BOEM Reaffirms Gulf Lease Sales 259 and 261
February 24, 2026
The Bureau of Ocean Energy announced a Record of Decision reaffirming its prior decisions regarding Gulf of America’s Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sales 259 and 261. This ROD supports BOEM’s continued commitment to responsible offshore energy development while strengthening environmental safeguards and legal compliance.
This decision follows the August 29, 2025, publication of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Gulf of America Regional OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales and Post-Lease Activities. The Programmatic EIS provides a framework for future environmental review of post-lease plans, permits, and site-specific activities. It will help ensure consistency and efficiency in future National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, evaluations across the Gulf region.
The Programmatic EIS also addresses recent court rulings related to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions analysis and the protection of Rice’s whales, a federally protected marine species.
Key Highlights:
- Reaffirmed Decisions for Lease Sales 259 and 261: The ROD confirms the Department’s direction for these lease sales while reinforcing the use of sound science and environmental responsibility.
- Strengthened Environmental Review Framework: The new Programmatic EIS enables more robust and transparent environmental evaluations for future exploration, development, and decommissioning activities in the Gulf.
- Enhanced Legal and Ecological Accountability: BOEM’s updated analyses address legal findings concerning environmental impacts and species protections, ensuring the bureau’s actions are fully informed and compliant with environmental law.
- Pathway for Long-Term Stewardship: This decision positions BOEM to more effectively balance domestic energy production with marine conservation and climate priorities in the Gulf of America OCS region.
