The proposed plan includes no more than 10 possible sales in the Gulf of Mexico and one in the Cook Inlet off Alaska, the Interior Minister said, adding that development areas could be further reduced after public comments.
The proposal mirrors the recently expired five-year offshore drilling plan put forward by the administration of former President Barack Obama. It is much narrower than that proposed but not adopted in 2018 by former President Donald Trump’s administration, which also proposed areas offshore most of the Atlantic and Pacific.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said the proposal does not mean the administration will go ahead with any of the auctions.
“From day one, President Biden and I have been clear about our commitment to making a transition to a clean energy economy,” Ms. Haaland said. “Today, we are providing an opportunity for the American people to review and provide their input on the future of offshore oil and gas leasing. The time for the public to weigh in on our future is now.”
The release of the document, which is mandated by Congress, came a day after the previous plan expired, and late in the day ahead of the July 4 holiday three-day weekend.