WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Interior Department on Tuesday extended the public comment period by 180 days on a 5-year proposal to expand offshore oil and natural gas drilling.
The Bush administration had drawn up an offshore drilling plan during the final days of its term, setting a 60-day comment period for the proposal.
New U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said he would add another 180 days for public comment, providing a total of 240 days to review the drilling plan through this September.
"To establish an orderly process that allows us to make wise decisions based on sound information, we need to set aside the Bush administration's midnight timetable for its (offshore) drilling plan and create our own timeline," Salazar said.
"The additional time we are providing will give states, stakeholders and affected communities the opportunity to provide input on the future of our offshore areas," he said.
"The additional time will allow us to restore an orderly process to our offshore energy planning," Salazar added.
Salazar also said the department will build a framework to develop offshore renewable energy resources, such as wind, wave and ocean currents.
"I intend to issue a final rule-making for offshore renewables in the coming months, so that potential developers know the rules of the road," he said.
(Reporting by Tom Doggett and Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Christian Wiessner)
