OCS POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING
October 25 - 26. 2000
Farfax Virginia

Agenda

Ocean Issues. This panel presentation addressed implementation of the Ocean Act, the Ocean Task Force, the Ocean Exploration Panel, and the Pew Commission.

Natural Gas Supply Situation. This presentation addressed the natural gas supply situation from the United States’ perspective; Canada’s ability to supply natural gas to the U.S. in the future; and, the industry’s supply challenge and the transportation and distribution of natural gas, including the possibility of a natural gas pipeline from Alaska.

EPA Initiatives. This presentation addressed marine protected waters, Section 403 of the Clean Water Act, and study results of synthetically based drilling muds.

Congressional Update. This presentation focused on the status of timely congressional issues related to the OCS Program.

MMS Environmental Initiatives. This panel presentation addressed the Deep Spill project, biotechnology (bioprospecting), recent sperm whale cruise results in the Gulf, and acoustic impacts on marine mammals.

Onshore Impacts of Increasing Offshore Activity. This presentation addressed infrastructure, social and political impacts, and wetlands loss.

Conservation and Reinvestment Act. This presentation provided an update on the status of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act and any other pertinent information related to this issue.

Hard Minerals Update. This presentation provided an update on subcommittee activities and other pertinent hard minerals information.

MMS Regional Updates. The Regional Directors highlighted activities in the Gulf of Mexico and off the California and Alaska coasts.