Minerals Management Service August 1, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) requires the Department of the Interior to solicit information from interested and affected parties during the preparation of a 5-year OCS oil and gas leasing program. The current 5-year program covers the period July 2007 to June 30, 2012. The Department's MMS is soliciting information on whether to begin a new Program for mid-2010 to mid-2015 (approximate dates) to succeed the current one. Section 18 requires completion of a multi-step process of public consultation and analysis before the Secretary of the Interior may approve a new 5-Year Program. The section 18 process includes the following required steps: This initial solicitation of comments; development of a draft proposed program, a proposed program, a proposed final program; and Secretarial approval. If the decision is made to prepare a new 5-Year Program, the MMS will also prepare appropriate NEPA analysis documents. The public will have opportunities to comment on the draft proposed program, the draft EIS or other NEPA documents, and the proposed program. This Notice in particular requests comments on areas that are restricted from leasing by Congressional Moratoria but were removed from Presidential Withdrawal on July 14, 2008.