Notice2025-19852
Commercial Leasing for Outer Continental Shelf Minerals Offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands-Request for Information and Interest
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
November 12, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentOcean Energy Management Bureau
Abstract
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is initiating the first steps that could potentially lead to a lease sale for minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) by publishing this request for information and interest (RFI). This RFI is not a final decision to lease and does not prejudge any future Secretarial decisions concerning leasing on the OCS offshore the CNMI. This RFI requests information and comments on, and indications of interest in, the leasing of OCS minerals in an area offshore the CNMI, referred to as the RFI Area, with details in section 5 "Description of the RFI Area." BOEM will consider information and interest received in response to this RFI when considering whether to proceed with additional steps leading to an offer of OCS minerals for lease offshore the CNMI. Those interested in providing comments or information should provide the information requested in section 6, "Types of Information and Comments Requested," of this RFI. Those interested in leasing in and around the RFI Area for OCS mineral development should provide the information described in section 7, "Requested Information for Indications of Interest." BOEM may or may not offer a lease for commercial OCS mineral development offshore the CNMI after further consultations, public participation, and environmental analyses.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 216 (Wednesday, November 12, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 12, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50872-50877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19852]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM-2025-0351]
Commercial Leasing for Outer Continental Shelf Minerals Offshore
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands--Request for
Information and Interest
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.
ACTION: Request for information and interest.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is initiating the
first steps that could potentially lead to a lease sale for minerals on
the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) by publishing this request for
information and interest (RFI). This RFI is not a final decision to
lease and does not prejudge any future Secretarial decisions concerning
leasing on the OCS offshore the CNMI. This RFI requests information and
comments on, and indications of interest in, the leasing of OCS
minerals in an area offshore the CNMI, referred to as the RFI Area,
with details in section 5 ``Description of the RFI Area.'' BOEM will
consider information and interest received in response to this RFI when
considering whether to proceed with additional steps leading to an
offer of OCS minerals for lease offshore the CNMI. Those interested in
providing comments or information should provide the information
requested in section 6, ``Types of Information and Comments
Requested,'' of this RFI. Those interested in leasing in and around the
RFI Area for OCS mineral development should provide the information
described in section 7, ``Requested Information for Indications of
Interest.'' BOEM may or may not offer a lease for commercial OCS
mineral development offshore the CNMI after further consultations,
public participation, and environmental analyses.
DATES: BOEM must receive all comments, information, and indications of
interest in response to this RFI no later than December 12, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Please submit indications of interest in commercial leasing
electronically via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a4f4c5c7cdc2cdc78af6c1c3cdcbcae4c6cbc1c98ac3cbd2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d282b3b1bbb4bbb1fc80b7b5bbbdbc92b0bdb7bffcb5bda4">[email protected]</span></a> or by hard copy by
mail to the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
Pacific Region, Office of Strategic Resources, 760 Paseo Camarillo (CM
102), Camarillo, California 93010. If you
[[Page 50873]]
elect to mail a hard copy, also include an electronic copy on a
portable storage device. Do not submit indications of interest via the
Federal eRulemaking Portal.
Please submit all other comments and information as discussed in
section 6, entitled, ``Types of Information and Comments Requested,''
by either of the following two methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. In the
search box at the top of the web page, enter BOEM-2025-0351 and then
click ``search.'' Follow the instructions to submit public comments and
to view supporting and related materials.
2. By mail to the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Pacific Region, Office of Strategic Resources, 760 Paseo
Camarillo (CM 102), Camarillo, California 93010.
Treatment of confidential information is addressed in section 8 of
this notice entitled, ``Protection of Privileged, Personal, or
Confidential Information.'' BOEM will post all comments received on
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, unless the comments are labeled as confidential and
BOEM determines that an exemption from disclosure applies.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Miller, Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management, Pacific Region, Office of Strategic Resources, 760
Paseo Camarillo (CM 102), Camarillo, California 93010, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#41112022282728226f132426282e2f01232e242c6f262e37"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b6e6d7d5dfd0dfd598e4d3d1dfd9d8f6d4d9d3db98d1d9c0">[email protected]</span></a> or (805) 384-6305.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) 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.'' Id. at 1332(3).
BOEM requests information and comments from Indigenous communities,
territory, state, and local governments, Federal agencies,
environmental and other public interest organizations, the deep-sea
mineral mining industry, other interested organizations and entities,
and the public, for use in the consideration of whether to offer OCS
minerals for lease offshore the CNMI. BOEM is seeking a wide array of
information, including but not limited to information on the potential
impact of OCS mineral exploration and development on OCS resources and
the marine, coastal, and human environments. This RFI is published
under the OCS Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1337(k)(1), and its implementing
regulations at 30 CFR 581.12.
1. Public Comment Procedure
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 the full name and address of the
individual submitting the comment(s). All relevant comments received
are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public
viewing on <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> without change. All personal identifying
information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly
accessible. If you would like BOEM to withhold your personal
identifying information, please state so prominently as described below
in Section 8. BOEM cannot guarantee that we will be able to withhold
any voluntarily submitted information. 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.
2. Background Information
Section 8(k) of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(k)) authorizes
the Secretary of the Interior to grant leases on the OCS to qualified
persons offering the highest cash bonuses for minerals other than oil,
gas, and sulfur on a competitive basis. The Trump Administration
recognizes that an overreliance on foreign critical minerals and their
derivative products could jeopardize U.S. defense capabilities,
infrastructure development, and technological innovation. To support
and facilitate domestic production of critical minerals, President
Trump has issued a series of Executive Orders (E.O.s), including E.O.
14156, ``Declaring a National Energy Emergency'' (January 20, 2025);
E.O. 14154, ``Unleashing American Energy'' (January 20, 2025); and E.O.
14285, ``Unleashing America's Offshore Critical Minerals and
Resources'' (April 24, 2025). The Secretary of the Interior also issued
Secretary's Order (SO) 3417, ``Addressing the National Energy
Emergency,'' (February 3, 2025) and SO 3418, ``Unleashing American
Energy,'' (February 3, 2025) which direct Department of the Interior
(DOI) bureaus to facilitate and expedite critical mineral permitting,
leasing, and ultimately development of critical minerals on the OCS.
In response to the EOs and SOs, BOEM is taking immediate action to
accelerate the responsible development of OCS mineral resources,
advance American leadership in associated extraction technologies, and
ensure secure supply chains for U.S. defense, infrastructure, and
energy sectors with the publication of this RFI.
Earlier this year, BOEM initiated the process for a potential lease
sale offshore American Samoa with the publication of an RFI on
Commercial Leasing for OCS minerals offshore American Samoa; please
refer to the RFI (Docket No. BOEM-2025-0035) published in the Federal
Register (90 FR 25369) on June 16, 2025, for more information.
Additional information on American Samoa activities can be found at:
<a href="https://www.boem.gov/American-Samoa">https://www.boem.gov/American-Samoa</a>.
BOEM will advance America's national security and future prosperity
through the identification of and access to OCS minerals, which include
those minerals identified as critical minerals by Federal statute.
Pursuant to Section 7002 of the Energy Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116-260,
Division Z), critical minerals are defined as any minerals, elements,
substances, or materials that are determined to be essential to the
economic and national security of the United States, have a supply
chain vulnerable to disruption, and play an essential role in
manufacturing a product whose absence would significantly affect U.S.
economic or national security. The Secretary of the Interior, through
the U.S. Geological Survey, identified 50 critical minerals in February
24, 2022 (87 FR 10381). According to a 2025 Congressional Research
Service report (Report No. R48302) up to 37 of these minerals may occur
on the OCS. The list of critical minerals is being updated by the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) and may change during the publication period
of this notice.
Section 50251(b) of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 expanded
the definition of the OCS under the OCS Lands Act to include submerged
lands within the Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to U.S. territories
and amended the OCS Lands Act by modifying the definition of ``State''
to include each of the 50 States of the Union, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the CNMI.
BOEM will coordinate with the Government of the CNMI throughout the OCS
mineral leasing process relating to the area proposed for leasing.
[[Page 50874]]
Notably, upon release of this RFI, BOEM intends to evaluate lease
planning with the Government of the CNMI, relevant OCS users, and
Federal agencies including, but not limited to, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey,
and the Office of Insular Affairs; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
the U.S. Coast Guard; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration; and the Department of Defense. BOEM also intends to
engage with the Indigenous Peoples of the CNMI, including the Chamorro
and Carolinian (Refaluwasch) people, about their economic,
environmental, cultural and public health concerns with OCS mineral
development throughout the OCS mineral planning and leasing process. In
addition, BOEM uses other information sources in its decision-making
for leasing, such as available data and information on the location of
marine life and habitat areas, cultural resources, transportation
links, fishing areas, and other human uses.
3. BOEM's Leasing Process
BOEM will follow the steps required by 30 CFR 581.14 through 581.23
if it decides to proceed with the competitive leasing process after
analyzing the responses to this RFI. Briefly, those steps are:
(1) OCS Mining Area Identification: BOEM will select tracts to be
considered for offering of a lease. The selected tracts will be
considered in the environmental analysis conducted for the proposed
lease offering.
(2) Proposed Leasing Notice (PLN): BOEM will publish a PLN in the
Federal Register at least 60 days before the publication of a leasing
notice. The PLN will describe the areas that BOEM intends to offer for
leasing; proposed primary terms of the OCS mineral leases to be
offered; lease stipulations, including measures to mitigate potentially
adverse impacts on the environment; and such rental, royalty, and other
terms and conditions that BOEM may prescribe in the leasing notice.
(3) Leasing Notice (LN): If it decides to proceed to conduct a
lease sale, BOEM will publish an LN in the Federal Register at least 30
days before the date of the lease sale. The LN will state whether oral
or sealed bids or a combination thereof will be used; the place, date,
and time at which sealed bids will be filed; and the place, date, and
time at which sealed bids will be opened and/or oral bids received. The
LN will contain or reference a description of the tract(s) to be
offered for lease; specify the mineral(s) to be offered for lease (if
less than all OCS minerals are being offered); specify the period of
time the primary term of the lease will cover; and any stipulation(s),
term(s), and condition(s) of the offer to lease. Additionally, the LN
will include a reference to the OCS mineral lease form that will be
issued to successful bidders and specify the terms and conditions
governing the payment of the winning bid.
(4) Bid Submission and Evaluation: BOEM will offer the lease
area(s) through a competitive, cash bonus bidding process under terms
and conditions specified in the LN.
(5) Issuance of a Lease: Following identification of a winning
qualified bidder on a lease area, BOEM will notify that bidder and
provide the lease documents for signature.
4. Purpose of the RFI
The purpose of this RFI is to gather comments, information, and
indications of interest from any interested parties for a potential OCS
mineral lease sale offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands. This RFI is one of the steps in the public participation
process to ensure that all interests and concerns are considered for
future leasing decisions. This does not mean that DOI or BOEM has
reached a preliminary decision to lease in this area. BOEM will
consider information and comments received that may identify any
potential environmental impacts, multiple use conflicts, and ways to
eliminate, mitigate, and monitor for impacts to assist in future
analysis and leasing decisions. BOEM will also determine if any
responses identify specific areas of interest in and around the RFI
Area that could support commercial mineral development, potential
conflicts among offshore activities and the CNMI coastal zone
management plan, and requirements to ensure safe and environmentally
responsible activities should a lease sale occur.
5. Description of the RFI Area
The CNMI is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the
United States located in the northwestern Pacific Ocean and includes
the 14 northernmost islands of the Mariana Archipelago. The RFI Area is
located west of the Mariana Trench National Monument along the eastern
edge of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (Northern Mariana Islands).
This area is approximately 35,483,044 acres (143,595 km\2\) with an
approximate water depth of 3,700-25,100 feet (1,130-7,650 meters) and
lies entirely within the OCS offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands. The southern boundary of the RFI Area is approximately
equal distance between the islands of Guam and Rota, the southernmost
island of the CNMI. The RFI Area consists of abyssal plain, seamounts,
and guyots and includes 6,502 whole or partial OCS lease blocks. The
closest distance from Saipan to the RFI Area is approximately 128
statute miles (206 kilometers). BOEM plans to refer to Official
Protraction Diagrams, whole or partial OCS lease blocks, and aliquots
for the purpose of area identification and tract size specification.
This is consistent with previous RFIs issued related to OCS mineral
lease sales and the practice used by BOEM for other OCS leasing (e.g.,
oil and gas, other minerals). The map depicting the RFI Area (Figure
1), a spreadsheet listing its specific OCS blocks, and an Esri
shapefile are available for download on the BOEM website at:
<a href="http://www.boem.gov/Northern-Mariana-Islands">www.boem.gov/Northern-Mariana-Islands</a>.
The RFI Area is within a marine mineral prospective region for
ferromanganese crust and nodules, as identified by the USGS. A map of
the global marine mineral prospective regions is available at: <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/global-marine-mineral-prospective-regions-map">https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/global-marine-mineral-prospective-regions-map</a>. This designation indicates that conditions are favorable for the
formation of ferromanganese crusts and nodule deposits in the RFI Area
and therefore, potentially suitable for OCS mineral development.
Respondents may nominate areas of interest and comment on any acreage
in and around the RFI Area. The RFI Area is not indicative of the
specific areas that may ultimately be offered for lease. Responses to
this RFI will help determine lease tract size and block configurations
for any potential leasing. If BOEM proceeds with the leasing process,
tract sizes will be proposed in the PLN and finalized in the LN.
[[Page 50875]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN12NO25.000
6. Types of Information and Comments Requested
BOEM invites comments from anyone who would like to submit
information and suggestions for consideration in determining, among
other things, the appropriate size and location of potential OCS
mineral leasing in and around the RFI Area. Commenters should be as
specific and detailed as possible to help BOEM understand and address
the comments. Where applicable, spatial information should be submitted
in a format compatible with Esri ArcGIS (Esri shapefile, Esri file
geodatabase, KML (Keyhole Markup Language), GeoJSON, or GeoPackage) in
the WGS84 geographic coordinate system. BOEM is requesting information
on the following:
a. Information concerning the offering of a specific OCS mineral, a
group of OCS minerals, or all OCS minerals (other than oil, gas, and
sulfur) in a broad area for lease in and around the RFI Area or the
offering of one or more discrete tracts which represent a mineable
orebody.
b. Geological conditions, archaeological resources, or potential
hazards on the seabed in and around the RFI Area.
c. Multiple uses in and around the RFI Area, including shipping,
navigation, and recreation.
d. Socioeconomic, biological, and environmental information in and
around the RFI Area or analogous sites for comparative analysis;
potential impacts of leasing and mining activities to these resources;
and methods to eliminate, mitigate, and monitor for impacts.
e. Information regarding commercial, Indigenous, and recreational
fisheries, including but not limited to, the use of the areas, the
fishing gear types used, seasonal use, and recommendations for reducing
use conflicts.
f. Relative environmental sensitivity and marine productivity in
and around the RFI Area.
g. Information on the preliminary activities necessary to develop
comprehensive delineation, testing, or mining plans, particularly the
types of any necessary surveys and associated equipment.
h. Information on the types of activities associated with
delineation, testing, or mining of OCS minerals.
i. Information concerning the relationship between OCS mineral
leasing and the CNMI Coastal Zone Management Program either in
development or administered under Section 305 or Section 306 of the
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, (16 U.S.C. 1454 and
1455).
j. Information related to Indigenous Peoples in the region and
interactions with potential OCS mineral activities, such as potential
impacts to Chamorro and Carolinian culture, the Indigenous ways of
life; practices; lands; resources; ancestral lands; sacred sites,
including sites that are submerged; and access to traditional areas of
cultural or religious importance on federally-managed lands and waters.
BOEM will protect confidential information shared by Indigenous Peoples
in response to this RFI to the extent authorized by Federal law.
Treatment of confidential information is addressed in section 8 of this
notice entitled, ``Protection of Privileged, Personal, or Confidential
Information.''
[[Page 50876]]
k. Socioeconomic information for communities potentially affected
by OCS mineral leasing in and around the RFI Area, including community
profiles, vulnerability, and resiliency data. BOEM also solicits
comments on how best to meaningfully engage with these communities.
l. Information from the deep-sea mining industry on the
considerations for OCS mineral development in deep waters, such as
water depth, seafloor conditions, deep-sea operations, mineral
extraction feasibility, and costs.
m. Information on what a reasonable and fair rental rate would be
for a minerals lease, including whether and why a rental payment should
be required in the first five years, and if not, in accordance with 30
CFR 581.27, what the rental payment should be starting in year six.
Should the adjustment or suspension of rental payments be allowed under
certain conditions, such as geologic, geographic, technical, or
economic factors? If so, what specific conditions should apply?
n. Information on the royalty rates and schedules that would
effectively serve as both an incentive for development and assure a
fair return to the public for extracted minerals. BOEM intends to issue
any minerals lease with an ad valorum royalty and include provisions
for a minimum royalty equivalent to the rental rate per 30 CFR 581.30.
The royalty schedule may be modified from the provisions in 30 CFR
581.28(b) and is anticipated to include a lower royalty rate during the
early years of the lease to foster interest in any potential leases.
o. Information on appropriate bid deposit, minimum bid levels, and
preferred auction format (sealed bid or ascending). BOEM is evaluating
the use of either a sealed bid or an ascending oral bid auction format
and is considering limiting bidders to one lease area if multiple areas
are offered. An ascending auction allows for more effective price
discovery, while a sealed bid auction offers administrative simplicity.
p. Information on the appropriate lease size BOEM should offer for
a minerals lease offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands.
q. Information on the duration and conditions BOEM should consider
for potential lease contraction clauses. BOEM expects to offer one or
more large lease areas so companies can explore for and find economic
deposits of critical minerals. However, BOEM is also considering lease
contraction clauses, which would allow for the reduction of the leased
acreage after a specified period. BOEM is evaluating a 2-stage lease
contraction process, scheduled around years 7 and 14. The first
contraction would reduce the acreage to the most suitable area for more
detailed exploration. The second contraction would further refine the
lease area to define the acreage for commercial harvesting. We ask the
public to consider and provide comments about what the preferrable
acreage for each lease contraction stage might be and what the optimal
years for implementing these two stages of lease contraction might be.
r. The regulations at 30 CFR 581.26(h) establish a framework for
valuing production for royalty purposes. We invite public comment on
whether there are alternative valuation methods that ONRR should
consider under 30 CFR 581.26(h)(1)(iii).
7. Requested Information for Indications of Interest
Areas of interest and the accompanying rationale are extremely
useful to help BOEM understand and model the commercial viability of
portions of the OCS for mineral leasing. Respondents are requested to
nominate specific blocks or acreage within the RFI Area that are of
particular interest for consideration in a possible OCS mineral lease
sale. Nominations must be depicted on a map with the RFI Area by
outlining the area(s) of interest. Where applicable, interested
companies should submit spatial information in a format compatible with
Esri ArcGIS (Esri shapefile, Esri file geodatabase, KML (Keyhole Markup
Language), GeoJSON, or GeoPackage) in the WGS84 geographic coordinate
system.
If you wish to indicate interest for one or more areas for a
commercial OCS mineral lease in or around the RFI Area, you should
provide the following information for each area of interest:
(a) The area to be offered for lease.
(b) The OCS minerals of primary interest.
(c) The available OCS mineral resource, geological, archaeological
resources, and environmental information (including methods to
eliminate, mitigate, and monitor for potential impacts) pertaining to
the area of interest to be offered for lease which supports the
request.
Although the identities of those indicating interest in specific
areas in response to this RFI become a matter of public record, their
indications of interest in specific areas are considered proprietary
information. BOEM will not release information that identifies any
particular area of interest or nomination with any particular party, so
as not to compromise the competitive position of any participants.
Respondents may rank areas of specific interest according to priority:
1 (high), 2 (medium), and 3 (low). The name and telephone number of a
person in the respondent's organization to contact for additional
information or clarification should be included in the response.
Please submit indications of interest in commercial leasing of
specific areas electronically via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#461627252f202f25681423212f2928062429232b68212930"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d888b9bbb1beb1bbf68abdbfb1b7b698bab7bdb5f6bfb7ae">[email protected]</span></a> or
by hard copy by mail to the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Pacific Region, Office of Strategic Resources, 760 Paseo
Camarillo (CM 102), Camarillo, California 93010. If you elect to mail a
hard copy, also include an electronic copy on a portable storage
device. Do not submit indications of interest via the Federal
eRulemaking Portal.
8. Protection of Privileged, Personal, or Confidential Information
a. Freedom of Information Act
BOEM will protect privileged or confidential information that you
submit when required by the FOIA. Exemption 4 of FOIA applies to trade
secrets and commercial or financial information that is privileged or
confidential. If you wish to protect the confidentiality of such
information, clearly label it and request that BOEM treat it as
confidential. BOEM will not disclose such information if BOEM
determines under 30 CFR 581.7 that it qualifies for exemption from
disclosure under FOIA. Please label privileged or confidential
information ``Contains Confidential Information'' and consider
submitting such information as a separate attachment.
BOEM will not treat as confidential any aggregate summaries of such
information or comments not containing such privileged or confidential
information. Information that is not labeled as privileged or
confidential may be regarded by BOEM as suitable for public release.
b. Personally Identifiable Information
BOEM discourages the submission of anonymous comments. Please
include your name and address as part of your comment. You should be
aware that your entire comment, including your name, address, and any
personally identifiable information (PII) or otherwise sensitive
information included voluntarily in your comment may be made publicly
available. All submissions from identified individuals, businesses, and
[[Page 50877]]
organizations will be available for public viewing on <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>.
Note that BOEM will make available for public inspection all comments,
in their entirety, submitted by organizations and businesses, or by
individuals identifying themselves as representatives of organizations
or businesses.
For BOEM to consider withholding your PII from disclosure, you must
identify any information contained in your comments and an explanation
about how its release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion
of your personal privacy. You must also briefly describe any possible
harmful consequences of the disclosure of information, such as
embarrassment, injury, or other harm. Even if BOEM withholds your
information in the context of this RFI, your submission is subject to
FOIA and, if your submission is requested under FOIA, your information
will be withheld only if a determination is made that one of FOIA's
exemptions to disclosure applies. Such a determination will be made in
accordance with the Department's FOIA regulations and applicable law.
c. Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54
U.S.C. 307103(a))
After consultation with the Secretary, BOEM is required to withhold
the location, character, or ownership of historic resources if it
determines that disclosure may, among other things, risk harm to the
historic resources or impede the use of a traditional religious site by
practitioners. Indigenous Peoples, communities, and organizations
should designate information that falls under Section 304 of the NHPA
as confidential.
Matthew Giacona,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2025-19852 Filed 11-10-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 12, 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.