Content:
   Terry Scholten

Pagemasters:
   OEMM Web Team

A 5-Year Program consists of a schedule of oil and gas lease sales indicating the size, timing and location of proposed leasing activity the Secretary determines will best meet national energy needs for the five year period following its approval. An area must be included in the current 5-Year Program in order to be offered for leasing. Section 18 (132.38 KB) of the OCS Lands Act (286.05 KB) prescribes the major steps (17.68 KB) involved in developing a 5-Year Program including extensive public comment steps. A 5-Year Program balances energy needs and environmental considerations.

Possible New OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program: 2010-2015

MMS issues Draft Proposed Program (DPP) – {insert date}

The Draft Proposed Program is the second step in a two-year process to develop a new oil and gas leasing program. MMS issued a Request for Information in August 2008. The DPP seeks public comment on all aspects of the new program for 2010-2015 including energy development, economic and environmental issues in the OCS areas.  MMS is creating the maximum opportunity for the people of the United States to plan for strategic energy development on the OCS with the inclusion of areas which have previously been unavailable for consideration due to Executive Withdrawal and Congressional moratorium.

For the DPP, MMS proposes 31 OCS lease sales in all or some portion of 12 of the 26 planning areas—4 areas off Alaska, 2 areas off the Pacific coast, 3 areas in the Gulf of Mexico, and 3 areas off the Atlantic coast.  The DPP is just a starting place, designed to encourage discussions about the OCS areas of greatest interest, with the greatest potential.  No area can be leased without being included on an approved 5-year program.  Any new areas that are included in the final program will not be available for leasing until the 5-Year Program is complete, having incorporated multiple rounds of public comment and all steps and environmental reviews have been completed. 

It is important to note that under the OCS Lands Act, the decisions can only be narrowed throughout the 5-year, lease sale, and post-lease activity processes.  Nothing can be added beyond what is proposed in this DPP without starting the process over.

·         Draft Proposed Program  -  (1/08/2009)

·         Press Release - (1/08/2009)

·         Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - (1/07/2009)

·         How do I comment on the 5-Year DPP - (1/07/2009)

Background:

A 5-Year Program consists of a schedule of oil and gas lease sales indicating the size, timing and location of proposed leasing activity the Secretary determines will best meet national energy needs for the five year period following its approval. An area must be included in the current 5-Year Program in order to be offered for leasing. Section 18 (132.38 KB) of the OCS Lands Act (286.05 KB) prescribes the major steps (17.68 KB) involved in developing a 5-Year Program including extensive public comment steps. A 5-Year Program balances energy needs and environmental considerations.

	Request for Information(RFI)  (252.01 KB PDF File, 8-1-2008)
	Press Release for RFI

Current OCS Oil & Gas Leasing Program: 2007- 2012

Current OCS Oil & Gas Leasing Program: 2007- 2012 (3663 KB PDF File) Proposed Final Program

Information on the 2007-2012 Oil & Gas Leasing Program

	Maps (all in Adobe's PDF format)   Lease Status Map (1577 KB; 7-17-2008)   Current Program Continental US Planning Areas (810 KB) Proposed Final Program Areas   Areas Withdrawn (163 KB)   Current Program Alaska Planning Areas (629 KB) Proposed Final Program
	Additional 2007-2012 Background Documents

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Last Updated: 01/07/2009, 11:22 AM Central Time