The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is proposing Virginia Lease Sale 220 to allow for Virginia offshore drilling. The 45 day commending period regarding “particular environmental, biological, archaeological, socioeconomic, and geological (including natural hazard areas) conditions or potential conflicts, or other information that might bear upon the potential leasing, exploration, and development of the program area and vicinity” ends on December 29, 2008, but comments can be submitted by email. From the MMS NewsRoom.

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has taken the first step in the multi-year leasing process to hold a sale for acreage offshore Virginia. The Call for Information and Interest/Nominations and Notice of Intent (Call/NOI) to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be published in the November 13th Federal Register, beginning a 45-day public comment period.

The purpose of the Call/NOI is to gather information to use for planning and analysis and does not indicate a preliminary decision to hold a lease sale. The final decision will be made at a later date only if the sale is in compliance with applicable laws including all requirements of the OCS Lands Act and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

“At the request of the Governor, MMS included the area offshore Virginia based on the Commonwealth’s current energy policy and continued interest in knowing what resources may be off its coastline,” said MMS Director Randall Luthi. The sale, referred to as Lease Sale 220, is proposed to be held in 2011.

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