The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is responsible for the administration of programs that ensure the effective management of mineral resources located on our Nation’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The MMS also collects, accounts for and distributes revenues associated with mineral production from leased federal and Indian lands.

In Offshore Minerals Management we oversee mineral exploration and development on the OCS — from pre-lease studies and analysis through exploration and development to the final lease relinquishment and restoration of the leased area. Our overall stewardship responsibilities include multiple mandates. These mandates include providing energy for the Nation, protecting people and marine life, conserving our natural resources, and ensuring a fair return for development of OCS minerals — oil, gas, sand and gravel.

This work includes continuing critical research on environment and safety-related technologies, preparation of rigorous environmental assessments, and development of economic parameters for proposed mineral development activities. To ensure success of our program we work cooperatively with all our program stakeholders — the offshore oil and gas industry, other offshore industries, coastal states, Congress, numerous Federal agencies, and environmental and public interest groups.

To that ensure resource development occurs in an environmentally sound manner MMS complies with numerous environmental laws, regulations, and executive orders. In support of these efforts, MMS designs and funds environmental studies (currently about 150) in multiple disciplines. Our annual studies budget is approximately $17 million. These studies range from tracking bowhead whales off Alaska to measuring social and economic change in coastal Louisiana.