NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The government says there's so much public interest in a draft environmental impact statement about offshore drilling leases that it's rescheduling meetings around the country so more people can attend.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said the statement analyzes potential impacts of lease sales scheduled from 2017 to 2022.
A meeting originally scheduled Wednesday in Washington will now be held April 26. One scheduled April 12 in Houston will now be April 20. One scheduled April 14 in New Orleans will be held April 18 in suburban Kenner.
The news release did not say how the public interest is being shown.
Protesters opposed to drilling in the Gulf of Mexico interrupted the most recent lease sale, on March 23.
As of Tuesday evening, 25 comments had been submitted to the webpage regulations.gov. People can also comment by mail or at public meetings.
The news release says the comment period is open through May 2, though the agency's website says it will close June 16.
The New Orleans meeting is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 18 at the DoubleTree by Hilton New Orleans Airport. In Houston, the meeting is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. April 20 at the Hyatt Regency Houston. The April 26 meeting in Washington is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Marriott Metro Center.