Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Liz Birnbaum News

15 Apr 2010

MMS Funds Research for Offshore Renewables

The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) recently funded four research studies to identify technological and operational safety issues related to the future development of offshore renewable energy on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The studies focus on inspection methodologies and design characteristics of offshore wind turbines, installation and removal costs of ocean energy devices, and potential seafloor effects associated with the installation of renewable energy devices. “We still have much to learn about offshore renewable energy activities”, said MMS Director Liz Birnbaum. “We are continuously evaluating existing regulations and standards to adapt to these new technologies.

25 Mar 2010

Thornhill Science Advisor, MMS Director

The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) announced the appointment of Alan Thornhill as Science Advisor to MMS Director Liz Birnbaum. In this capacity, Thornhill will assist Director Birnbaum in the review of scientific and technical data that will ensure the effective management of energy resources located on the nation’s Outer Continental Shelf — including the development of offshore renewable energy — and the environmentally safe exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. Thornhill comes to MMS from the Society for Conservation Biology where for the past eight years he served as the Executive Director. In this capacity, Thornhill was the head of the largest professional association of conservation professionals in the world.

15 Mar 2010

MMS Opens Central GOM Lease Sale 213

The Director of Minerals Management Service, Liz Birnbaum, will participate in the Central Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 213 in New Orleans on March 17. She will open the Federal oil and gas lease sale at 9 a.m. CDT at the Louisiana Superdome with brief remarks. Following the bid reading, she will hold a media availability to discuss the results of the sale. The sale, held by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS), encompasses 6,958 unleased blocks covering more than 36.9 million acres offshore Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Approximately 4.1 million unleased acres in the “181 South Area” are included in this sale, with Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas sharing in revenues from tracts leased in that area.

12 Feb 2010

Final Notice, Central Gulf Lease Sale 213

The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) is issuing the final notice for a Federal oil and gas lease sale in the Central Gulf of Mexico (CGOM). Lease Sale 213 will be held March 17, 2010, in the St. Charles Club Room, at the Louisiana Superdome in downtown New Orleans. The Final Notice of Sale (FNOS) will be published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2010. Sale 213 encompasses 6,958 unleased blocks covering more than 36.9 million acres offshore Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Approximately 4.1 million unleased acres in the 181 South Area are included in this sale, with Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas sharing in revenues from tracts leased in that area.

02 Feb 2010

President Requests $364.8M for MMS

With a budget designed to increase America’s energy security by expanding the nation’s energy portfolio and ensuring a fair return for these public resources, the President has proposed $364.8m in funding for the Minerals Management Service (MMS) in fiscal year 2011. While this represents an increase of $16.5m from the 2010 enacted level, the request reflects the President’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and the prudent investment of taxpayer dollars. “The request for MMS is intended not only to help increase national energy security by continuing to establish an aggressive renewable energy program but also to improve our collection of federal royalties,” said MMS Director Liz Birnbaum.

21 Jan 2010

Ishee Named New MMS Deputy Director

The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) announced the appointment of Mary Katherine Ishee as deputy director. In this capacity, Ishee will assist MMS Director Liz Birnbaum in the administration of programs that ensure the effective management of energy resources located on the nation’s Outer Continental Shelf — including the development of offshore renewable energy — and the environmentally safe exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. “Mary Katherine brings more than two decades of experience in energy and environmental policy to MMS,” said Birnbaum. Ishee comes to MMS from a position as an energy and environmental consultant in private practice.

18 Aug 2009

Bids Received, Western GOM Lease Sale

The bids are in for Western Gulf of Mexico Federal Oil and Gas Lease Sale 210 to be held August 19. The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico Region announced that 189 bids were received from 26 companies on 162 tracts offered offshore Texas. “This sale is an important part of a balanced domestic energy plan that includes development of offshore renewable energy resources as well as oil and gas,” said MMS Director Liz Birnbaum. Reading of the sealed bids will take place August 19, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Royal Sonesta Hotel, 300 Bourbon Street, New Orleans. The sales will be Webcast through the Offshore Oil Scouts Association at www.oosa.com. Real Player will need to be installed in order to run the Webcast.

18 Aug 2009

Study Assesses Hurricane Impacts Coral Reefs

The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) recently concluded a study that gives new insight into the effects Hurricane Rita had on the Gulf of Mexico’s important coral reefs and banks in and around the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. The $357,000 study, entitled Post-Hurricane Assessment of Sensitive Habitats of the Flower Garden Banks Vicinity, provided an understanding of hurricane impacts, characterized the condition of the banks, and created a baseline for future assessment. “Protecting marine resources is an important part of the MMS mission and it’s essential for MMS to identify and assess any damage to these valuable habitats,” said MMS Director Liz Birnbaum.

18 Aug 2009

Birnbaum Hosts Western GOM Lease Sale 210

The Director of Minerals Management Service, Liz Birnbaum, will host Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 210 in New Orleans on August 19. She will open the Federal oil and gas lease sale at 9:00 a.m. CDT at the Royal Sonesta Hotel with brief remarks. Immediately following the bid reading, she will hold a media availability to discuss the results of the sale. The sale, held by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS), encompasses 3,435 unleased blocks covering approximately 18.4 million acres in the Western GOM Outer Continental Shelf Planning Area offshore Texas. The blocks are located in Federal waters from nine to more than 250 miles offshore, in water depths of 16 feet (5 meters) to more than 10,978 feet (3,346 meters).

24 Jul 2009

20th Anniversary of Oil Spill Drill Program

Minerals Management Service (MMS) Director Liz Birnbaum today highlighted the 20th anniversary of the MMS Gulf of Mexico Region’s Unannounced Oil Spill Drill Program. The first unannounced drill with an offshore oil and gas operator in the Gulf was held on July 25, 1989. Since the first unannounced drill, an additional 273 drills have been held in the Gulf. The MMS designs the drill to exercise an oil and gas and pipeline operator’s Oil Spill Response Plan and evaluates its spill management team’s effectiveness in responding to a simulated spill event. “While preventing oil spills is our top priority throughout the offshore energy exploration and extraction process, operators must be ready to respond to a spill event,” Birnbaum said.

29 Jun 2009

Birnbaum Named Director of MMS

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar appointed Liz Birnbaum, an attorney with two decades of federal government and private sector experience in energy and environmental policy, as Director of the Department’s Minerals Management Service. The appointment does not require Senate confirmation. As Director of the Minerals Management Service, Birnbaum administers programs that ensure the effective management of renewable and traditional energy and mineral resources on the nation’s Outer Continental Shelf, including the environmentally safe exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas, and the collection and distribution of revenues for minerals developed on federal and American Indian lands.