The Minerals Management Service published a request for comments today on the draft proposed 5-year OCS oil and gas leasing program for 2010-2015. The draft proposal is for a new oil and gas program to succeed the current program that is set to expire on June 30, 2012.  In developing the proposal, MMS considered oil and gas leasing in the areas of the OCS that are included in the current 5-year program and additional areas off Alaska, the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, and the Gulf of Mexico. Many of these areas had been subject to an annual congressional moratoria prohibiting oil and gas leasing. This moratoria expired on September 30, 2008. The MMS also announced its Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed 5-year plan.