Minerals Management Service August 25, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Minerals Management Service requests comments on the Proposed 5-Year OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2007-2012. This is the second draft of a new program to succeed the current program that expires on June 30, 2007. The first proposalthe draft proposed programwas issued in February for a 60-day comment period that closed on April 11, 2006. Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) specifies a multi- step process of consultation and analysis that must be completed before the Secretary of the Interior may approve a new 5-year program. The required steps following this notice include the development of a proposed final program and Secretarial approval. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the MMS also will publish a Final EIS for the new 5-year program.