According to CoinMeta, the United States' Strategic Petroleum Reserves ( SPR ) have currently dropped below 300 million barrels for the first time since the 1980s. Experts warn that rapid release of these reserves could damage the storage facilities and affect the ability to respond to future energy emergencies. According to data from the Department of Energy, the current reserve levels are stored in 60 salt caverns at four main locations. It is estimated that after releasing 172 million barrels, the reserves will drop to around 243 million barrels. Former White House energy advisor Amos Hochstein described claims that reserves have fallen to 70 million barrels as "nonsense" and warned that reserves below 300 million barrels are at risk of damage.