The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) reaffirming its prior approvals for the Gulf Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sales 259 and 261, the agency announced Feb. 24.
The decision follows publication of BOEM’s Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Gulf of America Regional OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales and Post-Lease Activities on Aug. 29, 2025. According to BOEM, the Programmatic EIS establishes a regionwide framework for environmental review of post-lease plans, permits and site-specific activities, and is intended to provide greater consistency in future evaluations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
BOEM said the updated environmental analysis addresses recent federal court rulings related to greenhouse gas emissions and protections for Rice’s whale, a federally protected species found in the Gulf. The agency stated that the Programmatic EIS incorporates revised analysis to respond to those legal findings and to strengthen documentation of environmental impacts.
The ROD confirms the Department of the Interior’s direction for Lease Sales 259 and 261 while incorporating the updated environmental review framework. BOEM said the approach is designed to support offshore energy development in the Gulf while reinforcing environmental safeguards and legal compliance.
According to the agency, the Programmatic EIS will serve as the foundation for future reviews of exploration, development and decommissioning activities in the Gulf OCS region. BOEM stated that the framework is intended to improve transparency and efficiency in subsequent NEPA reviews by applying consistent assumptions and mitigation measures across the region.
Lease Sales 259 and 261 are part of the federal offshore oil and gas leasing program covering the Gulf OCS, one of the nation’s primary offshore energy-producing regions. BOEM said the Record of Decision positions the agency to continue balancing domestic energy production with marine conservation and climate considerations in future Gulf lease actions.
