The Minerals Management Service's (MMS) Environmental Program is comprised of two principal program areas, the Environmental Sciences Program and the Environmental Assessment Program.  Both components directly support all MMS activities (the Regulatory, Resource Evaluation, and Leasing Programs) which manage the Nation's Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) energy and non-energy mineral resources.  Environmental staff is involved in all phases of OCS activity, from the development of the 5-Year Program through platform removals.  The Environmental Program has three objectives:

• Provide the best available scientific and technical information to support decisions on the offshore gas, oil and hard minerals program, which may have the potential to affect environmental, social and economic conditions.
  
• Monitor post-lease mineral resource development to determine the extent and duration of environmental effects and potential mitigation measures that can be used to minimize impacts.
  
• Collect and make available to the public information needed to analyze, discuss and guide future decisions on exploration, development, and production and lease sales proposed for the 5-year Program. Increase access to, and usefulness of, information on the environmental, social and economic effects of industry activities on exploration and development of OCS resources to support MMS and other agencies on environmental rulemaking affecting OCS activities.

NEPA Process (EIS's and EA's) -- Public Comment

The Gulf of Mexico Region Environmental Program is also a source of information for operators to use when submitting exploratory plans (EPs) and development plans (DOCDs).

Environmental Sciences Program

The Environmental Sciences Branch (ESB) provides policy guidance and program direction and oversight for the MMS Environmental Studies Program and the MMS Oil Spill Modeling Program.

Upcoming Meetings

23rd Information Transfer Meeting (January 11-13, 2005)