Domenici Statement on MMS Review for Gulf of Mexico Areas Opened by Congress

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today issued the following statement regarding news that the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) has begun the planning process to gather information and conduct an environmental review of areas in the Gulf of Mexico that were opened for exploration by Congress last year:

“I’m very pleased that MMS is now taking the initial steps to open 5.8 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and natural gas exploration. This action was mandated by legislation I authored last year and will allow America to produce more of its energy domestically, making us less reliant on foreign sources.

“There is no question that our national energy strategy must include renewable energy technology as well as increased efficiency, but we also should not ignore traditional energy sources that are available at home. Having access to oil and natural gas is a security issue, and the United States is currently far too reliant on resources that come from unstable regions. I am hopeful that access to additional natural gas supply will help alleviate costs to American consumers.

“I look forward to the eventual leasing of these areas in the Gulf, and I hope that Congress will continue to look for opportunities to increase domestic energy production.”

Yesterday, MMS announced that it will hold public scoping meetings and conduct an environmental review of the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area and the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. This review includes the 181 South Area, which was made available for leasing in the bipartisan Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, which was authored by Domenici and was signed into law in 2006.

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