FOR RELEASE:  October 20, 1993             CONTACT:   Tom DeRocco
                                                   (202) 208-3983

               MMS AWARDS OVER $1 MILLION TO LSU'S
     CENTER FOR COASTAL, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
(#30050)

     The Minerals Management Service (MMS) announced today that the
nation's first Coastal Marine Institute (CMI), Louisiana State
University's Center for Coastal, Energy and Environmental Resources
has received grant for various studies totalling $1,054,206.  In
strengthening its environmental, social, and economic studies
programs, MMS established the CMI program to work direcly with
those states where Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) activities take
place.

     "Last November, MMS, the State of Louisiana and LSU decided to
pool their resources to improve the way that important
environmental, social, and econonic issues associated with offshore
development are identified," said MMS Director Tom Fry.  Fry noted
that the scientific data collected in this cooperative effort would
provide valuable information to federal and State resources
managers.  "Offshore energy resources are valuable national
assets," said Fry.  "We are determined that decisions made about
developing these assets will be based upon good, credible science,
which results from these kind of research partnerships."

     MMS officials said this 5-year CMI Cooperative Agreement could
be worth up to $20 million in federal and State funds.  To start
the matching funds program, Louisiana and MMS each contributed $2
million in 1993.  This year, each will contribute over $1 million. 

     Studies that will be funded this year include:  "Development
of Bioremediation for Oil Spill Cleanup in Coastal Wetlands,"
"Coastal Marine Environmental Modeling," and "Development and
Characterization of Sea Anemones as Bioindicators of Offshore
Resource Exploitation and Environmental Impact."

     MMS administers federal offshore mineral programs and manages
the federal mineral royalty program.  MMS is committed to achieving
the appropriate balance between protecting the environment and
providing opportunities for the discovery and recovery of critical
energy and mineral resources.
                              -MMS-

Subject:  PR-10/20/93 LSU CMI funding(#30050)