The Bureau Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced the publication of a final environmental assessment (EA) that considered the impacts of potential offshore wind leasing in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The area that was reviewed in the EA included 30 million acres just west of the Mississippi River to the Texas/Mexican border. BOEM issued a Proposed Sale Notice in the Federal Register February 24, 2023. Wind Energy Areas have been identified based on stakeholder and ocean user input. They are located offshore Texas and Louisiana in areas that appear most suitable for wind energy development. The next step in the process is to issue a Final Sale Notice, sometime later this year.
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), BOEM prepares environmental documents on various actions related to the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Program. These documents may be Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), depending upon the nature of the action in question or the significance of potential impacts associated with the action. It is the policy of BOEM to involve the public in preparing and implementing our NEPA procedures. In addition to posting opportunities for public participation on this web page, we typically place announcements in the Federal Register and/or in newspapers covering the areas potentially affected.
The Gulf of Mexico OCS Region of BOEM has been conducting environmental analyses of the effects of OCS oil and gas development since the inception of the NEPA of 1969. We have prepared and published more than 40 draft and final EIS. Our goal has always been to provide factual, reliable, and clear analytical statements in order to inform decision makers and the public about the environmental effects of proposed OCS activities and their alternatives. We view the EIS process as providing a balanced forum for early identification, avoidance, and resolution of potential conflicts. It is in this spirit that we welcome comments from all concerned parties.
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Record of Decision (Accessible) for Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 261 Official Signed (August 2023) | |
| Final environmental assessment (EA) for Gulf of Mexico Renewable Energy Leasing (May 2023) | |
| Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Gulf of Mexico Renewable Energy Leasing (May 2023) | |
| Record of Decision for Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 259 (February 2023) | |
| Final Supplemental EIS for Lease Sale 259 and 261 (January 2023) | |
| GOM LS 259 and 261 Draft Supplemental EIS (October 2022) | |
| Record of Decision for Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 257 (August 2021) | |
| Record of Decision for Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Proposed Geological and Geophysical Activities Western, Central, and Eastern Planning Areas Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (December 2020) | |
| Record of Decision for Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 256 (November 2020) | |
| Record of Decision for Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 254 (February 2020) | |
| Record of Decision for Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 253 (August 2019) | |
| Record of Decision for Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 252 (March 2019) | |
| Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement - Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Oil and Gas Lease Sales for 2020 (December 2018) | |
| Record of Decision for Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 251 (July 2018) | |
| Record of Decision for the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 250 (February 2018) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Lease Sale Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 2018 (Volume I: Chapters 1-8 and Keyword Index, Volume II: Appendices A-E) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Proposed Geological and Geophysical Activities; Western, Central, and Eastern Planning Areas; Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2017-051 (Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3, Volume 4) | |
| Record of Decision for the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Central Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 249 (July 2017) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Lease Sale Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 2018 (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2017-013) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2017-2022 Gulf of Mexico Lease Sales 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 256, 257, 259, and 261 Final Multisale Environmental Impact Statement. OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2017-009 (Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3) | |
| Record of Decision for the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Central Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 247 (December 2016) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Proposed Geological and Geophysical Activities, Wester, Central, and Eastern Planning Areas, Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale: 2017 Central Planning Area Lease Sale 247 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2016-061) | |
| Record of Decision for the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Western Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 248 (July 2016) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2017-2022 Gulf of Mexico Lease Sales 249,250,251,252,253,254,256,257,259, and 261 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2016-018 Volume 1, Volume 2) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale: 2017 Central Planning Area Lease Sale 247 Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2016-006) | |
| Record of Decision for the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Central Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 241 (February 2016) | |
| Record of Decision for the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Eastern Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 226 (February 2016) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale: 2016 Western Planning Area Lease Sale 248 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2016-005) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS, Oil and Gas Lease Sale: 2016, Western Planning Area Lease Sale 248, Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2015-032) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS, Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2016 and 2017, Central Planning Area Lease Sales 241 and 247, Eastern Planning Area Lease Sale 226, Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2015-033) | |
| Record of Decision for the Gulf of Mexico's Outer Continental Shelf Western Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 246 (August 2015) | |
| Record of Decision for the Gulf of Mexico's Outer Continental Shelf Central Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 235 (March 2015) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2016 and 2017 Central Planning Area Lease Sales 241 and 247 Eastern Planning Area Lease Sale 226 Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2015-001) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2015 and 2016 Western Planning Area Lease Sales 246 and 248 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2015-008) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2015 and 2016 Western Planning Area Lease Sales 246 and 248 Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-619) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2015-2017 Central Planning Area Lease Sales 235, 241, and 247; Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-655) | |
| Record of Decision for the Atlantic OCS Proposed Geological and Geophysical Activities Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Planning Areas, Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) | |
| Record of Decision for the Gulf of Mexico's Outer Continental Shelf Western Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 238 (July 2014) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale: 2015-2017; Central Planning Area Lease Sales 235, 241, and 247; Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-010) | |
| Atlantic OCS Proposed Geological and Geophysical Activities; Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Planning Areas; Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-001); Volume I: Chapters 1-8, Figures, Tables, and Keyword Index; Volume II: Appendix A; and Volume III: Appendices B-M | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale:2014-2016 Western Planning Area Lease Sales 238, 246, and 248 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-009) | |
| Record of Decision for the Gulf of Mexico's Outer Continental Shelf Central Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 231 (March 2014) | |
| Record of Decision for the Gulf of Mexico's Outer Continental Shelf Eastern Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 225 (March 2014) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2014 and 2016, Eastern Planning Area Lease Sales 225 and 226, Final Environmental Impact Statement Volume I: Chapters 1-8 and Keyword Index and Volume II: Figures, Tables, and Appendices | |
| Record of Decision for the Gulf of Mexico's Outer Continental Shelf Western Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 233 (August 2013) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2013-2014 Western Planning Area Lease Sale 233 Central Planning Area Lease Sale 231 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2013-0118) | |
| Record of Decision for the Gulf of Mexico's Outer Continental Shelf Central Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 227 (March 2013) | |
| Record of Decision for the Gulf of Mexico's Outer Continental Shelf Western Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 229 (November 2012) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2012-2017; Western Planning Area Lease Sales 229, 233, 238, 246, and 248; Central Planning Area Lease Sales 227, 231, 235, 241, and 247; Final Environmental Impact Statement; Volume I: Chapters 1-4.1; Volume II: Chapters 4.2-4.5 and 5; and Volume III: Chapters 6-8, Keyword Index, Figures, Tables, and Appendices (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2012-019) | |
| Record of Decision for Central Planning Area Sale 216/222 | |
| Proposed Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 213 Central Planning Area Environmental Assessment (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2009-053) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale: 2012; Central Planning Area Lease Sale 216/222; Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement; Volume I: Chapters 1-4; Volume II: Chapters 5-8, Appendices, and Keyword Index | |
| Record of Decision for Western Planning Area Sale 218 | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale: 2011 Western Planning Area Lease Sale 218 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (BOEM 2011-034) Volume I: Chapters 1-4 and Volume II: Chapters 5-8 and Appendices | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale: 2012 Central Planning Area Lease Sale 216/222 Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (BOEM 2011-027) | |
| Proposed Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 215; Western Planning Area; Environmental Assessment (MMS 2010-003) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2009-2012; Central Planning Area Sales 208, 213,216, and 222; Western Planning Area Sales 210, 215, and 218; Final Supplemental EnvironmentalImpact Statement (MMS 2008-041) | |
| Proposed Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 207; Western Planning Area; Environmental Assessment (MMS 2008-003) | |
| Site-Specific Environmental Assessment for an FPSO Facility | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 224; Eastern Planning Area; Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (MMS 2007-060) | Final October 2007 |
| Proposed Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 206; Central Planning Area; Environmental Assessment (MMS 2007-059) | Final October 2007 |
Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Scenario Examination: Onshore Waste Disposal (MMS 2007-051) Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Scenario Examination: Exploration and Development Activity (MMS 2007-052) Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Scenario Examination: Pipeline Landfalls (MMS 2007-053) | |
Record of Decision for Western Planning Area Sale 204 (July 2007) Record of Decision for Central Planning Area Sale 205 (August 2007) | |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2007-2012; Western Planning Area Sales 204, 207, 210, 215, and 218 Central Planning Area Sales 205, 206, 208, 213, 216, and 222; Final Environmental Impact Statement (MMS 2007-018) Volume I (Chapters 1-8 and Appendices) and Volume II (Tables and Figures) | Final April 2007 |
| Environmental Assessment Proposed OCS Lease Sale 200, Western Gulf of Mexico (MMS 2006-016) | |
| Environmental Assessment for Proposed OCS Lease Sale 198 Central Gulf of Mexico (MMS 2005-059) | |
| Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central Planning Area, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 198 (2006) Environmental Assessment (Federal Register Notice) | |
| Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for Proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 200 in the Western Gulf of Mexico (2006) (Federal Register Notice) | |
| Environmental Assessment for Independence Hub Surface Facilities and Subsea Development Project (MMS 2005-064) | |
| Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for Proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 198 in the Central Gulf of Mexico (2006) | |
Structure-Removal Operations on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Programmatic Environmental Assessment (MMS 2005-013) Explosive Removal Scenario Simulation Results Final Report (MMS 2004-064) | Final February 2005 |
| Proposed OCS Lease Sale 197, Eastern Gulf of Mexico (MMS 2004-069) | Final November 2004 |
| Proposed OCS Lease Sale 194, Central Gulf of Mexico (MMS 2004-068) | Final November 2004 |
| Geological and Geophysical Exploration for Mineral Resources on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf - Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (MMS 2004-054) | Final July 2004 |
| Proposed OCS Lease Sale 192, Western Gulf of Mexico (MMS 2004-007) | Final March 2004 |
| Environmental Assessment, Proposed OCS Lease Sale 190, Central Gulf of Mexico | Final October 2003 |
| Exploration Activities in the Eastern Sale Area: EPA, GOM OCS PEA (MMS 2003-008) | Final March 2003 |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales 189 and 197; Eastern Planning Area; Environmental Impact Statement Volume I and Volume II (MMS 2003-020) | Final May 2003 |
| Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2003-2007; Central Planning Area Sales 185, 190, 194, 198, and 201; Western Planning Area Sales 187, 192, 196, and 200; Environmental Impact Statement Volume I and Volume II (MMS 2002-052) | Final November 2002 |
| Programmatic Environmental Assessment; Evaluation of Freeport-McMoRan Sulphur LLC's Applications to Inject OCS-Generated Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Exempt Exploration and Production (E&P) Waste intoSalt Caverns and Caprock on Sulphur and Salt Lease OCS-G 9372, Main Pass Block 299 | Final September 2002 |
| Proposed Use of Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading Systems On the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf, Western and Central Planning Areas, Final Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2000-090) | January 2001 |
| Deepwater Grid EA's | |
| Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 9 Site-Specific Evaluation of Energy Resource Technology, Inc.'s Supplemental Development Operations Coordination Document, S-7156 Phoenix Project Green Canyon Blocks 236 and 237 | Final 2008 |
| Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 5 Site-Specific Evaluation of Shell Offshore Inc.'s Initial Development Operations Coordination Document, N-8809 Perdido Project Alaminos Canyon Blocks 812, 813, 814, and 857 | Final 2007 |
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 13; Site-Specific Evaluation of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation's Initial Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7753; Marco Polo Project; Green Canyon Block 608 | Final September 2003 |
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 3; Evaluation of Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas Corporation's Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7625; Gunnison Project; Garden Banks Blocks 667, 668, and 669 – April 2003 | Final April 2003 |
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 7; Evaluation of Conoco Inc.'s Initial Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7506; Magnolia Project; Garden Banks Blocks 783 and 784 | Final February 2003 |
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 16; Site-Specific Evaluation of BP Exploration and Production, Inc.'s Initial Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7469; Thunder Horse Project; Mississippi Canyon Block 777 Unit (Blocks 775, 776, 777, 778, 819, 820, 821, and 822) | Final December 2002 |
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 12; Evaluation for Murphy Exploration and Production Company's Initial Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7269; Medusa Project; Mississippi Canyon Blocks 538 and 582 | Final July 2002 |
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 15; Site-Specific Evaluation of TotalFinaElf Exploration and Production USA, Inc.'s Initial Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7249; Matterhorn Project; Mississippi Canyon Block 243 | Final March 2002 |
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 10; Site-Specific Evaluation of BP Exploration and Production, Inc.'s Joint Initial Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7216; Holstein Project; Green Canyon Blocks 644 and 645 | Final November 2001 |
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 4; Evaluation of Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas Corporation's Development Operations Coordination Document, N-7045; Nansen Project; East Breaks, Blocks 602 and 646 | Final July 2001 |
- Electromagnetic Fields: Background and Potential Impacts of Offshore Wind Farms on Marine Organisms (BOEM White Paper No: 2024-055)
- Programmatic Description of the Potential Effects from Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil- and Gas-Related Activities: A Supporting Information Document (OCS Report BOEM 2023-053)
- Coastal Land Use in the Atlantic Region: General Social and Economic Baseline Information for Environmental Impact Statements (OCS Study BOEM-2021-089)
- Wakes Across the Gulf: Historic Sea Lanes and Shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico (TR-BOEM-2021-057)
- Description of Helicopter Operations and Utilization in the Gulf of Mexico (OCS Study BOEM-2021-047)
- Biological Environmental Background Report for the Gulf of Mexico (OCS Report BOEM 2021-015)
- Gulf of Mexico OCS Regulatory Framework (OCS Report BOEM 2020-059)
- HPHT Production in the Gulf of Mexico (OCS Report BOEM 2020-060)
- Gulf of Mexico Catastrophic Spill Event Analysis (OCS Report BOEM 2021-007)
- Essential Fish Habitat Assessment for the Gulf of Mexico (BOEM 2022-032)
- Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Scenario Examination: Onshore Waste Disposal (OCS Report MMS 2007-051)
- Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Scenario Examination: Exploration and Development Activity (OCS Report MMS 2007-052)
- Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Scenario Examination: Pipeline Landfalls (OCS Report MMS 2007-053)