MORE INFO Read EPAct sections 301 and 303 on SPR expansion

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) directs the Secretary of Energy to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to its authorized one billion barrel capacity and to select sites necessary to enable acquisition by the Secretary of the full authorized volume.    

The current physical capacity of the SPR is 727 million barrels.  Following passage of the EPAct in August 2005, the Department of Energy (DOE) began proceedings to select sites necessary to expand the SPR to one billion barrels.  Thus far, DOE has issued the following:

• Expansion Plan (2007) to fill the SPR beyond 700 million barrels
• Environmental Impact Statement (2006) and Record of Decision (2007) for selection of a new site
• Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (2008) to address newly identified issues

In addition to current law that directs expansion of the SPR to one billion barrels, President Bush announced in January 2007 that the SPR should be expanded to 1.5 billion barrels in order to increase the Nation's energy security. 

Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision    

MORE INFO Read the Final Environmental Impact Statement Link to history of EIS proceedings (08/05-12/06) Richton Site Map and Schematic Read Secretary Bodman's January 23, 2007 Statement on Expanding the SPR Read the Record of Decision for Site Selection, February 14, 2007 Read Secretary Bodman's May 21, 2007 Statement on Proposed Legislation to Expand the SPR Fact Sheet for New Richton Mississippi Site

On December 8, 2006, after a 16-month long proceeding that included extensive public involvement, DOE released the Final Environmental Impact Statement that identified the salt domes at Richton, near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, as the preferred site to lead the expansion.  DOE had  initially proposed to expand capacity at three existing SPR sites; however, the final decision was for expansion of two existing sites. 

On February 14, 2007, Secretary Bodman signed the Record of Decision selecting the following three sites for the expansion of the SPR storage capacity from 727 million barrels to one billion barrels:

• Richton, Mississippi (160 million barrels)
• Big Hill, Texas (80 million barrels)
• Bayou Choctaw, Louisiana (23 million barrels)
  
  
  

Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)   

Following issuance of the Record of Decision in 2007 and further discussion with officials of the State of Mississippi and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, DOE notified Mississippi officials on January 23, 2008, of its decision to prepare a SEIS to address new issues raised relating to the water source for leaching caverns and the location of certain facilities for the planned expansion site at Richton. A Notice of Intent was published on March 5, 2008, that provides details about the scope and content of the SEIS.  The SEIS process includes a public comment period during which interested agencies, organizations, Native American tribes, and members of the public will be encouraged to provide input and submit comments regarding the issues and impacts to be addressed and alternatives to be considered.  Three public meetings were also announced.  An amended notice was published on March 21, 2008, to add a fourth public meeting.  

Meetings were held in the Mississippi counties of Perry, Greene, George and Jackson during April 7-10.  The public scoping period, to include both oral and written comments, concluded on April 29, 2008.  Transcripts from the public meetings and the comments received during the scoping period are available.  

Expansion Plan to One Billion Barrels   

Section 159(j) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (Public Law 94-163), the authorizing legislation for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, requires that, "If the Secretary determines expansion beyond 700,000,000 barrels of petroleum product inventory is appropriate, the Secretary shall submit a plan for expansion to the Congress." 

MORE INFO SPR Expansion Plan (June 2007)

A Strategic Petroleum Reserve plan for the expansion to one billion barrels was prepared and submitted to Congress in June 2007.  The plan describes the expansion objectives, the site selection process, the site development plans, the oil distribution plan and the implementation strategy.  Expansion efforts were planned to begin in fiscal year 2008, pending funding from Congress. 

Expansion Beyond One Billion Barrels   

On January 23, 2007, the President announced in the State of the Union Address, his decision to expand the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to 1.5 billion barrels "to further protect America against disruptions to our oil supply."  The Nation's need for the further expansion of the SPR is based on (a) growing U.S. consumption, increased imports and ever greater international risks, and (b) U.S. obligations under the International Energy Program, which requires the U.S. to maintain a minimum 90 day stockpile of petroleum imports.