The Department of the Interior (DOI) will release a proposed five-year offshore oil and gas leasing program by the current program’s expiration date of June 30, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said Thursday.

offshore production

Haaland confirmed DOI’s intentions during testimony before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. She said the Trump administration had ceased working on the new leasing program, which delayed Interior.

“The previous administration stopped work on the new five-year plan in 2018, so there has been a lot to do to catch up,” Haaland told the committee chaired by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV). “Varying, conflicting litigation has also been a factor.” 

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