Question 3863 Deck General

The correct answer is B) Minerals Management Service. Beyond the area of state ownership in the U.S. outer continental shelf, the right to drill is controlled by the Minerals Management Service, which is the federal agency responsible for managing the nation's natural gas, oil, and other mineral resources on the outer continental shelf. The Minerals Management Service, now known as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, oversees the leasing, exploration, and development of these offshore resources. The other options are incorrect because the U.S. Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, and American Bureau of Shipping do not have direct control over the rights to drill in the outer continental shelf beyond state-owned areas. Their roles are in different aspects of maritime operations and regulations.