Office of Policy Analysis
The Office of Policy Analysis supports the Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, and bureaus in addressing complex and pressing policy issues, especially those of a cross-cutting and multi-stakeholder nature. The office provides policy officials with a bureau-neutral source of analysis, information, and experience that helps to analyze and define alternatives for effective decision making. This broad-scale, interdisciplinary approach informs top managers in reaching decisions on policies, programs, legislation, and resource allocation. Our staff has analytic expertise in the full spectrum of issues faced by the Department.
1) Provide the Office of the Secretary with expertise to coordinate issues and policies.
2) Aid policy officials in managing a department comprised of diverse agencies that have varied viewpoints. We strive to promote a coherent departmental voice and balance Administrative and Departmental perspectives with competing priorities of the bureaus and their constituents.
3) Provide top managers with an independent perspective on multifaceted and cross-jurisdictional issues which are steadily increasing.
2010 Economic Report: On June 22, 2011 the Department released the 2010 Economic Report of the Department of the Interior, a major effort lead by the Office of Policy Analysis. The report concluded that The Department of the Interior's wide range of recreational, conservation, energy, land and water management programs and activities supported more than 2 million American jobs and contributed about $363 billion to the Nation's economic activity in fiscal year 2010.
Press Release | Full Report
U.S. Oil and Statistics: The Department of the Interior's Office of Policy Analysis recently compiled statistics on U.S. oil and natural gas production and consumption. The document includes statistics from Federal onshore and offshore oil production as well as total U.S. and federal natural gas production. The data includes statistics on revenues (royalties, bonus bids, rents) generated for oil, gas and coal production. Oil & Gas Statistics
2011 Report on Unused Oil and Gas Leases: In response to a March 2011 request from President Obama to the Department of the Interior, the Office of Policy Analysis collected data on oil and gas leasing and production for Federal onshore and offshore areas. The report concluded that the Department offered substantial acreage for potential oil and gas development in 2009 and 2010 that was not subsequently leased by bidding parties. In addition, for areas that are under lease, there are ten of millions of acres sitting idle - that is, not undergoing exploration, development or production. Press Release | Full Report