DOI Fails to Release Promised Five-Year Leasing Plan

Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) failed to release a proposed five-year plan for oil and gas leasing, despite Secretary Deb Haaland testifying during a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing that the administration would issue a public proposed plan no later than June 30, 2022. House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

"Broken promises amid historic inflation and skyrocketing gas prices are now standard practice for the Biden administration. Without a new plan in place, new leasing cannot occur, threatening our future supply of domestic energy. This would be an issue in any normal year, but it's especially egregious at a time when it's costing Americans more than ever before to drive to a July 4th cookout and cool down their homes during a heat wave. It's irresponsible, tone-deaf, and negligent for DOI to punish our domestic industries yet again, all while going hat-in-hand to OPEC to plead for the resources we already have right here at home. I hope Secretary Haaland can see the facts here and immediately issue a new five-year plan. With energy prices continuing to soar, time is of the essence."

Background

Haaland testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on May 19, 2022 that DOI would release a proposed five year plan for offshore oil and gas leasing by the end of June. The current five year plan expires today, meaning there will be an unprecedented gap in offshore leasing plans, jeopardizing domestic energy production for years to come.