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U.S. Interior Department Launches Public Input for New Offshore Drilling Plan

The 45-day comment period initiates the development of a five-year leasing program, potentially expanding into new Arctic areas and revising offshore boundaries.

U.S. President Donald Trump looks on on the day he signs executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 17, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
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Overview

  • The U.S. Interior Department has opened a 45-day public comment period to gather input for the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.
  • The plan could include new drilling zones, such as the High Arctic, and revised boundaries for existing offshore areas.
  • This initiative follows President Trump’s directive to expand U.S. oil and gas production by reversing restrictions imposed by the previous administration.
  • Offshore leases currently account for 14% of U.S. crude oil production and generated $7 billion in federal revenue in FY2024.
  • The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management oversees 2,227 active leases, with 469 currently producing, as it begins shaping the next leasing program.