WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following statement was issued by Andrew Hartsig, senior director of the Arctic Program at Ocean Conservancy, in reaction to the 2023–2028 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Program released by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today: 

“Ocean Conservancy is disappointed that the Biden-Harris administration has taken steps toward new offshore oil and gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico and Cook Inlet, Alaska. We hope the administration will live up to its commitments to climate action and environmental justice by removing these proposed sales from the final Five-Year Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.

“We call on the Biden-Harris administration to reject business-as-usual and to prevent leasing that will lock us into greater reliance on fossil fuels and more greenhouse gas emissions and we look forward to working with the administration on a clean energy transition. The climate crisis is not a distant threat. Continued reliance on fossil leads will only exacerbate hurricanes, wildfires and the retreat of Arctic sea ice.

“There is no room for offshore oil in a clean energy future. We call for a just transition—rapidly and responsibly—from fossil fuel production to renewable energy sources.”

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Andrew Hartsig is available for interviews upon request.  

NOTES TO EDITOR

• The 2023—2028 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Program can be found here.
• After a minimum 90-day comment period, BOEM will consider public comments, make any adjustments, then release a Proposed Final Program and Final EIS.
• This will be followed by a 60-day Congressional review/waiting period, after which time BOEM can approve the Final Program and issue a Record of Decision on the Final EIS.

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