Jeff Duncan : Duncan Applauds Trump Administration’s New Five Year Offshore Plan

Laurens, S.C. - Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC) released the following statement applauding the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for the Draft Proposed Program (DPP) for the 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program:

'The announcement coming out of the Trump Administration today is tremendous news for American energy independence, economic development, and job creation. The Obama Administration's shortsighted offshore plan set the U.S. behind our competitors around the world and trampled efforts to move toward energy independence. It's great to see President Trump correct this misguided policy and replace it with an aggressive, bold agenda to ensure the U.S. is the leading nation for energy security which is critical in our increasingly volatile world. Opening up U.S. waters for drilling, including off the coast of South Carolina, will expand access to critical resources which will greatly benefit South Carolinians and our nation as a whole. As a longtime advocate for offshore energy and a former member of the U.S. Department of Interior's Outer Continental Shelf's Five Year Planning Subcommittee, I know this decision will move the U.S. to the forefront of global energy security and closer to achieving the goal of energy independence.'

Background: Currently, 94% of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) acreage is off limits to energy development under the Obama Administration's 2017-2022 plan. The 6% of OCS that is available for use produces 18% of our nation's crude oil. Previously, the Obama Administration's restrictive 2012-2017 plan contained only 15 lease sales. In contrast, the Reagan Administration's bold plan contained 42 lease sales. This shows a steep decline in offshore energy development over the course of time. The Trump Administration's aggressive draft proposal contains 47 potential lease sales (a historic proposal) and would make over 90% of total OCS acreage available for exploration and development. This plan will move our national offshore energy policy away from a restrictive and misguided approach and towards energy independence.

For more information: https://www.boem.gov/National-Program/(link is external)

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