Nick Snow
OGJ Washington Editor
WASHINGTON, DC, Mar. 11 -- Four regional public meetings will be held during April to discuss US Outer Continental Shelf energy resources and their potential development impacts, US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced on Mar. 11.
The meetings are scheduled for Apr. 6 in Atlantic City, NJ; Apr. 8 in New Orleans; Apr. 14 in Anchorage, and Apr. 16 in San Francisco. Salazar originally announced on Feb. 10 that they would be held as part of his strategy to develop a more comprehensive 5-year OCS plan, which would include renewable and alternative resources and more fully consider environmental and other consequences (OGJ Online, Feb. 11, 2009).
He also said at the time that the public comment period on the current proposed 5-year OCS plan would be extended by 6 months and that a rulemaking on renewable energy on the OCS ordered under the 2005 Energy Policy Act would be expedited.
The meetings will present findings on conventional and renewable OCS energy resources, which the secretary ordered US Department of the Interior agencies to prepare by Mar. 30. "The purpose of these meetings is to have an open, honest conversation with the American people to solicit the best possible information about an offshore energy plan," Salazar said on Mar. 11.
Regional governors and elected federal officials, local governments, private citizens, interested organizations and other entities, energy producers, and advocacy groups are invited to attend and briefly comment or ask questions following a presentation of the offshore energy resources report, he said.
Persons unable to attend in person can submit written statements, comments or document either at the meeting or during the extended comment period, DOI officials said. Written comments can be submitted either online at www.mms.gov or by mail to Renee Orr, Leasing Division, US Minerals Management Service, MS 4010, 318 Elden Street, Herndon, Va., 20170-4817.
Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].
