease Sale 192, Western Gulf of Mexico

Final
March 2004

Environmental Assessment, Proposed OCS Lease Sale 190, Central Gulf of Mexico

Final
October 2003

Exploration Activities in the Eastern Sale Area:  EPA, GOM OCS PEA (MMS 2003-008)

Final
March 2003

Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales 189 and 197; Eastern Planning Area; Environmental Impact Statement

Final
May 2003

Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2003-2007; Central Planning Area Sales 185, 190, 194, 198, and 201; Western Planning Area Sales 187, 192, 196, and 200; Environmental Impact Statement

Final
November 2002

Programmatic Environmental Assessment; Evaluation of Freeport-McMoRan Sulphur LLC's Applications to Inject OCS-Generated Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Exempt Exploration and Production (E&P) Waste intoSalt Caverns and Caprock on Sulphur and Salt Lease OCS-G 9372, Main Pass Block 299

Final September 2002
Deepwater Grid EA's  

Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 13; Site-Specific Evaluation of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation’s Initial Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7753; Marco Polo Project; Green Canyon Block 608

Final
September 2003

Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 3; Evaluation of Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas Corporation’s Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7625; Gunnison Project; Garden Banks Blocks 667, 668, and 669 – April 2003

Final
April 2003

Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 7; Evaluation of Conoco Inc.’s Initial Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7506; Magnolia Project; Garden Banks Blocks 783 and 784

Final
February 2003
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 16; Site-Specific Evaluation of BP Exploration and Production, Inc.’s Initial Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7469; Thunder Horse Project; Mississippi Canyon Block 777 Unit (Blocks 775, 776, 777, 778, 819, 820, 821, and 822)
Final
December 2002
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 12; Evaluation for Murphy Exploration and Production Company’s Initial Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7269; Medusa Project; Mississippi Canyon Blocks 538 and 582
Final
July 2002
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 15; Site-Specific Evaluation of TotalFinaElf Exploration and Production USA, Inc.’s Initial Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7249; Matterhorn Project; Mississippi Canyon Block 243
Final
March 2002
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 10; Site-Specific Evaluation of BP Exploration and Production, Inc.’s Joint Initial Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7216; Holstein Project; Green Canyon Blocks 644 and 645
Final
November 2001
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 4; Evaluation of Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas Corporation’s Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7045; Nansen Project; East Breaks, Blocks 602 and 646
Final
July 2001

 

Notices of Preparation


Obtaining Copies

  • Click here for a list of libraries along the Gulf Coast, which have been sent copies of MMS's Environmental Impact Statements.

  • Request a copy of an EIS or EA by contacting the Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 114, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (1-800-200-GULF). 


EIS Mailing List

Click here to be added to our mailing list for EIS's and announcements.