March 15, 2017

On March 15, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced a bill that would authorize more lease sales on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

S.665, the Unleashing American Energy Act of 2017, would enable the Department of the Interior (DOI) to add additional lease sales to an existing five-year program.

Under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), the Secretary of the Interior is responsible for the approval of oil and gas exploration and development on the continental shelf of the United States. Currently, only six percent of the OCS is available for energy production. S.665 would amend the OCSLA to offer new lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and additional lease areas off the coast of Alaska.

This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Sources: Congress.gov, House.gov, NOAA.gov, Senate.gov