Interior Department Announces Details for Public Forum on Federal Oil and Gas Program

Date: Thursday, March 18, 2021 
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

WASHINGTON – The Interior Department today released additional information about the upcoming virtual forum regarding the federal oil and gas program, including the public’s viewing options and ability to submit written input to inform Interior’s review.

The public forum is part of Interior’s comprehensive review of the federal oil and gas program as called for in Executive Order 14008 and will feature several panels to highlight perspectives from invited participants including industry representatives, labor and environmental justice organizations, natural resource advocates, Indigenous organizations, and other experts.    

DATE: Thursday, March 25, 2021

TIME: 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm ET 

REGISTRATION: The forum will take place via Zoom Webinar. Anyone interested in viewing the forum may register via Zoom. A livestream of the event will also be available at doi.gov/events. The forum will be recorded and have live captions. 

The information gathered at the forum will help inform an interim report from the Department that will be completed in early summer. The report will include initial findings on the state of the federal conventional energy programs, as well as outline next steps and recommendations for the Department and Congress to improve stewardship of public lands and waters, create jobs, and build a just and equitable energy future.

Members of the public can submit additional information through April 15 to inform Interior’s interim report at energyreview@ios.doi.gov.  

The agenda for the forum is below:  

1:00 pm: Welcome and introductory remarks by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Interior leadership. 

1:15 pm: Presentations by the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on offshore and onshore oil and gas programs.

1:50 pm: Presentations and Q&A by invited individuals representing environmental justice and frontline communities, academia, oil and gas industry trade associations, Indigenous organizations, conservation organizations, and labor groups. The list of participants includes:

• Maite Arce, President & CEO, Hispanic Access Foundation
• Mario Atencio, Board of Directors, Diné C.A.R.E.
• Nicole Borromeo, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Alaska Federation of Natives
• Sharon Buccino, Senior Director, Land Division, Natural Resources Defense Council
• Nathalie Eddy, Interim Field Team Manager and Colorado & New Mexico Field Advocate, Earthworks
• Wendell Hibdon, Director of Energy and Infrastructure, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters
• Wendy Kirchoff, Vice President of Regulatory Policy, American Exploration & Production Council
• Michael LeVine, Senior Arctic Fellow, Ocean Conservancy
• Frank Macchiarola, Senior Vice President, Policy, Economics & Regulatory Affairs, American Petroleum Institute
• Sean McGarvey, President, North America Building Trades Union
• Erik Milito, President, National Ocean Industries Association
• Jacqui Patterson, Director, NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program
• Brian C. Prest, Fellow, Resources for the Future
• Fawn Sharp, President, National Congress of American Indians
• Mark Squillace, Raphael J. Moses Professor of Law, University of Colorado Law School Getches-Wilkinson Center
• Dr. Beverly Wright, Executive Director, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
• Dr. David Yoskowitz, Senior Executive Director, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M, Corpus Christi

​4:30 pm: Adjourn 

In addition to the forum, the Interior Department is conducting extensive outreach to Members of Congress, Governors, Tribes, and other state and local elected leaders. 

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