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The
NewsRoom
Media Advisory
Release #: 3119
Date: August 13, 2004
Interior
Official Brings Energy Message to Nebraska: America's Dependence on
Foreign Oil and Gas to Deepen
New Frontiers May Offer Domestic Alternatives
America has grown increasingly reliant on
oil and natural gas to fuel its economy. Today, gasoline prices are
nearly 50 percent higher than last summer, oil prices are at a 25-year high
and natural gas prices have reached sustained high historic levels.
The good news is that
a significant portion of the domestic supply to meet America’s growing
energy needs comes from Federal lands, according to
Johnnie Burton,
director of the Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management
Service.
Last year the
underwater lands that MMS manages produced more oil for U.S. consumers
than was imported from Saudi Arabia. It also produced more natural
gas than was imported from Canada – our number one foreign supplier.
Bringing this domestic energy to the nation is critical for the growth
of the local economy including agricultural and industrial interests,
and household use.
Ms. Burton will
deliver her energy awareness message, “America’s National Energy
Policy – Making Choices” Monday, August 16 to the Millard Rotary Club
and Wednesday, August 18 to the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce.
Media should call
MMS Public Affairs at (202) 208-3985 to coordinate coverage or to
schedule interviews.
| What: |
Speech - America’s
National Energy Policy – Making Choices |
| When: |
12:00 p.m. August 16,
2004 |
| Where:
|
Millard Rotary Club
Bel Air Banquet Room
12100 West Center Road
Omaha, Nebraska 68144 |
|
| When: |
12:00 p.m. August 18,
2004 |
| Where:
|
Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce
Karen’s Fireside
1214 North Monroe
Papillion, Nebraska 68046 |
The Minerals
Management Service 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 lands. MMS disbursed more than $8
billion in FY 2003 and more than $135 billion since the agency was
created in 1982. Nearly $1 billion from those revenues go into the
Land and Water Conservation Fund annually for the acquisition and
development of state and Federal park and recreation lands.
Relevant Web Sites
MMS Main Website
Media Contacts
Curtis Carey
(202) 208-3985
MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for
America
U.S. Department of the Interior |