The government isn't doing enough to expedite drilling in federal waters and on public lands, according to a report issued this week by congressional investigators.

In a review of the 55,000 federal oil and gas leases issued to energy companies by the Interior Department from 1987 to 1996, the General Accountability Office found that the vast majority expired without being drilled, and an even smaller amount actually produced oil and natural gas.

"We do not agree that Interior is pursuing expedited development of oil and gas leases," the report reads.

Energy companies currently hold leases but are not producing on about 68 million acres of federal land, property that has the potential to double domestic oil production. About a third of the oil produced in the US in 2007 came from public lands.

House Democrats and Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama, as an alternative to opening up more federal property to drilling, have said companies should "use it or lose it" -- meaning drill on lands they currently rent or be barred from being awarded new leases.

House Natural Resources Chairman Nick Rahall, a West Virginia Democrat, who sponsored "use it or lose it" legislation earlier this year, said the report validated his "long-held belief that oil and gas companies can, and should, be doing more to develop those leases."

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