The programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will guide decisions on the first proposed Gulf of Mexico lease sale under the programme. Credit: Matt Gertson/Shutterstock.

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced the availability of the draft programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) for the GOM regional Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas lease sales.

This development is a significant step in the process for future oil and gas leasing in the region.

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In December 2023, the Department of the Interior published the 2024–29 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing programme.

The programme includes three oil and gas lease sales in the GOM over the next five years, representing the fewest oil and gas lease sales for a five-year programme in history.

The reduced number of oil and gas lease sales from past programmes is designed to enable the US to meet its energy needs while advancing the transition to clean energy.

The programmatic EIS is set to inform the decision for the first GOM oil and gas lease sale proposed in the leasing programme.

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It is also expected to be utilised, and supplemented as necessary, for decisions on future proposed GOM lease sales.

Additionally, the EIS will support post-lease site and activity-specific analyses and approvals related to OCS oil and gas.

The programme does not include any lease sales in the Atlantic, Pacific and Alaskan waters.

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the BOEM is prohibited from issuing a lease for offshore wind development unless at least 60 million acres have been offered for oil and gas leasing on the OCS in the previous year.

The BOEM will make the final programmatic EIS available to the public at least 30 days before issuing any decision.

The notice of availability will be published in the federal register shortly, initiating a 45-day comment period.