On June 27, 2007, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) issued its notice advising the public of its intention to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for proposed OCS Lease Sale 206, which is the Central Gulf of Mexico lease sale to be held in March 2008. Notably, the EA will not include approximately 5.8 million acres located in the southeastern part of the Central Planning Area, which was made available for leasing by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006. MMS believes that it would be premature to offer that area for leasing in proposed Lease Sale 206, due to the need to conduct additional environmental studies relating to the area. See 72 Fed. Reg. 35258 (June 27, 2007).