Pending Legislation

H.R. 2556, Comprehensive Offshore Resource Evaluation Act of 2025
H.R. 513, Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025

Statement of
Walter D. Cruickshank
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
U.S. Department of the Interior
before the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
of the House Committee on Natural Resources
on H.R. 2556, Comprehensive Offshore Resource Evaluation Act of 2025, 
and H.R. 513, Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025

May 20, 2025

Introduction

Chairman Stauber, Ranking Member Ansari, and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss H.R. 2556, Comprehensive Offshore Resource Evaluation (CORE) Act of 2025, and H.R. 513, Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025. 

From his first day in office, President Trump has prioritized the revitalization of domestic energy production to stimulate economic growth and strengthen our national security. His Executive Order 14154, Unleashing American Energy, reaffirms the national interest in maximizing the use of affordable, reliable domestic energy resources. The order establishes a clear policy directive: to promote energy exploration and production on federal lands and waters, including the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), to meet the needs of the American people and solidify U.S. global energy leadership for generations to come.

As the federal OCS steward, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) plays a central role in implementing this policy. Our mission is to manage the development of the Nation’s offshore energy and mineral resources in an economically and environmentally responsible manner. We achieve this through leasing and plan approval programs for offshore oil, gas, and marine minerals, ensuring that resource development is balanced with environmental stewardship and public engagement.

By expanding access to OCS energy resources, BOEM supports the Administration’s goal of strengthening domestic energy security, creating high-quality jobs, and bolstering American energy independence.

Offshore Oil and Gas Development

Offshore energy development is a vital component of U.S. national security and a critical driver of American prosperity. Offshore activities support hundreds of thousands of jobs and provide a significant share of U.S. energy production. 

Last month, at the direction of Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, BOEM issued a Request for Information and Comments (an RFI), the first step in the development of the 11th National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The RFI marks the beginning of a multi-year process that involves robust public engagement and multiple rounds of detailed analysis for the Secretary to consider when rendering his final Program decision.

While we remain committed to completing the three Gulf of America lease sales outlined in the current 2024 – 2029 National OCS Program, we are moving forward with developing a new schedule that aligns with the President’s directive to maximize the use of OCS energy resources.

As of May 1, 2025, BOEM manages over 2,200 active offshore oil and gas leases, covering approximately 12 million acres. In Fiscal Year 2024, these leases generated $7 billion in revenue, produced approximately 667.5 million barrels of oil and 700 billion cubic feet of natural gas, accounting for 14% of domestic oil production and 2% of natural gas production—predominantly from the Gulf of America.

National Resource Assessments

BOEM conducts a formal National Assessment of Undiscovered Technically Recoverable Resources (UTRR) and Undiscovered Economically Recoverable Resources (UERR) every five years. This assessment informs energy policy and contributes to the comprehensive inventory reports submitted to Congress.

UTRR estimates reflect undiscovered volumes of oil and gas that could be produced using conventional technologies, while UERR represents the subset considered economically viable under current market and technological conditions.

BOEM’s most recent assessment, completed in 2021, estimated a mean UTRR volume of 68.79 billion barrels of oil and 229.03 trillion cubic feet of gas across the entire OCS.  Preparations for the 2026 assessment are already underway, incorporating the latest geologic, geophysical, and economic data to ensure accuracy and transparency.

Earlier this year, BOEM announced a significant increase in discovered oil and gas reserves in the Gulf of America OCS. BOEM’s updated assessment evaluated over 140 oil and gas fields, identifying 18 new discoveries and analyzing more than 37,000 reservoirs across 1,336 fields in the Gulf.  This comprehensive review added 1.30 billion barrels of oil equivalent since 2021, bringing the total discovered reserve estimate to 7.04 billion barrels of oil equivalent. This includes 5.77 billion barrels of oil and 7.15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas—a 22.6% increase in remaining recoverable reserves. 

CORE Act of 2025

The Comprehensive Offshore Resource Evaluation Act of 2025 aims to strengthen U.S. national energy security by mandating a standardized recurring assessment and mapping of offshore energy resources. It calls for the modernization and coordination of exploration methodologies and supports the development of data-driven policies that promote safe, efficient, and responsible resource development.

BOEM welcomes the objectives of the CORE Act and recognizes the value of enhanced interagency coordination and improved transparency in offshore resource evaluation.  BOEM would welcome the opportunity to work with the Subcommittee and sponsor on technical aspects of the bill.

Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025

The Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025 seeks to restore access to approximately 625 million acres that prior executive actions had withdrawn from energy development. As drafted, the Act would nullify certain OCS withdrawals put in place by former Presidents Obama and Biden and subsequently rescinded by President Trump. The Act also places limitations on future withdrawals by (1) capping any individual withdrawal at 150,000 acres; (2) limiting the timeframe of future withdrawals to no more than 20 years; and (3) ensuring that such decisions are grounded in thorough geological, economic, and national security assessments. The Act would also limit each President to no more than a cumulative 500,000 acres of total withdrawals without obtaining Congressional approval.

BOEM strongly supports overturning the OCS administrative withdrawals that unnecessarily impede American energy development, and generally supports the intent of the Offshore Lands Authorities Act to establish a more predictable framework for offshore resource management to enhance regulatory certainty, encourage investment, and promote long-term planning in offshore energy development.

Conclusion

As BOEM carries out its mission, we remain committed to meeting the high standards of this Administration and Congress. Expanding offshore energy capabilities is vital to providing affordable energy for American consumers, creating high-paying jobs, and reducing our dependence on foreign adversaries.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have.