U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region

The Interior Department's Minerals Management Service (MMS) has selected Oryx Energy Company as the 1997 recipient of the Conservation Award for Respecting the Environment (CARE Award).

Hammond Eve, MMS's Regional Supervisor for Leasing and Environment, presented the award to Jerry Box, Chief Operating Officer of Oryx Energy, in New Orleans today.

Oryx is being commended for its demonstrated commitment to instill an environmental ethic throughout the company; for its extraordinary commitment to pollution prevention; and for its leadership as an independent operator in seeking to improve industry practices.

Eve cited as most impressive Oryx's willingness to go beyond minimum standards and common practice, and to test new technology to protect air and water quality.  Noteworthy accomplishments include its support and stewardship of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, its cooperation with the Coast Guard in area-wide oil-spill contingency planning, and its hands-on environmental action through growing participation in the Texas General Land Office Adopt-a-Beach program.  These activities reflect the success of Oryx's corporate commitment to the natural and cultural resources of the Gulf of Mexico.

The CARE Award, established in 1987 and presented annually by the MMS Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, was designed to recognize and commend outstanding actions and accomplishments by those private companies engaged in offshore energy development and that support the broader conservation and environmental goals of the Department of the Interior, coastal States, and the Nation.

For more information on the CARE Award Program, contact Villere Reggio, the MMS CARE Award Coordinator, at (504) 736-2780.

The MMS is the Federal Agency that manages the Nation's natural gas, oil and other mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf, and collects, accounts for, and disburses about $4 billion yearly in revenues from offshore Federal mineral leases and from onshore mineral leases on Federal and Indian lands.