Washington, January 07: The US is moving away from the “drill anywhere, whatever the cost” energy policy of the previous administration, US officials say.
“We don’t believe we have to be drilling everywhere and anywhere,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar told a news conference where he and other officials announced changes to the way the US government manages onshore oil and gas exploration leases.
“We believe we have to have a balanced, thoughtful approach that allows for the development of oil and gas resources but at the same time protects the treasured landscapes of America,” Salazar said.
The new policy also marks a break from the way the previous administration of president George W. Bush did oil and gas business, said Salazar.
The Bush administration put up some “highly controversial areas” in the western United States for drilling, including municipal watersheds, wildlife habitats or lands close to national parks.
Under the proposed reforms to the onshore oil and gas leasing program, more environmental analyses will be conducted before leases are auctioned and the public will be engaged “earlier and more frequently in the process,” said Salazar.
——Agencies