Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who oversees energy development on the nation's public lands and coast lines, makes remarks at a National Press Club luncheon on Tuesday.
Salazar discusses the Interior Department's plan for streamlining land-based drilling permits. In March, Salazar moved closer to allowing seismic-mapping surveys off the Atlantic coast to find oil and gas and other resources.
Interior continues to be criticized from all sides. The GOP objects to the Agency for not approving new drilling fast enough while environmentalists, citing the BP oil spill, protest drilling in the Atlantic Ocean.
Sec. Salazar is also addressing the White House'a approach to energy policy – including gas prices, offshore drilling, domestic energy development and other energy-related issues.
In addition to offshore oil drilling, his agency oversees the water management, the National Park system and the conservation of wildlife through the Fish and Wildlife Service.