MMS established the SAFE awards in 1983 to recognize and honor companies that make a concerted effort to train and motivate their employees to conduct offshore operations in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Each year, OCS oil and gas operators from the high and moderate categories as well as drilling and production contractors are selected as finalists for the award.  A company that qualifies under the high activity category produces at least 10 million barrels of oil per year and operates a minimum of 1,000 in-service components during the year.  A moderate activity company produces at least one million barrels of oil per year and operates a minimum of 100 in-service components during the year.  MMS selects one winner from each category.

             The 2002 National SAFE Award winners will be announced at the annual MMS Industry Awards program and luncheon. The event will be held April 29, 2003 at the Westin Galleria hotel in Houston.  Registration information is available at www.mms.gov/awards .

 MMS is the federal agency in the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages the nation's oil, natural gas, and other mineral resources on the outer continental shelf in Federal offshore waters. The agency also collects, accounts for, and disburses mineral revenues from Federal and American Indian leases. These revenues totaled over $6 billion in 2002 and nearly $127 billion since the agency was created in 1982. Annually, nearly $1 billion from those revenues go into the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the acquisition and development of state and Federal park and recreation lands.