Protecting the environment while ensuring the safe development of the Nation’s offshore energy and marine mineral resources is a critical part of MMS’s mission. The MMS, as with all Federal agencies, must consider the potential environmental impacts for every decision made. For oil and gas development, these efforts begin with the preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement in support of the 5-year OCS Leasing Program. After the Secretary has decided on the size, timing, and location of lease sales for the 5-year period, lease sale specific EISs are prepared. Additional environmental reviews are conducted for specific activities such as drilling a well or installing a platform. Similarly, MMS is responsible for leasing areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) for renewable energy projects including wind, wave, and ocean current technologies. Other mineral resources, such as sand and gravel borrow sites, are leased and must undergo an environmental review. The environmental analyses are based on the most recently available scientific information. To accomplish this, the MMS collects information about the environment through funding of ocean research. Cumulatively, these activities help MMS to pursue an adaptive and ecosystem-based approach to its stewardship responsibilities.

In 2005, MMS began overseeing the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP), which provides funds to OCS oil and gas producing States to mitigate the impacts of OCS oil and gas activities.

	Regional Environmental Assessments Gulf of Mexico   Alaska   Pacific   Atlantic
	Ocean Research at MMS
	Environmental Regulations applicable to the OCS
	Oil Spill Modeling
	Protected Species