FOR RELEASE:  January 6, 1994         CONTACT:  John Barclay
                                              (202) 208-3983


                MMS SETS CLEVELAND WORKSHOP 
            ON NEW FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY RULES (#40001)

    The U.S. Interior Department's Minerals Management Service
(MMS) will conduct a workshop in Cleveland January 11 on new
requirements for financial responsibility for operators of
offshore oil facilities.  The new, higher requirements are
mandated by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90).  MMS has
issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to
enforce the act.

    The Jan. 11 meeting is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. at
Cleveland's Marriott Society Center, 127 Public Square.  It will
conclude at 5 p.m. 

    The workshop is designed to afford all interested parties a 
chance to give their opinions on the contents and structure of a
proposed rule to be drafted and issued later this year.  Similar
sessions have already been held in New Orleans, Houston and San
Francisco.  Another is tentatively set for Anchorage, though no
date has yet been selected.  Officials are considering one or
more workshops in additional locations.

    Press kits will be available at the meeting.


                            -MMS-

Subject: PR-1/6/94 Cleveland OPA '90 mtg.(#40001)