WASHINGTON--Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton will deliver remarks at the Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 187, in New Orleans, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003.  The lease sale will be held at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, La.  Secretary Norton’s remarks will focus on the 50^th anniversary of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the president’s National Energy Policy and the administration’s efforts to address the increase in demand for clean-burning natural gas.

The lease sale is sponsored by the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service and features potential for deep gas prospects.

  Who:             Gale A. Norton, Secretary of the Interior

                        Chris Oynes, Regional Director for the Minerals Management Service

 What:              Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 187

 When:             Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003

                        9 a.m., Secretary Norton delivers remarks [Grand Ballroom C]

                        10:35 a.m., media availability [Grand Chenier Room]                                        

Where:            Sheraton New Orleans Hotel

                        Grand Ballroom C, 5^th floor

                        500 Canal Street

                        New Orleans, La.

 Note to Editors:  Secretary Norton will respond to questions from the media during the availability at 10:35 a.m. in the Grand Chenier Room.