BOEM Director Tommy P. Beaudreau testified on May 9 before the House Committee on Natural Resources on the offshore oil and gas leasing under the current Five Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program (Five Year Program), as well as development of the next Five Year Program for 2012-2017.  The program promotes safe and responsible domestic oil and gas production as part of a comprehensive, all-of-the-above energy strategy to grow America’s energy economy and to continue to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Smart from the Start: BOEM is making progress on the “Smart from the Start” initiative to deliver wind energy to the Outer Continental Shelf.  Several key milestones were reached recently by working with Atlantic state governments and stakeholders.  Task force meetings are being set for the Pacific Region.

2007 - 2012 5-Year program: A 5-year program consists of a schedule of oil and lease sales (options) indicating the size, timing, and location of proposed leasing activity the Secretary determines will best meet national energy needs for the 5-year period following its approval.