MMS draws yeas and nays on 5-year plan

Five-year leasing program for offshore U.S. draws thousands of comments, warnings about America’s future energy needs

Ray Tyson

Petroleum News Contributing Writer

With the United States facing an energy supply crisis, industry and many coastal communities have lined up in support of keeping or expanding offshore oil and gas leasing in federal waters off Alaska and the Lower 48, currently 90 percent closed to drilling. One notable exception in Alaska is the No....

    [additional news subjects in this story]

Only a few areas open to leasing

12,000 comments received

Administration supports bans

Comments on withdrawals requested