On February 10, 2009, US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced plans to reverse offshore drilling policies established by former US president George W. Bush at the end of his presidency. The move came as part of a larger effort by the administration of President Barack Obama to create a comprehensive energy plan. The new plan involved extending the public comment period on a proposed 5-year plan for oil and gas development on the US Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) by 180 days, assembling a detailed report from Department of the Interior (DOI) agencies on conventional and renewable offshore energy resources, holding four regional conferences to review these findings, and expediting renewable energy rulemaking for the OCS.



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