Notice2026-01568
Call for Information and Nominations for Southern California Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sales Proposed in the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program
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
January 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentOcean Energy Management Bureau
Abstract
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issues this call for information and nominations (Call) covering proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas lease sales in the available portions of the Southern California Planning Area. Those sales are described in the U.S. Department of the Interior's (Department) recently published Draft Proposed Program for the 11th National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program (11th National Program), which BOEM announced on November 20, 2025. This Call solicits industry nominations of acreage for possible inclusion in these proposed sales and requests information from the public on the Call Area (as defined in the section "Call for Information and Nominations," subsection 3 "Description of the Call Area" below) for lease sale planning. Specifically, BOEM seeks information on geological conditions, archaeological sites, potential use conflicts, areas of special concern, and other socioeconomic, biological, and environmental information. This Call is not a final decision to lease and does not prejudge any future secretarial decisions concerning leasing offshore California.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3537-3539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01568]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket Number: BOEM-2025-0582]
Call for Information and Nominations for Southern California
Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sales Proposed in the 11th
National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.
ACTION: Call for information and nominations; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issues this call
for information and nominations (Call) covering proposed Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas lease sales in the available
portions of the Southern California Planning Area. Those sales are
described in the U.S. Department of the Interior's (Department)
recently published Draft Proposed Program for the 11th National OCS Oil
and Gas Leasing Program (11th National Program), which BOEM announced
on November 20, 2025. This Call solicits industry nominations of
acreage for possible inclusion in these proposed sales and requests
information from the public on the Call Area (as defined in the section
``Call for Information and Nominations,'' subsection 3 ``Description of
the Call Area'' below) for lease sale planning. Specifically, BOEM
seeks information on geological conditions, archaeological sites,
potential use conflicts, areas of special concern, and other
socioeconomic, biological, and environmental information. This Call is
not a final decision to lease and does not prejudge any future
secretarial decisions concerning leasing offshore California.
DATES: All nominations and comments must be received by BOEM or
postmarked no later than February 26, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Do not send nominations, indications of interest, or other
proprietary information through the Federal eRulemaking Portal or to
any email address provided in this document. To ensure security and
confidentiality of proprietary information to the maximum extent
possible, send nominations, indications of interest, and other
proprietary information via mail directly to: Regional Supervisor,
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Strategic Resources, 760
Paseo Camarillo (CM 102), Camarillo, California 93010. Consistent with
subsection 5 ``Protection of Privileged, Proprietary, and Personal
Information'' below, you should mark all documents and every page
containing such information with ``Confidential--Contains Proprietary
Information.'' Send your nominations in an envelope labeled
``Nominations for Southern California Planning Area Lease Sales.''
All public comments should be submitted through one of the
following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. In the
field entitled, ``Search,'' enter ``BOEM-2025-0582'' and then click
``search.'' Follow the instructions to submit public comments and to
view supporting and related materials available for this notice.
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. Send your comments in
an envelope clearly labeled ``Comments on the Call for Information and
Nominations for Southern California Planning Area Lease Sales.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Necy Sumait, Regional Supervisor,
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#b6e6d7d5dfd0dfd598e4d3d1dfd9d8f6d4d9d3db98d1d9c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bdeddcded4dbd4de93efd8dad4d2d3fddfd2d8d093dad2cb">[email protected]</span></a> or (805) 384-6320.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Because the first of the proposed Southern
California lease sales is tentatively scheduled to occur near the
beginning of the 11th National Program and given the long lead time
needed to prepare for a proposed sale, BOEM must initiate the lease
sale planning process simultaneously with the development of the
National Program. BOEM will use the information and nominations
received in response to this Call to identify the areas to be carried
forward for analysis and potential inclusion in future oil and gas
leasing. Multiple steps would be required prior to holding any lease
sale, including but not limited to the approval of the 11th National
Program, completion of environmental analyses and other statutory
requirements, and issuance of proposed and final notices of sale (NOS).
11th National OCS Program Development
Information on the development of the 11th National Program is
available on BOEM's website at: <a href="https://www.boem.gov/National-OCS-Program/">https://www.boem.gov/National-OCS-Program/</a>.
Environmental Review Process
BOEM intends to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement (Programmatic EIS), in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Department's regulations and
manual implementing NEPA, analyzing a representative California
proposed lease sale and reasonable alternatives. The Programmatic EIS
will be supplemented as necessary for individual decisions on all
future Central and Southern California lease sales included in the 11th
National Program.
The Programmatic EIS will evaluate the potential effects that oil
and gas activities resulting from a lease sale could have on the human,
marine, and coastal environments. The Programmatic EIS may propose
measures and lease stipulations to mitigate adverse impacts for the
alternatives being analyzed. Consultations will be conducted, as
appropriate. Consultation with Tribal Nations, States, and Federal
agencies will address BOEM's obligations under the Coastal Zone
Management Act, Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, Executive Order 13175, ``Consultation and
Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments,'' and other applicable
laws and regulations. The information gathered from these consultations
will inform the Secretary in making individual leasing decisions.
BOEM's Leasing Process
Information on oil and gas leasing can be found on BOEM's website
at <a href="https://www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/leasing">https://www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/leasing</a>. BOEM's regulations for
planning and holding an oil and gas lease sale are found at 30 CFR part
556, subpart C. These regulations include the following steps:
(1) Call for Information and Nominations (Call; see 30 CFR
556.301): See section below.
(2) Area Identification (Area ID; see 30 CFR 556.302): Based on the
information and nominations submitted in response to this Call, BOEM
will recommend an area for further leasing consideration and
environmental analysis. Upon approval by the Secretary, BOEM will
announce the proposed area identified for leasing in the Federal
Register, in accordance with 30 CFR 556.302(a)(3).
(3) Proposed Notice of Sale (Proposed NOS; see 30 CFR 556.304): If
BOEM proceeds with the leasing process after Area Identification and
environmental
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analysis, it will publish a Notice of Availability of a Proposed NOS in
the Federal Register. BOEM also will send the Proposed NOS to the
Governors of affected States for comment and recommendations on the
size, timing, and location of the proposed sale. The Proposed NOS
describes the size, timing, and location of the proposed sale; provides
additional information on the areas proposed for leasing; lists
proposed lease terms and conditions of the sale; and provides proposed
stipulations to mitigate potential adverse impacts on the environment
and other uses of the area.
(4) Final Notice of Sale (Final NOS; see 30 CFR 556.308) and Record
of Decision (ROD): If BOEM decides to proceed with leasing, it will
publish a Final NOS in the Federal Register at least 30 days before the
date of the lease sale. The Final NOS describes the place, time, and
methods for filing, opening, and publicly announcing bids. It also
contains a description of the areas offered for lease, the lease terms
and conditions of the sale, and stipulations to mitigate potential
adverse impacts on the environment and other uses of the area. BOEM
will also publish contemporaneously a ROD to complete its NEPA
obligations with regard to the sale.
Call for Information and Nominations
1. Authority
This Call is published pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf
Lands Act (OCSLA), as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331-1356) and the
implementing regulation at 30 CFR 556.301.
2. Purpose of the Call
The purpose of this Call is to solicit industry nominations for
areas of leasing interest and to gather comments and information from
the public on the Call Area. Pursuant to 30 CFR 556.301, BOEM seeks
comments from industry and the public on:
(a) industry interest in the Call Area, including nominations or
indications of interest in specific blocks within the Call Area;
(b) geological conditions, including shallow hazards;
(c) archaeological sites on the seabed or near shore;
(d) potential use conflicts in the Call Area, including navigation,
recreation, and fisheries;
(e) areas that should receive special concern and analysis; and
(f) other socioeconomic, biological, and environmental information.
BOEM will consider information submitted in response to this Call
to:
<bullet> inform the Area ID process under 30 CFR 556.302;
<bullet> prioritize areas with potential for oil and gas
development;
<bullet> develop potential lease terms and conditions;
<bullet> identify potential use conflicts and potential mitigation
measures; and
<bullet> assist in BOEM's planning and environmental review
process.
3. Description of the Call Area
The Southern California Planning Area is located offshore the State
of California, extending from the 3-nautical mile (nm) boundary of the
Submerged Lands Act on the east to the OCS boundary on the west. Its
easternmost point is approximately 117.2[deg] W, while its westernmost
point is approximately 126.4[deg] W. The southern boundary follows the
southern extent of the OCS boundary, reaching a southernmost point of
around 30.5[deg] N. The northern boundary extends westward from the
onshore boundary between Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties,
reaching a northernmost point at approximately 35.8[deg] N. The Call
Area encompasses approximately 68 million acres, as depicted on the
Call Area Map.
A map of the Call Area is available for download on the BOEM
website at: <a href="http://www.boem.gov/California-oil-and-gas-leasing">www.boem.gov/California-oil-and-gas-leasing</a>. Copies of
Official Protraction Diagrams (OPDs) also are available for download on
the BOEM website at: <a href="https://www.boem.gov/Maps-and-GIS-Data/">https://www.boem.gov/Maps-and-GIS-Data/</a>.
4. Instructions on Responding to the Call
BOEM requests parties who are interested in leasing any whole or
partial blocks within the Call Area to indicate their interest in, and
comment on, blocks that they would like included in a proposed lease
sale. Parties should explicitly nominate whole or partial blocks and
rank them using the following indicators: 1 [high], 2 [medium], or 3
[low]. Parties are encouraged to be as specific as possible in
prioritizing blocks and supporting nominations with detailed
information, such as relevant geologic, geophysical, and economic data.
BOEM will consider the areas where interest has been indicated but not
prioritized as low priority areas.
Parties may also nominate blocks by OPD and leasing map
designations to ensure correct interpretation of their nominations.
OPDs and leasing maps are available on BOEM's website at <a href="https://www.boem.gov/Maps-and-GIS-Data/">https://www.boem.gov/Maps-and-GIS-Data/</a>.
See subsection 5, ``Protection of Privileged, Proprietary, and
Personal Information,'' regarding protection and release of information
and how to submit proprietary information.
BOEM also seeks comments from the public regarding particular
geological, environmental, biological, archaeological, and
socioeconomic conditions, potential use conflicts, or other information
about conditions that could affect the potential leasing and
development of particular areas. Comments may refer to broad areas or
particular OCS blocks.
5. Protection of Privileged, Proprietary, and Personal Information
BOEM will protect privileged or proprietary information in
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and OCSLA
requirements. To avoid inadvertent release of such information, you
should mark all documents and every page containing such information
with ``Confidential--Contains Proprietary Information.'' To the extent
a document contains a mix of proprietary and nonproprietary
information, you should clearly mark the document to indicate which
portion of the document is proprietary and which is not. Exemption 4 of
FOIA applies to trade secrets and commercial or financial information
that you submit that is privileged or confidential. BOEM considers
nominations of specific blocks to be proprietary. Therefore, BOEM will
not release information that identifies any particular nomination with
any particular party, so as not to compromise the competitive position
of any participants.
Please be aware that BOEM's practice is to make all other comments,
including the names and addresses of individuals, available for public
inspection. Before including your address, phone number, email address,
and any personally identifiable information in your comment, please be
advised that your entire comment, including your personally
identifiable information, may be made publicly available at any time.
For BOEM to consider withholding from disclosure your personally
identifiable information, you must identify, in a cover letter, any
information contained in your comments that, if released, 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
Call, your submission is subject to the FOIA. If your submission is
requested under the FOIA, your information will only be
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withheld if BOEM determines that one of the FOIA exemptions to
disclosure applies. Such a determination will be made in accordance
with the Department's FOIA regulations and applicable law.
BOEM will make available for public inspection all comments, in
their entirety, submitted by organizations and businesses (except as
provided above for proprietary information) or by individuals
identifying themselves as representatives of organizations or
businesses.
Matthew N. Giacona,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2026-01568 Filed 1-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 27, 2026.
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