The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has taken the first formal step toward potential new offshore oil and gas lease sales off California, issuing two Calls for Information and Nominations covering areas in Southern and Central California.
Published in the Federal Register on Jan. 27, the calls begin the leasing process outlined under federal regulations and seek industry nominations along with public input on environmental, socioeconomic, and other considerations tied to possible offshore development. The areas under review were included in the Department of the Interior’s Draft Proposed 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2026–2031, released in November 2025.
According to BOEM, the Southern California and Central California planning areas could each see a potential lease sale as early as 2027, though the agency emphasized that issuing the calls does not represent a decision to proceed with leasing. Areas identified through the process may still be removed from consideration before any sale is finalized, BOEM said in a press release.
The calls are intended to gather information from a broad range of stakeholders, including energy companies, coastal communities, tribal governments, fisheries interests, and environmental groups. BOEM will use the feedback to evaluate site-specific conditions and determine whether to advance to the next pre-sale steps, subject to environmental reviews and other legal requirements.
BOEM Acting Director Matt Giacona said the effort is aimed at assessing resource potential while maintaining environmental safeguards, describing the move as an early-stage evaluation rather than a commitment to development.
The public comment period runs for 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register. Documents, maps, and instructions for submitting comments are available through the federal rulemaking portal.
