Bureau of Ocean Energy Management – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule implements the 2025 inflation adjustments to the maximum daily civil monetary penalties in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) regulations for violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA). These inflation adjustments are made pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Improvements Act) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum M-25-02. The 2025 adjustment multiplier of 1.02598 accounts for 1 year of inflation from October 2023 through October 2024.

Consistent with the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Regional Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sales: Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Draft GOM Oil and Gas EIS). The Draft GOM Oil and Gas EIS analyzes the potential impacts of a representative oil and gas lease sale in available OCS areas of the Western, Central, and Eastern Planning Areas and the associated potential site- and activity-specific approvals resulting from an OCS oil and gas lease sale. This notice of availability (NOA) announces the release of the Draft GOM Oil and Gas EIS, start of the public review and comment period, and dates and times for public meetings. After the public comment period, BOEM will address the comments received and publish the Final GOM Oil and Gas EIS.

BOEM published a document in the Federal Register of November 14, 2024, concerning a Notice of Availability for the California Offshore Wind Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. The document contained the incorrect start date of the 90-day comment period.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for SouthCoast Wind Energy LLC's (SouthCoast Wind) construction and operations plan (COP) for its proposed SouthCoast Wind Project (Project) offshore Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The FEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the Project as described in the COP (the proposed action) and the alternatives to the proposed action, including the no action alternative. The FEIS will inform BOEM's decision whether to approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove the COP.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes this information collection request (ICR) to renew Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1010-0072 with revisions.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the final programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) to analyze the potential impacts of wind energy development in six lease areas of the New York (NY) Bight. The Proposed Action for the final PEIS is the identification of specific measures at the programmatic stage that could avoid, minimize, mitigate, or monitor potential impacts. The final PEIS will inform BOEM's decision about whether to identify certain avoidance, minimization, mitigation, and monitoring (AMMM) measures at this stage that could potentially be required as conditions of approval for activities proposed by NY Bight lessees in their construction and operations plans (COPs) or defer the identification of such measures to each project-specific environmental review.

This Final Sale Notice (FSN) contains information pertaining to the areas available for commercial wind power leasing during Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 11 (ATLW-11) on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Maine. Specifically, this FSN details certain provisions and conditions of the leases, auction details, the lease form, criteria for evaluating competing bids, and procedures for award, appeal, and lease execution. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will offer eight leases for sale using an ascending clock auction with multiple-factor bidding: Lease OCS-A 0562, OCS-A 0563, OCS-A 0564, OCS-A 0565, OCS-A 0566, OCS-A 0567, OCS-A 0568, and OCS-A 0569 (lease areas). The first two lease areas (lease areas OCS-A 0562 and OCS-A 0563) comprise the North Region, and the remaining six lease areas comprise the South Region. Bidders are limited to bidding on no more than two lease areas at a time, and may not include in their bid more than one lease area in the North Region at a time. BOEM will use the BOEM Auction System for the lease sale. The lease areas are in the previously identified wind energy areas located in the Gulf of Maine offshore the States of Maine and New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The issuance of any lease resulting from this sale will not constitute approval of project-specific plans to develop offshore wind energy. Such plans, if submitted by the lessee, will be subject to environmental, technical, and public reviews prior to a BOEM decision on whether the proposed activity should be authorized.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the final environmental assessment (EA) and its finding that possible wind energy-related leasing, site assessment, and site characterization activities on the U.S. Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) (the Proposed Action) will not significantly impact the human environment. The draft EA analyzes the potential impacts of the Proposed Action and a No Action Alternative. The EA will inform BOEM's decision about whether it will issue commercial wind energy leases in the Gulf of Maine offshore the States of Maine and New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and its subsequent review of site assessment plans in the lease areas.

This final sale notice (FSN) contains information pertaining to the areas available for commercial wind power leasing during Pacific Wind Lease Sale 2 (PACW-2) on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore Oregon. Specifically, this FSN details certain provisions and conditions of the leases, auction details, the lease form, criteria for evaluating competing bids, and procedures for award, appeal, and lease execution. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will offer two lease areas using an ascending clock auction with multiple-factor bidding: Lease OCS-P 0566 and Lease OCS-P 0567 (Lease Areas). Bidders will be subject to a `one-per-customer' rule, as explained below. The Lease Areas are in the previously identified wind energy areas (WEAs) Brookings and Coos Bay. The issuance of any lease resulting from this sale will not constitute approval of project-specific plans to develop offshore wind energy. If submitted by the lessee, such plans, will be subject to environmental, technical, and public reviews prior to a BOEM decision on whether the proposed activity should be authorized.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes a new information collection request (ICR) to gather information regarding outdoor recreation and tourism in the Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Planning Area and adjacent coastal areas.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) on US Wind Inc.'s (US Wind) construction and operations plan (COP) for its proposed Maryland Offshore Wind Project (Project). The FEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the Project as described in the COP (the proposed action) and the alternatives to the proposed action, including the no action alternative. The FEIS will inform BOEM's decision whether to approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove the COP.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the joint record of decision (ROD) on the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the construction and operations plan (COP) submitted by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 1, LLC and Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 2, LLC (Atlantic Shores) for its proposed Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind South Project (Project) offshore New Jersey. The joint ROD includes the Department of the Interior's (DOI) decision regarding the COP; National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) decision, pending completion of all statutory processes, regarding Atlantic Shores' requested Incidental Take Regulations (ITR) and an associated Letter of Authorization (LOA) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA); and the Department of the Army's (DA) decision regarding authorizations under sections 10 and 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1889 (RHA), section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), and section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA). NMFS has adopted the final EIS to support its decision about whether or not to promulgate the requested ITR and issue a LOA to Atlantic Shores under the MMPA. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has adopted the final EIS to support its decision to issue a DA permit under sections 10 and 14 of the RHA, section 404 of the CWA, and section 103 of the MPRSA. The joint ROD concludes the National Environmental Policy Act process for each agency.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes this information collection request (ICR) to renew Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1010-0082.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the draft environmental assessment (EA) for the potential issuance of commercial wind energy leases in the Gulf of Maine offshore the States of Maine and New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The draft EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the site characterization and site assessment activities that are expected to take place if a commercial lease is issued. This notice of availability (NOA) announces the start of the public review and comment period, as well as the dates and times for public meetings on the draft EA. After BOEM holds the public meetings and addresses public comments submitted during the review period, BOEM will publish a final EA. The EA will inform BOEM's decision about whether it will issue commercial wind energy leases.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces a two- week extension of the comment period for the availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) to consider the potential environmental impacts associated with possible wind energy-related leasing and grant issuance, site assessment, and site characterization activities on the U.S. Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore Oregon. This notice of extension of the comment period for the notice of availability (NOA) announces the end of the extended comment period, as well as the dates and times for public meetings on the draft EA. After BOEM holds public meetings and addresses public comments submitted during the review period, BOEM will publish a final EA. The EA will inform BOEM's decision on whether to issue wind energy leases and grants in the Pacific wind energy areas (WEAs) offshore Oregon.

This document makes a technical correction in the preamble to the final rule titled, Risk Management and Financial Assurance for OCS Lease and Grant Obligations, which the Department of the Interior published in the Federal Register on April 24, 2024. This correction clarifies that the effective date of the rule is June 29, 2024.

The Department of the Interior (the Department or DOI), acting through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) ("the agencies"), is finalizing regulatory amendments to its renewable energy regulations under the authority of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). The notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for this final rule was published in the Federal Register on January 30, 2023. While the NPRM contemplated amendments only to the Department's existing renewable energy regulations that are administered by BOEM, this final rule also finalizes regulatory amendments previously proposed by BOEM that are now administered by BSEE and includes amendments to regulations resulting from the "Reorganization of Title 30Renewable Energy and Alternative Uses of Existing Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf" direct final rule, issued by the Department on January 31, 2023. This final rule eliminates unnecessary requirements for the deployment of meteorological (met) buoys; increases survey flexibility; improves the project design and installation verification process; establishes a public Renewable Energy Leasing Schedule; reforms BOEM's renewable energy auction regulations; tailors financial assurance requirements and instruments; clarifies safety management system regulations; revises other provisions; and makes technical corrections. This final rule advances the Department's energy policies in a safe and environmentally sound manner that will provide a fair return to the U.S. taxpayer.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) to consider the potential environmental impacts associated with possible wind energy- related leasing and grant issuance, site assessment, and site characterization activities on the U.S. Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore Oregon. This notice of availability (NOA) announces the start of the public review and comment period, as well as the dates and times for public meetings on the draft EA. After BOEM holds a public meeting and addresses public comments submitted during the review period, BOEM will publish a final EA. The EA will inform BOEM's decision on whether to issue wind energy leases and grants in the Pacific wind energy areas (WEAs) offshore Oregon.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes to hold Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 11 (ATLW-11) and offer multiple lease areas (Lease Areas) for commercial wind power development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Maine. The proposed Lease Areas are located in the Gulf of Maine offshore the States of Maine and New Hampshire, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This Proposed Sale Notice (PSN) contains information pertaining to the proposed Lease Areas, certain lease provisions and conditions, auction details, lease forms, criteria for evaluating competing bids, award procedures, appeal procedures, and lease execution procedures. The issuance of any lease resulting from a sale would not constitute approval of project-specific plans to develop floating offshore wind energy. Such plans, if submitted by the Lessee, would be subject to subsequent environmental, technical, and public reviews prior to a BOEM decision whether to approve them. BOEM is proposing an ascending clock auction with multiple-factor bidding.

The Department of the Interior (the Department or DOI), acting through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), is amending its risk management and financial assurance regulations. This final rule revises criteria for determining whether oil, gas, and sulfur lessees, right-of-use and easement (RUE) grant holders, and pipeline right-of- way (ROW) grant holders are required to provide financial assurance above the current minimum bonding levels to ensure compliance with their Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) obligations. This final rule streamlines the criteria for evaluating the financial health of lessees and grantees, codifies the use of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement's (BSEE) probabilistic estimates of decommissioning costs in setting the level of demands for supplemental financial assurance, removes restrictive provisions for third-party guarantees and decommissioning accounts, adds new criteria for cancelling supplemental financial assurance, and clarifies bonding requirements for RUEs serving Federal leases. BOEM estimates that a total of $6.9 billion in new supplemental financial assurance will be required from lessees and grant holders under this final rule to cover potential costs of decommissioning activities. This final rule significantly increases the amount of financial assurance available to the U.S. Government in the case of a lessee default and meaningfully reduces the risk to the government and consequently to the U.S. taxpayer. This final rulemaking does not apply to renewable energy activities.

On March 25, 2024, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published the "Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Vineyard Northeast Project on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Massachusetts" in the Federal Register (89 FR 20691). That document contained incorrect in-person meeting addresses for both venues. The correct addresses are: Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 5 p.m.-9 p.m., Clarke Center Auditorium, Mitchell College, 682 Montauk Avenue, New London, Connecticut 06320; and Thursday, April 18, 2024, 5 p.m.-9 p.m., Westport High School Cafeteria, 400 Old County Road, Westport, Massachusetts 02790.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the joint record of decision (ROD) on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the construction and operations plan (COP) submitted by Sunrise Wind, LLC (Sunrise Wind) for its proposed Sunrise Wind Offshore Wind Farm Project (Project), offshore New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The joint ROD includes the Department of the Interior's (DOI's) decision regarding the COP, the National Park Service's (NPS) decision regarding special use permits (SUPs) and a Right-of-Way (ROW) permit, and the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) plans for decision, pending completion of all statutory processes, regarding Sunrise Wind's requested Incidental Take Regulations (ITR) and an associated Letter of Authorization (LOA) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). NMFS has adopted the final EIS to support its decision of whether or not to promulgate the requested ITR under the MMPA. The NPS has adopted the final EIS to support its decision to issue a ROW permit and SUPs. The joint ROD concludes the National Environmental Policy Act process for each agency.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes to hold Gulf of Mexico Wind Lease Sale (GOMW-2) for multiple lease areas (Lease Areas) using a multiple-factor bidding auction format. BOEM will use new auction software for the lease sale, resulting in changes to its previous auction rules. This Proposed Sale Notice (PSN) contains information pertaining to the areas available for leasing, certain lease provisions and conditions, auction details, lease forms, criteria for evaluating competing bids, award procedures, appeal procedures, and lease execution procedures. The issuance of any lease resulting from this sale would not constitute approval of project-specific plans to develop offshore wind energy. Such plans, if submitted by the Lessee, would be subject to subsequent environmental, technical, and public reviews prior to a BOEM decision whether or not to approve them.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a construction and operations plan (COP) of a proposed offshore wind energy project submitted by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC (Atlantic Shores). This notice of intent (NOI) initiates the public scoping and comment process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Atlantic Shores proposes to construct and operate the project in Renewable Energy Lease Area OCS-A 0549 (Lease Area), which is approximately 81,129 acres and located 8.4 statute miles (mi) (7.3 nautical miles) offshore New Jersey and approximately 60 mi offshore New York State. Atlantic Shores proposes to develop the entire Lease Area, known as the Atlantic Shores North Project (the Project).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes this information collection request (ICR) to renew Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1010-0057.