[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1065]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 18, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

 

General Leasing Policies in the Central and Western Gulf of 
Mexico Planning Areas Under the Comprehensive Outer Continental Shelf 
(OCS) Natural Gas and Oil Resource Management Program for 1992-1997

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On December 7, 1993 (58 FR 64409), MMS published a Call for 
Public Comment on general policies for leasing natural gas and oil 
resources in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico planning areas. 
Comments were to be received by February 7, 1994. Through this notice, 
MMS extends the end of the comment period by 30 days, to March 9, 1994.

DATES: Responses will be accepted through March 9, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Responses should be mailed to the Program Director, Office 
of Program Development and Coordination, Minerals Management Service 
(MS-4430), 381 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 22070. Hand deliveries may be 
made at 381 Elden Street, Room 1324, Herndon, Virginia (dial 1215 at 
lobby telephone). Envelopes or packages should be marked ``Comments on 
Alternative Leasing Policies for the Gulf of Mexico.'' If any 
privileged or proprietary information is submitted that the respondent 
wishes to be treated as confidential, both the envelope and the 
contents should be marked ``Confidential Information.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For information pertaining to this Call for Public Comment, telephone 
Paul Stang or Kim Coffman, Program Development and Planning Branch, at 
(703) 787-1215, or Dan Henry, Leasing Coordination Branch, at (703) 
787-1192.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The basic leasing policies for the Central 
and Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Areas were established a little 
more than a decade ago. Since that time, many of the conditions facing 
the OCS program have changed, and MMS and the Department of the 
Interior are re-evaluating leasing policies for the Central and Western 
Gulf of Mexico sales remaining under the Comprehensive OCS Natural Gas 
and Oil Resource Management Program for 1992-1997. Comments will be 
considered for sales to be held subsequent to Sale 147, which is 
planned for Spring 1994, and will be factored into studies to determine 
the effectiveness of the existing system of leasing and what 
alternatives are most appropriate. Neither MMS nor the Department of 
the Interior has preferred alternatives, and no decisions have been 
made to change the existing leasing system.
    Several parties have requested that the comment period be extended 
by 60 days. Upon consideration of these requests, MMS has decided that 
an extension of 30 days, to a total of 92 days, is appropriate. This 
Call for Public Comment is only part of a continuing opportunity for 
correspondence and dialog between MMS and interested parties, and it 
should be noted that the decision process for individual sales 
explicitly includes consideration of comments from outside parties.

    Dated: January 10, 1994.
Tom Fry,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
[FR Doc. 94-1065 Filed 1-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M