FOR RELEASE: November 16, 1994                  CONTACT: Lee Scurry
                                                     (202) 208-3983


    MMS SOLICITS COMMENTS FOR NEW 5-YEAR OCS LEASING PROGRAM
(#40089)

     The U.S. Interior Department's Minerals Management Service
(MMS) is soliciting comments for developing the new 5-Year Oil and
Gas Leasing Program for 1997-2002 and the accompanying
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), officials announced today.

     The Interior Department is required by the Outer Continental
Shelf (OCS) Lands Act to prepare and maintain OCS natural gas and
oil leasing programs that cover 5-year periods.  The current
program ends in July 1997.

     "One of our priorities at MMS is to work closely with our
customers and involve them in decisionmaking -- especially in
designing a new 5-Year Program," said MMS Acting Director Cynthia
Quarterman.  "We've made a concerted effort to involve our
customers in the decisionmaking process at every step.  An example
is the OCS Policy Committee's recommendation that we establish a
Regional Shareholders' Task Force to focus on the planning process
in Alaska.  We've eagerly accepted that suggestion and look forward
to working with the task force.

     "The November 16 Federal Register notice, which is an open
request for input from all interested parties, marks the initial
stage of a planning process which will take more than two years,"
she said.  "We make no predetermination of what to include or
exclude in the program before comments are solicited and reviewed,"
Quarterman said.

     "The law requires us to solicit comments pertaining to all of
the planning areas of the OCS, even those that are now excluded
from leasing consideration because of executive direction,
congressional restrictions or previous 5-year program decisions,"
Quarterman said.  "The MMS will not ignore the measures that are in
place, but asks for views concerning them."

     MMS is requesting comments on the size, timing, and location
of leasing activity.  Anyone interested may nominate areas for
inclusion or deletion.  Governors are asked to identify and comment
on any coastal zone management issues that could arise.  The
industry is asked to identify and rank their interest in leasing
offshore areas during the 1997-2002 period.

     "Additionally," Quarterman said, "we're interested in
recommendations on the following topics: 
     --   Policies and procedures for assuring the receipt of fair
          market value for OCS lease rights;
     --   The decision process leading to individual lease sales;
     --   Initiatives for improved involvement and participation of
          constituents in development and implementation of the
          5-Year Program;
     --   Environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS;
     --   Alternative dispute resolution techniques that could be
          applied both in the relatively short term embodied by the
          next program, and over the longer term; and
     --   Regionally-tailored approaches to the OCS program, e.g.,
          what policies and procedures should be applied to
          specific regions of the OCS."

     MMS will review all comments received as part of the process
of developing the draft plan, scheduled to be issued in the Summer
of 1995.  The draft will describe proposed leasing policies and
include a possible schedule of proposed sales.  If the draft
proposed program suggests no leasing for particular planning areas,
further analysis and consideration of those areas will not be
necessary.  Comments will be solicited again on the draft plan, and
a third time on the proposed final program before further approval
is sought.

     "We will develop the new program based on sound science, open
and informative communication, and meaningful consultation,"
Quarterman said.  "I'm confident that such an approach will produce
a program that ensures environmental safeguards, is responsive to
the nation's energy needs, and addresses customer and stakeholder
concerns."

     Comments, due January 9, 1995, should be mailed to: 5-Year
Program Project Director, Minerals Management Service, MS-4400,
Room 1324, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 22070.  Also, MMS will
accept hand deliveries at 1849 C Street, NW, Room 4230, Washington,
DC.  For more information contact Carol Hartgen, 5-Year Program
Project Director, at (703) 787-1216.

                              -MMS-

Subject: PR-11/16/94 5-Yr Plan/MMS Solicits Comments for New 5-Year
OCS Leasing Program (#40089)