Do the states have any input to the 5-year program?
A18: The states have several opportunities to submit comments during this process. In addition, the MMS sent letters to the Governors of all 50 states requesting input on issues unique to each state. At the Proposed Final Program stage, the Department of Interior must tell a state (and the President and Congress) if MMS didn’t accept a states recommendation and why. The Secretary also called for four meetings to be held on the three coasts and in Alaska to provide additional opportunities for input from states, stakeholders, and affected communities.
