Manchin lashes out at Biden over delayed offshore oil and gas leasing plan

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), the castigated Biden administration For falling behind in advancing an offshore oil-and gas leasing program, after the Interior Department stated it needed until December to complete the plan. This has intensified the conflict between President Joe Biden and him.

The Interior Department’s attorneys told a federal judge Monday that it needs time to analyze the deferred five-year plan, which will replace 2017-2022. The offshore leasing program that provides for lease sales is not currently active.

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR OIL AND GAS LEASING THIS YEAR

Manchin is the chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He said that administration has been “reliable.” “putting their radical climate agenda ahead of our nation’s energy security” With the delay. He is grateful for the delay. latest in a line of criticisms below is the energy policy of this administration.

“This is not optional,” Manchin stated this in a statement. “The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act mandates that the Secretary of the Interior ‘shall prepare’ this program to ‘best meet national energy needs.'”

Federal law directs that the Interior Department issues an offshore leasing plan detailing where and when potential oil-and gas lease sales could take place over five years. According to the Congressional Research Service, previous administrations all completed new programs in order to replace expired plans.

The Department proposed Its new program, which covers five years, was launched in July 2022 after the expiration of its previous plan. However it has not been advanced further.

One factor that caused the delay, according to attorneys representing the department was litigation brought in by Republican states as well as oil and natural gas industry groups.

Interior stated Monday in court that the company expects to publish its final proposal in September 2023.