For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 9, 2007

Memorandum for the Secretary of the Interior

SUBJECT: Modification of the June 12, 1998, Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf from Leasing Disposition

Under the authority vested in me as President of the United States, including section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1341(a), I hereby modify the first sentence of the withdrawal of June 12, 1998, of certain areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf from leasing disposition to read as follows:

Under the authority granted in section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1341(a), I hereby withdraw from disposition by leasing through June 30, 2012, (1) those areas under moratoria pursuant to sections 104 and 106 of Public Law 109-54, and (2) those areas under moratoria pursuant to section 105 of Public Law 109 54, excluding that portion of the Central Gulf of Mexico planning area defined as the "181 South Area" in section 102(2) of title I ("Gulf of Mexico Energy Security") in Division C of Public Law 109 432, the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006.

GEORGE W. BUSH

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