Prospects for Increased State and Public Control over OCS Leasing: The Timing of the Environmental Impact Statement

This Comment reviews the current opportunities for state, local government, and public influence on the Department of Interior's Outer Continental Shelf decisions. The author argues that, while federal statutory procedures provide local governments and the public various opportunities to provide input regarding oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf, these channels of input fall far short of facilitating effective participation by these groups in federal decisions concerning those leases. The author suggests that earlier public availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement may remedy some of the inadequacies of the current process.