The Interior Department released a report that said more than two-thirds of offshore leases in the Gulf of Mexico and more than half of onshore leases on federal lands sit unused.

Energy companies are neither producing nor exploring under the leases, according to the report. “These are resources that belong to the American people, and they expect those supplies to be developed in a timely and responsible manner and with a fair return to taxpayers," Secretary Ken Salazar said in a press release.

The report does not say whether Indian lands are included in the tally.

Get the Story:
Press Release: DOI Releases Report on Unused Oil and Gas Leases (DOI 3/29)
More than half of oil and gas leases are idle, Interior Department says (The Washington Post 3/30)
Obama to Set Goal of One-Third Cut in Oil Imports (The New York Times 3/30)
Obama administration report shows two-thirds of oil, gas leases in Gulf of Mexico are inactive (AP 3/29)

Relevant Documents:
Oil and Gas Lease Utilization – Onshore and Offshore (DOI March 29, 2011)