Why did MMS initiate the process for another 5-year program now?
A3: In light of the then-existing energy situation and former President Bushs lifting of the Presidential Withdrawal, the Secretary of the Interior directed MMS to begin the initial steps for developing a new five-year program. On August 1, 2008, we published a Federal Register Notice requesting information on whether to start a new program and what areas should or should not be included. As of October 1, 2008, Congress discontinued its longstanding moratoria on leasing, making most of the OCS available for leasing consideration in a new program. In effect, this action gave the Obama Administration and the Nation, a two-year jumpstart on the multi-step and multi-year process that could eventually offer some of these newly available areas for leasing consideration.
