Office of Leasing and Environment
The Office of Leasing and Environment (LE) carries out the
environmental policies of the Department of the Interior with regard to offshore
oil and gas operations. LE reviews, assesses, and documents environmental
impacts associated with the offshore oil and gas operations. It consults with
other Federal agencies regarding the various environmental laws. The following
are general descriptions of duties and responsibilities of scientists within the
Office of Leasing and Environment of the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf
of Mexico OCS Region:
Environmental Sciences Section
Environmental Sciences Section scientists prepare sections for
Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and Environmental Assessments (EA) on air
quality, water quality, physical oceanography, coastal and marine biology, and
endangered species. As a part of the process, staff scientists develop,
negotiate, and supervise environmental contract studies in the Gulf of Mexico.
This multidisciplinary studies program develops information for assessment and
management of impacts to marine and coastal environments that may be affected by
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas activities.
Environmental Assessment Section
Environmental Assessment Section scientists coordinate and
compile all presale and the major postlease National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
documents (EAs and EISs) and conducts public hearings and scoping meetings to
collect information from interested citizens. Specialists assigned under the
Environmental Assessment Section prepare sections for EISs and EAs on social and
economic impacts, archeology, and coastal zone management. They develop,
negotiate, and supervise contracted studies related to those disciplines, and
ensure compliance with the Coastal Zone Management Act, Federal Consistency
regulations, National Historic Preservation Act, and Executive Order No. 11593,
Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment.
Project Management Section
Project Management Section scientists and specialists maintain a
database for tracking all major projects within the LE Office. They review all
proposed postlease activities (exploration, development, pipelines, structure
removals, etc.) to determine the appropriate level of documentation under NEPA.
They coordinate the review and approval of all categorically excluded
operations, all structure removal EAs, and some postlease site-specific EAs.
Qualifications
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