Notice2025-07479
Request for Information and Comments on the Preparation of the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program MAA104000
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 30, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentOcean Energy Management Bureau
Abstract
Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act requires the Department of the Interior (DOI) to invite and solicit information from interested and affected parties during the preparation of a National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program (National OCS Program). The 10th National OCS Program, for 2024 to 2029, was approved on December 14, 2023, and went into effect on July 1, 2024. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is soliciting information on the preparation of a new, 11th National OCS Program to, upon completion, replace the 10th National OCS Program.
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 17972-17978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-07479]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM-2025-0015]
Request for Information and Comments on the Preparation of the
11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program
MAA104000
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.
ACTION: Request for information and comments.
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SUMMARY: Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act
requires the Department of the Interior (DOI) to invite and solicit
information from interested and affected parties during the preparation
of a National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program (National OCS Program).
The 10th National OCS Program, for 2024 to 2029, was approved on
December 14, 2023, and went into effect on July 1, 2024. The Bureau of
Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is soliciting information on the
preparation of a new, 11th National OCS Program to, upon completion,
replace the 10th National OCS Program.
DATES: BOEM must receive all comments and information by June 16, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this RFI may be submitted in one of the
following ways:
1. Through the <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> web portal: Navigate to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> and under the Search tab, in the space provided,
type in Docket ID: BOEM-2025-0015 to submit comments and to view other
comments already submitted.
2. Mailed in an envelope labeled ``Comments for the 11th National
OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program'' and mailed or sent by delivery
service to Ms. Kelly Hammerle, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (VAM-
LD), 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166-9216.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Kelly Hammerle, Program Manager,
at (703) 342-8867.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OCS Lands Act declares that it is the
policy of the United States that the OCS ``is a vital national resource
reserve held by the Federal Government for the public, which should be
made available for expeditious and orderly development, subject to
environmental safeguards, in a manner which is consistent with the
maintenance of competition and other national needs.'' BOEM requests
information and comments from Tribal, state, and local governments,
Native American and Native Alaskan organizations, Federal agencies,
environmental and other public interest organizations, the oil and gas
industry, non-energy industries, other interested organizations and
entities, and the public, for use in the preparation of the 11th
National OCS Program. BOEM is seeking a wide array of information,
including but not limited to information associated with the economic,
social, and environmental values of all OCS resources, as well as the
potential impact of oil and gas exploration and
[[Page 17973]]
development on OCS resources and the marine, coastal, and human
environments.
Public Comment Procedure
BOEM will accept comments via the internet commenting system on
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, or by regular U.S. mail. Comments submitted by other
means may not be considered. BOEM's strong preference is to receive
comments via <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, except when a comment contains
proprietary information. Comments should include full names and
addresses of the individual submitting the comment(s). Before including
personal identifying information in your comment, be aware that your
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be
made publicly available. While you can ask BOEM in your comment to
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, BOEM
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Even if BOEM withholds
your information in the context of this RFI, your submission is subject
to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and if your submission is
requested under the FOIA, your information will only be withheld if a
determination is made that one of the FOIA's exemptions to disclosure
applies. Such a determination will be made in accordance with the
Department's FOIA regulations and applicable law.
Background Information
Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act requires the Secretary of the
Interior (Secretary) to ``prepare and periodically revise, and maintain
an oil and gas leasing program. . . .'' The Program must ``consist of a
schedule of proposed lease sales indicating, as precisely as possible,
the size, timing, and location of leasing activity, which [the
Secretary] determines will best meet national energy needs for the
five-year period following its approval. . . .'' Section 18 also
requires the completion of a multi-step process of public consultation
and analysis before the Secretary may approve a new National OCS
Program. The process to develop a new National OCS Program includes the
following steps: (1) issuance of a request for information (RFI); (2)
development of a Draft Proposed Program (DPP), (3) development of a
Proposed Program, (4) development of a Proposed Final Program; and (5)
Secretarial approval of the Program. The public will have additional
opportunities to comment on the DPP and the Proposed Program documents.
Note that this RFI requests information and comments on all 27 OCS
Planning Areas, including the areas that are restricted from leasing by
Presidential withdrawal or Congressional moratorium, as discussed
below.
The National OCS Program sets forth the proposed schedule of lease
sales for the subsequent five-year period, and enables the Federal
Government, states, industry, and other interested parties to begin
planning for the later steps in the leasing process. The Secretary
decides whether to proceed with each specific lease sale on the
schedule included in an approved National OCS Program.
The initiation of a new National OCS Program development process is
a key aspect of implementing President Donald Trump's Executive Order
(E.O) 14154, ``Unleashing American Energy'' (January 20, 2025), and the
Secretary's Order 3418, ``Unleashing American Energy'' (February 3,
2025). The E.O. states that it is ``in the national interest to unleash
America's affordable and reliable energy and natural resources'' and
that it ``is the policy of the United States . . . to encourage energy
exploration and production on Federal lands and waters, including on
the [OCS], in order to meet the needs of our citizens and solidify the
United States as a global energy leader long into the future.''
The OCS is a significant source of oil and gas for the Nation's
energy supply. As of April 1, 2025, BOEM administers 2,227 active oil
and gas leases covering approximately 12.1 million acres, with 469
leases currently producing hydrocarbons (oil and gas). Production from
these leases generates billions of dollars in revenue each year for the
U.S. Treasury and state governments, while supporting hundreds of
thousands of jobs. In fiscal year 2024, oil and gas leases on the OCS
accounted for approximately 14 percent of domestic oil production and 2
percent of domestic natural gas production. The offshore areas of the
United States are estimated to contain significant quantities of
resources in yet-to-be-discovered fields. In its 2021 National
Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources of the U.S. Outer
Continental Shelf (2021 National Assessment, available at: <a href="https://www.boem.gov/2021-assessment-undiscovered-oil-and-gas-resources-nations-outer">https://www.boem.gov/2021-assessment-undiscovered-oil-and-gas-resources-nations-outer</a>), BOEM reported that the mean estimate of undiscovered,
technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the U.S. OCS consists
of 68.79 billion barrels of oil and 229.03 trillion cubic feet of
natural gas.
Gulf of America OCS Region
Section 50265(b)(2) of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) required
BOEM to hold three lease sales (Cook Inlet Sale 258, Gulf of America
(GOA) Sale 259, and GOA Sale 261) that were scheduled under the 2017-
2022 Program but had been cancelled by the previous administration. In
accordance with the IRA, BOEM held GOA Lease Sale 259 on March 29,
2023, and GOA Lease Sale 261 on December 20, 2023 (We report on Cook
Inlet Sale 258 in the next section related to the Alaska OCS Region).
As of April 1, 2025, there are 2,186 active leases in the GOA, 436 of
which are producing hydrocarbons. BOEM assesses a mean undiscovered oil
and gas resource volume of nearly 40 billion barrels of oil equivalent
(BBOE) in the GOA.
The 10th National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program (the 2024-2029
Program), approved by the previous administration on December 14, 2023,
includes three potential oil and gas lease sales, all in the GOA
Program Area.
On April 1, 2024, BOEM published the Notice of Availability (NOA)
of the Area Identification (Area ID) for proposed GOA Oil and Gas Lease
Sales 262, 263, and 264 (89 FR 22444), and BOEM published the NOA for
the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on December 13,
2024 (89 FR 101044). Final decisions regarding any areas offered for
leasing will be made after BOEM completes the required environmental
review, environmental consultations, Tribal and state consultations,
Coastal Zone Management Act consistency determinations, and other
statutory requirements, including publishing both a Proposed and Final
Notice of Sale, as required under the OCS Lands Act.
For more information on the lease sale schedule, visit: <a href="https://www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/lease-sales">https://www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/lease-sales</a>.
Alaska OCS Region
In accordance with the IRA, BOEM held Cook Inlet Lease Sale 258,
offshore Alaska, on December 30, 2022.
The 10th National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program does not include
any lease sales in the Alaska Region. However, the Arctic holds
substantial oil and gas potential. In the Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea
OCS planning areas, BOEM assesses a mean volume of 29.88 BBOE and 8.61
BBOE, respectively, of undiscovered oil and gas resource potential. As
of April 1, 2025, there are three active leases in the Beaufort Sea OCS
Planning Area, all of which are producing hydrocarbons, and eight
active leases in the Cook Inlet OCS Planning Area, none of which are
producing hydrocarbons.
[[Page 17974]]
Atlantic OCS Region
The 10th National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program does not include
any lease sales in the Atlantic Region. BOEM analysis suggests that
portions of the Atlantic OCS could contain significant oil and gas
resource potential, with a mean undiscovered resource volume of more
than 10 BBOE; however, current geological and geophysical (G&G)
information regarding that potential is based largely on data collected
in the 1970s and early 1980s. Tremendous advances in instrumentation
and technology to acquire and analyze G&G data have been made in the
intervening decades.
In recognition of these advances in G&G data acquisition and
processing technology, and the need to better understand the scope of
existing resources, on July 11, 2014, BOEM published a Record of
Decision for the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for
Atlantic OCS G&G activities (79 FR 42815), which established a path
forward for G&G activities off the Mid- and South Atlantic coast. With
the initiation of a new National OCS Program development process and,
with it, the renewed potential for a lease sale in the Atlantic region,
BOEM may receive new G&G permit applications in the near future. The
last lease sale held in the Atlantic OCS was in 1983, and there are no
active oil and gas leases in the Atlantic OCS Region.
Pacific OCS Region
No oil and gas lease sales in the four planning areas in the
Pacific Region were included in the 10th National OCS Program. Eleven
OCS oil and gas lease sales were held in the Pacific Region between
1963 and 1984. A total of 470 leases were issued in the 11 sales. As of
April 1, 2025, there are 30 active leases offshore Southern California,
all of which are producing hydrocarbons. BOEM estimates a mean
undiscovered oil and gas resource volume of 13.06 BBOE on the Pacific
OCS.
As a result of Congressional moratoria, subsequent Presidential
actions, and consistent opposition by the States of Washington, Oregon,
and California to any activity off their coasts, the Pacific OCS has
not been included in any National OCS Program since the 1987-1992
Program.
Areas Made Unavailable by Congressional or Presidential Action
Not all unleased land on the OCS is available for oil and gas
leasing. Under Section 12(a) of the OCS Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1341, the
President of the United States may, from time to time, withdraw from
disposition any of the unleased lands of the OCS. Restrictions on
leasing may also be imposed through other means, such as Presidential
proclamations pursuant to existing statutes, acts of Congress,
regulatory restrictions, and management plans. BOEM maintains a list of
restrictions applicable to the OCS on its ``Areas Under Restriction''
web page. For more information, please visit BOEM's Areas Under
Restriction page at <a href="https://www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/leasing/areas-under-restriction">https://www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/leasing/areas-under-restriction</a>.
In the DPP, BOEM will analyze all 27 OCS planning areas, including
areas that may be currently unavailable for leasing. An area that is
currently unavailable for leasing could still be part of a National OCS
Program but could not be offered for sale until Congress and/or the
President, as applicable, makes it available.
National Energy Needs
Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act requires that the Secretary
consider national energy needs in formulating the National OCS Program.
In developing the 11th National OCS Program, BOEM will present an
analysis of the contribution of OCS oil and natural gas to the U.S.
economy and the Nation's anticipated energy needs. The analysis will
include discussions of the U.S. Energy Information Administration's
projections of national energy needs in the Annual Energy Outlook, the
potential contribution of OCS oil and natural gas production in meeting
those needs, alternative sources of production, and considerations
relating to national and regional energy markets. BOEM invites comments
that provide information related to the Nation's future energy needs or
national and regional energy markets for consideration in determining
the appropriate size, timing, and location of OCS oil and gas lease
sales for the 11th National OCS Program.
OCS Planning Areas To Be Considered and Analyzed
Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act requires the National OCS Program
to be based on a consideration of a comparative analysis of the oil-
and gas-bearing regions of the OCS. For the 11th National OCS Program,
BOEM has divided the OCS into 27 planning areas, which are depicted in
Figure 1. The depicted maritime boundaries and limits, as well as
divisions between planning areas, where shown, are for planning and
administrative purposes only. Note that precise maritime boundaries
between the United States and nearby or adjacent nations have not been
determined in all cases. These depictions do not affect or prejudice in
any manner the position of the United States, or its individual states,
with respect to the nature or extent of internal waters or of sovereign
rights or jurisdiction.
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P
[[Page 17975]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN30AP25.059
BILLING CODE 4340-98-C
Please note that changes to BOEM's jurisdiction have occurred since
BOEM last established these planning area subdivisions, and BOEM
modified its planning areas to account for these changes. The number of
total OCS planning areas has increased by one. More information on
these changes was announced in the Federal Register on April 30, 2025,
in a notice entitled, ``Revising the Outer Continental Shelf Planning
Areas to Address Jurisdictional Changes,'' published in the Notices
section of this issue of the Federal Register.
This RFI requests information on all 27 planning areas, including
areas that are currently under moratorium, have been withdrawn, or are
otherwise unavailable. As set forth in more detail later in this RFI,
the information requested is wide-ranging, including information on
other uses of the sea and seabed, marine productivity, and
environmental sensitivity. Accordingly, this RFI invites and provides
an opportunity for Tribal governments, governors of affected states,
Native American and Native Alaskan organizations, local governments,
industry, Federal agencies, and the general public to provide
suggestions and any other information they believe BOEM should evaluate
during the development of the 11th National OCS Program.
The information solicited in this RFI will be considered in light
of the factors specified by Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act, which are
discussed later herein. Based on consideration of the analysis of those
factors, the Secretary will prepare the DPP and decide which areas to
include therein. Pursuant to Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act, areas
included in the DPP decision will be subject to further analysis.
Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act
As previously noted, the National OCS Program preparation process
will follow all the procedural and substantive requirements of Section
18 of the OCS Lands Act. This RFI solicits information and comments
early in the preparation process pursuant to Section 18(c)(1) of the
OCS Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1344(c)(1). BOEM will prepare an analysis
based on consideration of the information and comments received and
analysis of the principles and factors specified in Section 18 of the
OCS Lands Act. Based on that analysis, the Secretary will prepare a
Draft Proposal, which is called the DPP, that outlines a preliminary
schedule of proposed lease sales and potential decision options. The
DPP will be made available for review and comment.
Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act provides that, for purposes of
preparing a National OCS Program, the Secretary should take into
consideration the economic, social, and environmental values of all OCS
resources, as well as the potential impact of oil and gas exploration
and development on resource values of the OCS and the marine, coastal,
and human environments. The eight factors that must be considered in
determining the timing and location of leasing under the National OCS
Program are set forth in Section 18(a)(2) of the OCS Lands Act, 43
U.S.C. 1344(a)(2). They are (1) existing information on the
geographical, geological, and ecological characteristics of OCS
regions; (2) an equitable sharing of developmental benefits and
environmental risks among the various regions; (3) the location of
[[Page 17976]]
such regions with respect to, and the relative needs of, regional and
national energy markets; (4) the location of such regions with respect
to other uses of the sea and seabed, including fisheries, navigation,
existing or proposed sea lanes, potential sites of deepwater ports, and
other anticipated uses of the resources and space of the OCS; (5) the
interest of potential oil and gas producers in the development of oil
and gas resources as indicated by exploration or nomination; (6) laws,
goals, and policies of affected States, which have been specifically
identified by Governors of such States as relevant matters for the
Secretary's consideration; (7) the relative environmental sensitivity
and marine productivity of different areas of the OCS; and (8) relevant
environmental and predictive information for different areas of the
OCS.
Section 18(a)(3) of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344(a)(3))
requires the Secretary to obtain a proper balance among the potential
for environmental damage, the potential for discovery of oil and gas,
and the potential for adverse impact on the coastal zone, for which
BOEM will provide a cost-benefit analysis, as appropriate, to
supplement qualitative consideration of these factors. The OCS Lands
Act also requires that leasing activities assure the receipt of fair
market value for the lands leased and rights conveyed by the Federal
government in the OCS (Section 18(a)(4) of the OCS Lands Act, 43 U.S.C.
1344(a)(4)).
Environmental Analysis
For previous National OCS Program development cycles, BOEM has
prepared a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant
to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to support the Section
18 analysis described above. BOEM has done this even though
environmental analysis under NEPA is not required for a National OCS
Program. Accordingly, for the 11th National OCS Program, in lieu of a
NEPA analysis, BOEM will prepare an environmental analysis document
that will contain those Section 18 analyses that involve environmental
considerations to inform the Secretary of the potential environmental
impacts of the Program. This approach aligns with two recent decisions
from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
(D.C. Circuit) (Center for Biological Diversity v. Department of the
Interior, 563 F.3d 466 (D.C. Cir. 2009); Center for Sustainable Economy
v. Jewell, 779 F.3d 588 (D.C. Cir. 2015)) that found that NEPA was
unripe at the National OCS Program stage. While this standalone
analysis will not be a NEPA document, it will provide, in some ways,
substantively similar content to what would be included in a
Programmatic EIS but will focus on the Section 18 factors and analyses.
The document will not include an analysis of alternatives, but the
analysis will focus on the potential environmental impacts of oil and
gas development in the areas of the OCS where leasing may occur and
discuss how those impacts may vary among areas.
In the environmental analysis document, BOEM will consider
environmentally sensitive areas that could be considered for exclusion
from leasing as part of the Section 18 winnowing process, where only
those areas that the Secretary decides are appropriate to carry forward
for further consideration are analyzed in the next phase of the Program
development process. Therefore, BOEM plans to solicit nominations for
areas that may be considered for exclusion during the public comment
period for the DPP. These areas may be analyzed in the environmental
analysis document to disclose whether the exclusion of that area could
result in fewer potential impacts to environmental resources. During
the Program development process, BOEM already considers the entirety of
each oil and gas planning area in its analyses; ideally, additional
nominations for areas to exclude from leasing would be discrete
geographic areas that are smaller than a planning area (e.g., areas of
sensitive bottom habitat in the GOA).
Types of Information and Comments Requested
BOEM invites comments from anyone who would like to submit
information and/or suggestions for consideration in determining, among
other things, the appropriate size, timing, and location of potential
OCS oil and gas lease sales under the 11th National OCS Program. Please
note that BOEM invites all private and public stakeholders, Tribes or
Tribal Governments, as well as the general public, to comment or
provide any information that they believe should be taken into
consideration by BOEM during the preparation of the 11th National OCS
Program.
General Information Requested
BOEM would like to receive comments and suggestions of national or
regional application that would be useful in formulating the 11th
National OCS Program. The types of information that would be most
useful in conducting the analysis, pursuant to Section 18 of the OCS
Lands Act, relate to the following factors:
(1) National energy needs for the five year period relevant to the
11th National OCS Program, in particular, the role of OCS oil and gas
leasing and resulting exploration, development, and production
activities in achieving national energy policy goals; the economic,
social, and environmental values of the non-renewable and renewable
resources contained in the OCS; and the potential impact of oil and gas
exploration and development on OCS resource values and the marine,
coastal, and human environments;
(2) Existing information concerning geographical, geological, and
ecological characteristics of the OCS planning areas and near-shore and
coastal environments;
(3) Equitable sharing of developmental benefits and environmental
risks among the various planning areas;
(4) Location of planning areas with respect to, and the relative
needs of, regional and national energy markets;
(5) Other uses of the sea and seabed, including commercial and
recreational fisheries; navigation; military activities; existing or
proposed sea lanes; potential sites of deepwater ports (including
liquefied natural gas facilities); subsea cables; satellite launch
activities; potential offshore wind, wave, current, or other
alternative energy sites; and other anticipated uses of OCS resources
and locations;
(6) Relative environmental sensitivity and marine productivity of
the different planning areas and/or a specific section(s) of a given
OCS planning area;
(7) Environmental and predictive information pertaining to offshore
and coastal areas potentially affected by OCS oil and gas development
including, but not limited to, socio-cultural and archaeological
information; and
(8) Methods and procedures for assuring the receipt of fair market
value for lands leased.
Fair Market Value Information Requested
In developing the methods and procedures for assuring the receipt
of fair market value for lands leased under Section 18(a)(4) of the OCS
Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1344(a)(4), BOEM sets lease fiscal and temporal
terms, and other features relevant to bidding. Given BOEM's
responsibility to ensure fair market value for the U.S. Government,
BOEM is seeking information in response to the following questions:
(1) If DOI continues leasing in the GOA planning areas, are there
changes to the lease terms that BOEM has offered
[[Page 17977]]
in previous GOA sales that would better meet the objectives of the OCS
Lands Act and are permissible under 43 U.S.C. 1337? Lease terms that
could be subject to change include:
a. Minimum bids.
b. Rental rates.
c. Royalty rates, royalty structures (e.g., flat or price-based).
(Noting that the IRA sets the minimum royalty rate at 16\2/3\ percent
and the maximum royalty rate at 18\3/4\ percent).
d. Primary term and extended primary term (e.g., 5 years plus 3
years more if certain drilling conditions are met).
(2) If DOI offers acreage for lease in planning areas outside the
GOA, what lease terms (see items 1a. through 1d. above) for each
planning area would best meet the objectives and limitations of the OCS
Lands Act?
a. Is there an alternative design (e.g., auction-type design) that
may be better suited to achieve fair market value, either by changing
the bidding variable or some other aspect of the competitive lease sale
while still meeting the requirements of 43 U.S.C. 1337?
b. Should BOEM consider the use of alternative and/or non-
traditional fiscal terms, primary lease terms, auction formats, or
tract offering sizes during the development of the 11th National OCS
Program? Please state which of these features of the leasing process
merit consideration for future use, and where and under what conditions
those changes might be useful, and explain why such a change would be
necessary or beneficial (e.g., demonstrate that exploration would not
occur in selected frontier areas without larger than traditionally
sized tracts in lease sales).
Please note that BOEM is requesting information on these topics to
inform its continuing evaluation of market conditions, available
resources, bidding patterns (if applicable), and competitiveness of OCS
lease terms with respect to each proposed sale. BOEM is asking for
public input regarding lease terms or potential changes to lease terms
concerning acreage offered during the 11th National OCS Program.
Specific Information Requested
From States
For coastal states, pursuant to Section 18(f)(5) of the OCS Lands
Act (43 U.S.C. 1344(f)(5)) and BOEM's implementing regulations at 30
CFR 556.202, BOEM requests information concerning the relationship
between OCS oil and gas activity and the states' coastal zone
management programs that are being developed, or are administered,
under Section 305 or Section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of
1972, as amended, (16 U.S.C. 1454, 1455). BOEM also requests that non-
coastal and coastal states submit information concerning environmental
risk and potential for damage to coastal and marine resources
associated with OCS development, information related to other uses of
the sea and seabed, and any information that is relevant to equitable
sharing of developmental benefits and environmental risks associated
with OCS oil and gas activity (or the likely energy substitutes in the
absence of new OCS leasing). In addition, for non-coastal and coastal
states, information is requested on the impacts of additional OCS
leasing, exploration, production, and the associated economic impact on
the state and national economies and citizens, including impacts to
employment, existing and new industries, and state taxes.
From Oil and Gas Industry
Pursuant to Section 18(a)(2)(E) of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C.
1344(a)(2)(E)), during the preparation of the 11th National OCS
Program, BOEM will take into account the interest of potential oil and
gas producers in the development of oil and gas resources, as indicated
by exploration or nomination. Industry respondents should base this
information upon their expectations as of 2025. For each planning area
in which industry respondents are interested, they should submit
information concerning unleased hydrocarbon potential, future oil and
gas price expectations, and other relevant information that the
industry respondent uses in making OCS oil and gas leasing decisions.
BOEM requests that industry respondents provide additional information,
as specified below:
(1) Indicate the OCS planning area(s) where the industry respondent
would be interested in acquiring oil and gas leases, regardless of
whether the area currently is unavailable. If more than one planning
area is of interest, rank all areas of interest in order of preference.
(2) Indicate the number and timing of lease sales in the period
that would be appropriate for each planning area. If only one lease
sale in a planning area is appropriate, indicate whether that area
should be considered for leasing early or late in the five-year
schedule. If more than one lease sale in a planning area is suggested,
indicate the preferred interval between lease sales.
(3) Indicate the expected lead time to production in areas that
currently do not have infrastructure or production, relative to lead
times to new production in previously leased areas like the Central and
Western GOA planning areas.
(4) Section 18(g) of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C.1344(g))
authorizes confidential treatment of privileged or proprietary
information. To ensure security and confidentiality of proprietary
information to the maximum extent possible, BOEM requests that
proprietary information only be sent by U.S. mail. In addition to
prominently stating that proprietary information is contained in the
comment at the beginning of the submission, comments should be sent in
a plain outer envelope with an inner envelope stating that proprietary
information is contained within.
From the U.S. Department of Commerce
Pursuant to Section 18(f)(5) of the OCS Lands Act (43
U.S.C.1344(f)(5)) and the Department's implementing regulations at 30
CFR 556.202, BOEM requests information concerning relationships between
affected states' coastal zone management programs and OCS oil and gas
activities. Concurrent with the publication of this RFI, BOEM will also
send a letter to the Secretary of Commerce soliciting such information.
From the U.S. Department of Energy
Pursuant to BOEM's regulations at 30 CFR 556.202, BOEM requests
information concerning regional and national energy markets and
transportation networks. Concurrent with the publication of this RFI,
BOEM will also send a letter to the Secretary of Energy soliciting such
information.
From the U.S. Department of Defense
BOEM respects the needs of the Department of Defense (DOD) in its
mission to protect the United States and continues to work closely with
DOD to understand and identify potential measures to address any
conflicts on the OCS. Multiple use challenges are a concern in many OCS
areas, in particular, the military's use of portions of the Mid- and
South Atlantic planning areas. As in the past, BOEM requests that the
DOD provide textual and graphic information as to the areas where DOD
believes there may be overlap between DOD activities and oil and gas
operations. BOEM and DOD are committed to working through multiple use
challenges so that each of our important missions are accomplished.
Such detailed cooperation already occurs in the GOA and offshore
California. During preparation of the 2017-2022 Program, DOD identified
95 percent of the proposed Atlantic
[[Page 17978]]
Program Area as largely compatible with oil and gas activities, as long
as appropriate mitigation measures are applied.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2025-07479 Filed 4-29-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 30, 2025.
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.