Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sales in the California Program Areas

On February 26, 2026, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced its intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement for proposed oil and gas lease sales in the Northern, Central and Southern California Program Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf, the initial step under the National Environmental Policy Act which initiates the process to analyze a representative California lease sale and inform decisions under the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.

The programmatic environmental impact statement will support the first Central and Southern California lease sales currently scheduled for 2027 under the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Program and, as appropriate, future California sales.

Current Stage of the PEIS Process

A 30-day public scoping period opened on February 27, 2026, during which BOEM invites input from all interested parties, including Federal, State, and local governments, and the general public, may submit written comments on the scope of the California Oil and Gas PEIS, significant issues, reasonable alternatives, potential mitigation measures, and the types of oil and gas activities of interest in the proposed lease sale areas. Federally recognized tribal nations wishing to comment may choose when and how to convey their input, including through the comment process described here, and they may also choose to request government-to-government consultation.