Interior Department proposes opening waters off California and Florida to oil drilling

The Interior Department proposed a new, five-year plan Thursday to open waters off the coasts of California and Florida for oil drilling and gas leasing. 

The proposal for the 2026–2031 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program would create up to 34 potential lease sales with six sales off California, seven in federal waters in the Gulf of America and 21 sales off of Alaska.

The department has already instructed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to cancel the Biden administration's 2024–2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for the new one. 

“The Biden administration slammed the brakes on offshore oil and gas leasing and crippled the long-term pipeline of America’s offshore production,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. “By moving forward with the development of a robust, forward-thinking leasing plan, we are ensuring that America’s offshore industry stays strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades to come.”

The plan proposes sales off the coast of Southern California in 2027, 2029 and 2030, two sales near central California in 2027 and 2029, and one off the coast of northern California in 2029, according to Politico. 

Thursday's plan marks the first of three proposals for the 2026-2031 program, and members of the public will have a 60-day window to offer comments, which will begin next week. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.