FOR RELEASE:  March 1, 1994                CONTACT:    Lee Scurry
                                                  (202) 208-3983 

                   MMS ANNOUNCES NEW MISSION,
               UNDERSCORING PRESIDENT'S NPR EFFORT

     The Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service
(MMS) today announced a new mission statement, emphasizing its
commitment to all MMS customers, the environment, and economic
development.

     "We made a decision to adjust our goals and objectives," said
MMS Director Tom Fry, "based on the direction set by Interior
Secretary Bruce Babbitt who challenged bureaus to reconsider their
missions, and employees to rethink their daily operations in order
to respond better to our customer needs."

     MMS's primary responsibilities are to manage the mineral
resources located on the Nation's outer continental shelf (OCS),
collect revenue from the Federal OCS and onshore Federal and Indian
lands, and distribute those revenues.

     "One of President Clinton's National Performance Review (NPR)
goals is putting people first, which means for our team, ensuring
that MMS provides the highest quality service possible to the
American public," Fry said.

     "This will require us, first and foremost, to establish and
maintain an open dialogue with all potentially affected parties,"
he said, "and to lend MMS assistance and expertise to environmental
protection and economic development when appropriate."

     The MMS mission also pronounced a renewed commitment to the
following objectives: 

     ø    safe and environmentally-sound exploration and
          development of our Nation's offshore mineral resources
          ultimately resulting in an enhanced quality of life for
          all Americans (i.e. economic development and
          environmental protection and just compensation for the
          use of those resources);

     ø    efficient, timely, and accurate collection and
          distribution of revenues;

     ø    dedication to the use of the most current, quality
          science and best technology available;

     ø    equitable treatment of all MMS customers;

     ø    fulfillment of the MMS Indian trust responsibilities;

     ø    promotion of natural gas as the environmentally and
          economically preferred fuel; and
        
     ø    provision of expertise and assistance to other Nations
          who are interested in learning how to work with the
          private sector in the development of their own natural
          gas and oil resources in a manner that ensures
          environmentally sound practices and a fair financial
          return.

     The Offshore Minerals Management Program administers the OCS
competitive leasing program and oversees the safe and
environmentally sound exploration and production of our Nation's
offshore natural gas, oil and other mineral resources.

     The Royalty Management Program meets its responsibilities by
ensuring the efficient, timely and accurate collection and
disbursement of revenue from mineral leasing and production due to
Indian tribes and allottees, States, and the U.S. Treasury.

                              -MMS-