Interior Says Huge Stores of Oil, Gas Lurk Under Federal Lands

The Interior Department on Wednesday revealed estimates of a massive supply of fossil fuels under US public lands, a finding that would support the Trump administration’s bid to open more federally managed lands to oil, gas, and mineral production.

The announcement, based on a June study by the US Geological Survey, said that 29.4 million barrels of oil, 391.6 trillion cubic feet of gas, and 8.4 billion barrels of natural gas liquids are undiscovered and technically recoverable on onshore federal lands.

The oil would be enough to meet the nation’s needs for four years, and the gas would be enough for 12 years, Interior said.

Most of the reserves are in Alaska, which holds nearly half the oil and almost 30% of the gas cited in the study—both tops in the nation. New Mexico is second in both categories, with about 30% of the oil 20% of the gas. New Mexico also leads in available natural gas liquids, with more than 45%.

“American energy dominance is more important than ever, and this report underscores the critical role science plays in informing our energy future,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement.

He also said that because of the study the federal government is “better equipped to manage America’s vast public lands responsibly while supporting energy security and economic opportunity.”

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office to encourage energy exploration and production on federal lands and waters, including on the Outer Continental Shelf, “to meet the needs of our citizens and solidify the United States as a global energy leader long into the future.”

Burgum issued a similar order of his own in February.

But environmentalists have firmly resisted the administration’s push for more drilling and mining.

“America’s public lands are intended to be held in trust for all people in this country, and their resources managed carefully and in perpetuity,” Josh Axelrod, a senior program advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council, wrote in a February blog post.

“As the Trump administration shifts to a pro-industry footing to help rich dirty energy companies get even richer, we’re seeing this trust responsibility shirked in shocking and truly damaging ways,” Axelrod wrote.