(05/27/2010) -

Summary:

  • The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is seeking public input regarding its review of Minerals Management Service (MMS) environmental review procedures and practices under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
  • CEQ is reviewing and seeking public input regarding the adequacy of MMS compliance with NEPA at all phases of its offshore oil and gas program, specifically focusing on the use of NEPA categorical exclusions.
  • Defenders of Wildlife and the Southern Environmental Law Center have filed suit against MMS over its use of categorical exclusions, including in the approval of the BP Deepwater Horizon exploratory plan, and the agency’s failure to adequately assess at any level the environmental impacts of its offshore oil and gas program in the Gulf of Mexico.

WASHINGTON (May 27, 2010) – The following is a statement from Jamie Rappaport Clark, executive vice president of Defenders of Wildlife:

"MMS has clearly been unable to perform its duty of environmental review. This welcome analysis by CEQ is the crucial first step towards fixing their broken process."

###

Read CEQ's announcement of the "Review of MMS NEPA Policies, Practices, and Procedures for OCS Oil and Gas Exploration and Development."

See how Defenders is responding to the Gulf oil disaster.

Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org.

###

Contact(s):

Caitlin Leutwiler, (202) 772-3226

For over 75 years, Defenders of Wildlife has remained dedicated to protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on X @Defenders.

  

News

Mojave Desert Tortoise
Washington, D.C.

Trump Administration Guts Public Comments for Federal Projects

The Trump administration has gutted the National Environmental Policy Act by restricting the public’s ability to participate in government decision-making and understand how our tax dollars are being spent.
US Capitol Building Washington DC
Washington, D.C.

Senate Budget Reconciliation Strikes Heart of American Wildlife, Wild Places

Defenders of Wildlife hammered the Senate’s version of the budget reconciliation bill for striking at the heart of America’s wildlife and wild places.
Visit the newsroom