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The NewsRoom
Release: #4038
Date: September 25, 2009
Public Comments Received for Offshore
Energy Plan Reaches 530,000
MMS Continues
to Review Comments Received During Final Days of Commenting Period
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The
Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) has now
received more than 530,000 comments from the public regarding the
development of a comprehensive offshore energy strategy for the
Outer Continental Shelf.
MMS received the comments during an
extended public comment period that Secretary Salazar established
for the Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing
Program in February. When the public comment period ended on Monday,
September 21st,
the MMS had counted over 350,000 public comments. After reviewing
submissions during the final days of the comment period, and more
mailed at the last minute, that number has now been raised to over
530,000 total public comments.
“I’m pleased that so many Americans
have provided their valuable input to this process,” said MMS
Director Liz Birnbaum. “This administration is committed to
including the public in the decision making process and Secretary
Salazar’s extension of this public comment period has allowed over
half a million Americans to take part in the future of offshore
energy development in the United States.”
The MMS is carefully reviewing all of
the comments submitted. Following the review and analysis of the
comments, which is expected to take several weeks due to the large
number, the next step in the process is to initiate environmental
analysis and public scoping opportunities associated with the
five-year plan, required by law, for oil and gas development in the
OCS.
The MMS oversees more than 1.7
billion acres on the Outer Continental Shelf. In addition to
overseeing oil and gas development in the OCS, the MMS has
established the first-ever framework for offshore renewable energy
development in order to guide environmentally responsible renewable
energy development and to broaden the nation’s energy supplies.
News Media Contact:
Nicholas Pardi (202)
208-3985
MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America
U.S. Department of the Interior
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Last Updated:
10/01/2009,
04:10 PM
Central Time
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