The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced the availability of a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the GOM's Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas leases.
This development is an important step in the future oil and gas leasing process in the region.
In December 2023, the Department of the Interior published the 2024-29 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing plan.
The plan includes three oil and gas lease sales in the GOM over the next five years, representing the smallest oil and gas lease sales in a five-year plan in history.
The reduced number of oil and gas leases in previous programs is designed to enable the US to meet its energy needs while advancing the transition to clean energy.
The draft EIS is set to inform the decision on the first sale of GOM's proposed oil and gas lease.
It is also expected to be used, and supplemented as necessary, to make decisions regarding the proposed future sale of GOM leases.
Additionally, the EIS will support post-lease site and project-specific analysis and approvals related to OCS oil and gas.
The program does not include any lease sales in Atlantic, Pacific and Alaskan waters.
Under the Depreciation and Inflation Act, BOEM is prohibited from issuing leases for offshore wind development unless at least 60 million acres have been awarded for oil and gas leases in the OCS in the past year.
BOEM will make the final plan EIS available to the public at least 30 days before issuing any decision.
A notice of availability will be published in the association's register shortly, beginning a 45-day comment period.
“Oil and gas lease development in the Gulf of Mexico” was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a product owned by GlobalData.
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