Government issues draft offshore drilling plan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A preliminary proposal was issued on Friday by the U.S. Minerals Management Service to hold oil and natural gas lease sales in coastal areas where drilling was, until recently, banned.

The draft plan proposes 31 energy exploration lease sales between 2010 and 2015 for areas on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf, including tracts along the East Coast and off the coasts of Alaska and California.


The agency will be accepting public comments on the plan for 60 days beginning January 21. At the end of the public comment period it will be up to President-elect Barack Obama’s administration to decide whether to move forward with the proposed leasing plan, make changes, or scrap it entirely.

Reuters