Alaskan Congressman Don Young released the following statement today regarding the Obama Administration’s announcement of its Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program Proposal for 2012-2017:
“While today’s announcement by the Obama Administration seems to be a step in the right direction, it is important to remember that there’s more than meets the eye. In reality this plan is simple; it removes lease sales approved under the Bush Administration and punts decisions that need to be made now down the road. If the Obama Administration is truly serious about OCS development, then we would not be seeing the continual delays for companies that already have leases.
“There are companies investing billions of dollars that have been waiting for years to just explore their leases in the Arctic, yet time and time again the Obama Administration is standing in their way. I stand with most Alaskans, who are ready and willing to help to fuel this country; it’s time the President follow through on his promise of developing a comprehensive energy plan that will put us on a path to becoming energy independent.”
The Obama Administration’s five-year plan includes only three lease sales off Alaska’s coast - one in the Beaufort Sea in 2015, one in the Chukchi Sea in 2016 and one in Cook Inlet in 2013.
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