FOR RELEASE:  June 20, 1995                CONTACT:  Tom DeRocco
                                                  (202) 208-3983

            MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE COMMENTS ON EFFECTS OF
                 LIFTING OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF MORATORIA

     The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management
Service (MMS) will continue to observe the current moratorium on
leasing in areas offshore the United States, despite a
Congressional vote removing the prohibition, MMS officials
announced today.

     The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior voted
today to remove moratoria provisions from the Interior
Appropriations Act.  

     "The Minerals Management Service has been working with
affected parties to resolve longstanding conflicts over OCS
natural gas and oil leasing and development.  We have made great
strides in moving toward consensus concerning the development of
known reserves of natural gas and oil in some of the most
contentious areas of the OCS," said MMS Director Cynthia
Quarterman.

     "I believe that the current moratoria has provided the
affected parties with a safety net that enabled the consensus-
building process to move forward.  We believe it is critical for
the Nation's offshore development plans to be in sync with local
communities and states and not to get ahead of the public will,"
she declared.

     No offshore leasing is planned in the areas previously under
moratoria through June 1997, when the current 5-Year Program for
OCS Oil and Gas Leasing expires.  The Department has begun
preparation of the next 5-Year Program for July 1997 through June
2002, and next month will be releasing its draft proposed plan
for public comment.  "That plan will define this Administration's
movement away from the conflict we inherited towards consensus,
which is based on sound science and input from affected parties,"
she said.
                                     
     MMS is the federal agency that manages the nation's natural
gas, oil and other mineral resources on the OCS, and collects and
disburses about $4 billion yearly in revenues from offshore
federal mineral leases and from onshore mineral leases on federal
and Indian lands.  

                                   -MMS-