MMS panel urges environmental studies of moratorium areas

An advisory panel for the U.S. Minerals Management Service has recommended that the agency conduct environmental studies in offshore areas where congressional funding moratoriums have blocked leasing. The Minerals Management Advisory Board formed a subcommittee to study the issue a year ago. The panel reported recently, and its recommendations now go to Interior Sec. Bruce Babbitt. Congress has blocked leasing off all the East Coast, the West Coast, and areas of Alaska and western Florida.

May 12, 1997

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The Minerals Management Advisory Board formed a subcommittee to study the issue a year ago. The panel reported recently, and its recommendations now go to Interior Sec. Bruce Babbitt. Congress has blocked leasing off all the East Coast, the West Coast, and areas of Alaska and western Florida.

The subcommittee made no findings on whether areas under moratoriums should be opened for future leasing but said, "Future energy requirements may lead to the need to explore and produce oil and natural gas in these areas. Should this occur, the MMS must be prepared to predict, assess, and manage the impacts from oil and natural gas operations."

It said funding for the MMS environmental studies program has declined from a high of $55 million in fiscal 1976 to $14 million in fiscal 1996, and MMS should request additional funding in the future, because the current level is insufficient to cover moratorium areas and areas currently under exploration.

The subcommittee recommended MMS refine its generic process for identifying the studies required for moratorium areas and include the affected states, industry, and other stakeholders in the process.

"Environmental studies should be tailored to the different environmental risks associated with the production of oil vs. natural gas.

"The principal difference in environmental risk associated with the exploration and production of oil vs. natural gas is the danger of accidentally spilled oil compared to the release of volatile natural gas.

"Other environmental risks are similar for oil or natural gas production. Environmental studies and evaluations should recognize these differences," the report said.