Interior Releases Draft Program For New Offshore Leases; Future Uncertain

The U.S. Department of the Interior on July 1, 2022, released its long-awaited update on the next Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) five-year proposed offshore drilling program (Program), a day after the previous program expired.¹ Under Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), as amended, the Interior Secretary must "prepare and periodically revise, and maintain" a five-year program that indicates proposed public oil and natural gas lease sales in U.S. waters.² Since 1980, nine five-year programs, along with a revised version of one program, have been submitted to Congress. The five-year programs have reflected the offshore oil and gas leasing policies of different presidential administrations, along with input from states, members of Congress and other stakeholders.