White House and Interior Department officials said Friday that currently planned offshore petroleum exploration and production drilling can continue.
The officials said media reports misinterpreted comments from White House senior adviser David Axelrod that reiterated future offshore expansion plans would wait for the results of a probe into the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico.
The administration previously began considering whether and where it may open new offshore areas to exploration in 2012-2017.
“Before production moves forward in a new region of the Gulf of Mexico, the Mid or South Atlantic, or the Arctic Ocean, an area will have to undergo thorough environmental analysis, public input and comment, scientific study and review and a careful examination of the potential risks and spill response capabilities in that area,” a White House official said.
The officials said lease sales for 2007-2012 will go ahead as planned, as will future exploration and production drilling.