AlHijjah 13, 1432, Nov 9, 2011, SPA- The Obama administration plans to open more areas in the Gulf of Mexico and off Alaska's coast to oil and natural-gas drilling. The plans are much narrower in scope than what the administration had said it would consider prior to the 2010 BP oil spill. It initially said it would explore drilling options off the Atlantic coast and throughout the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Tuesday the government will hold 15 lease sales for areas in the Gulf of Mexico-including two in the eastern gulf-and off Alaska's coast in 2012-2017. The Alaska sales are the first since 2008.
