During a speech on “Unleashing American Energy” at the U.S. Department of Energy, President Trump on Thursday announced a series of actions designed to achieve American energy dominance, including creating a new offshore oil and gas leasing program in which “America will be allowed to access the vast energy wealth located right off our shores.”

In conjunction with the speech, the U.S. Interior Department announced that a Request for Information on areas that should be included in a draft 2019-2024 “National Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program on the Outer Continental Shelf.”  The Request for Information will be published on Monday, July 3, kicking off a 45-day public comment period that will conclude on Thursday, August 17.

Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke said that developing a new program “that respects environmental and economic sensitivities but still allows us to responsibly develop our resources is critical to reaching President Trump’s goal of American energy dominance,” adding that “[o]ffering more areas for energy exploration and responsible development was a cornerstone of the President’s campaign and this action is the first step in making good on that promise for offshore oil and gas.”