(MENAFN- Yolo Wire) U.S. President Donald Trump plans to dramatically expand oil drilling off the coasts of California and Alaska.

The Department of Interior plans to sell 34 leases to drill in the waters off the U.S. west coast through 2031.

That's a major expansion from the previous Biden administration, which allowed just three lease sales for offshore drilling in U.S. coastal waters, with all of those leases in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Trump program includes lease sales in 21 areas off Alaska's coast, six off the California coast, and seven in the Gulf of Mexico.

The plan marks the first time since 1984 that the Department of the Interior has allowed a new oil drilling lease in the Pacific Ocean.

More than 100 Democratic lawmakers have expressed their opposition to the plan in a letter addressed to President Trump, saying it could jeopardize fishing and tourism industries.

The Natural Resources Defense Council has condemned the Trump plan to open offshore oil drilling as reckless and bad for the environment.

It's not clear if U.S. oil majors such as Chevron (NYSE: $CVX) and ExxonMobil (XOM) plan to bid on the new offshore oil leases.

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