Revising the Outer Continental Shelf Planning Areas To Address Jurisdictional Changes
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Abstract
This notice informs the public that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has made modifications to its Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) planning areas, which are geographic subdivisions of the OCS that BOEM uses for planning and administrative purposes for oil and gas activities. The OCS Lands Act (OCSLA) is the primary authority that provides BOEM with jurisdiction covering the entire OCS. As described below, changes to the boundaries of this jurisdiction have occurred since BOEM last established these subdivisions, and BOEM has modified its planning areas to account for these changes. As a result, the total number of OCS planning areas has increased from 26 to 27. The total acreage for the OCS planning areas has decreased, from approximately 1.72 billion acres to 1.68 billion acres, which does not include the OCS offshore the U.S. Territories and Hawaii. The U.S. Territories and Hawaii OCS areas, accounting for approximately 1.48 billion acres, are not considered for oil and gas leasing, so have not been designated as "planning areas." Additional information can be found at https:// www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/leasing/outer-continental-shelf.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 82 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 82 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17970-17972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-07477]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM-2025-0014]
Revising the Outer Continental Shelf Planning Areas To Address
Jurisdictional Changes
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.
ACTION: Revising outer continental shelf planning areas to address
jurisdictional changes.
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[[Page 17971]]
SUMMARY: This notice informs the public that the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM) has made modifications to its Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS) planning areas, which are geographic subdivisions of the OCS that
BOEM uses for planning and administrative purposes for oil and gas
activities. The OCS Lands Act (OCSLA) is the primary authority that
provides BOEM with jurisdiction covering the entire OCS. As described
below, changes to the boundaries of this jurisdiction have occurred
since BOEM last established these subdivisions, and BOEM has modified
its planning areas to account for these changes. As a result, the total
number of OCS planning areas has increased from 26 to 27. The total
acreage for the OCS planning areas has decreased, from approximately
1.72 billion acres to 1.68 billion acres, which does not include the
OCS offshore the U.S. Territories and Hawaii. The U.S. Territories and
Hawaii OCS areas, accounting for approximately 1.48 billion acres, are
not considered for oil and gas leasing, so have not been designated as
``planning areas.'' Additional information can be found at <a href="https://www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/leasing/outer-continental-shelf">https://www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/leasing/outer-continental-shelf</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Stork, Leasing Policy and
Management Division, telephone 571-265-2994 or email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#68090404011b0706461b1c071a03280a070d05460f071e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0d1dcdcd9c3dfde9ec3c4dfc2dbf0d2dfd5dd9ed7dfc6">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1986, BOEM's predecessor agency, the
Minerals Management Service, established four OCS regions that were
originally comprised of 26 OCS planning areas. The four OCS regions are
Alaska, Pacific, Gulf of America (formerly the Gulf of Mexico), and
Atlantic. Administratively, the Pacific Region includes the State of
Hawaii, although Hawaii has never had an OCS planning area.
An OCS planning area is a large, but more manageable contiguous
portion of a broader OCS region that is considered an entity for BOEM
planning and administrative purposes for oil and gas activities. OCS
planning areas are also used in the analysis for development of the
National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program, as well as for coordination
with state and local governments. Not all of the OCS is subdivided into
planning areas; the areas surrounding Hawaii and the U.S. territories
are distinct and manageable portions of the OCS that do not require a
planning area designation for differentiation purposes.
On December 21, 2023, the U.S. Department of State provided updated
information in the Federal Register pertaining to the outer limits of
the U.S. continental shelf in Public Notice 12244: Continental Shelf
and Maritime Boundaries; Notice of Limits, 88 FR 88470 (Dec. 21, 2023).
Due to the U.S. Department of State's announcement regarding the
outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 miles and amendments
to OCSLA, BOEM has reassessed the jurisdictional limits of the OCS and
recomputed acreages by OCS Region. The boundaries of the OCS Regions
now extend from the Submerged Lands Act boundary to the outer limits of
the continental shelf beyond 200 miles, or, as appropriate, to the 200-
nautical-mile (nm) limit, Treaty Boundary, or Territorial Sea limit,
depending on location. BOEM also updated the three Gulf of America OCS
planning areas to reflect the name change announced in Executive Order
14172, ``Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness'' (January 20,
2025). A new planning area, the High Arctic Planning Area, has been
created, increasing the total number of OCS planning areas from 26 to
27. Figure 1 shows the revised OCS jurisdiction, including the revised
OCS planning areas and the remaining OCS areas not part of any planning
area.
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P
[[Page 17972]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN30AP25.058
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2025-07477 Filed 4-29-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-C
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</html>This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.