Interior

President Trump said he plans to nominate David Bernhardt to lead the Department of Interior in an official capacity.

Department of Interior Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt is said to be on the short list to take over after embattled Interior chief Ryan Zinke, who is facing a litany of congressional investigations, told President Trump over the weekend that he is stepping down.

Department of Interior Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt is said to be on the short list to take over after embattled Interior chief Ryan Zinke, who is facing a litany of congressional investigations, told President Trump over the weekend that he is stepping down.

Increased oil and natural gas production, as well as regulatory reform and other factors, led to a $400 million surge in economic output on federal lands during the first year of the Trump administration, according to a report by the Interior Department.

Increased oil and natural gas production, as well as regulatory reform and other factors, led to a $400 million surge in economic output on federal lands during the first year of the Trump administration, according to a report by the Interior Department.

The Interior Department has ordered its bureaus and offices to base its decisions “on the best available science,” and to make any scientific data, analyses and methodologies used for a rulemaking available to the public.

In a development sure to impact the oil and gas industry, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said state regulatory agencies should have a higher profile in protecting fish and wildlife, and asked his department to identify federal regulations that are more restrictive than those enacted by states.

Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Ryan Zinke said a massive reorganization is being considered for the agency, which may include managing federal lands by watersheds rather than political borders, and through relocating employees to field offices across the country.

The Department of Interior, in the Trump administration’s first Gulf of Mexico (GOM) lease sale for 2017-2022, plans to offer 75.9 million acres for auction offshore Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, almost three million more acresand nearly 500 blocks more than originally proposed. Lease Sale 249 on Aug. 16 is scheduled to be livestreamed from New Orleans. The final notice of saleincludes about 14,200 blocks from three to 231 miles offshore in the GOM. For leases awarded in waters less than 200 meters deep, Interior is offering a reduced royalty rate of 12.5%versus the previous standard of 18.75%. Copies of the block maps may be requested from the GOM Region’s Public Information Unit, 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70123, or at 800-200-GULF.