On April 22, 2026, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a final environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to authorize well stimulation treatments, including fracking, on Platform Gilda offshore Ventura County.
The EIA completes a fast-tracked federal review of the proposed treatments on up to 16 existing wells at the platform as part of DCOR LLC’s update to its Development and Production Plan. The EIS is not an approval of the project. A separate record of decision will determine whether the activity is authorized.
BOEM said it completed the review in 28 days under the Department of the Interior’s “alternative arrangements” for National Environmental Policy Act compliance during a declared national energy emergency. Typical environmental reviews can often take several years.
The expedited review is part of broader federal efforts to expand domestic oil and gas production following executive actions prioritizing energy security. DCOR has argued that additional well stimulation at Platform Gilda is necessary to sustain offshore production and reduce reliance on foreign energy sources.
BOEM framed the proposal as an incremental production enhancement using existing infrastructure, avoiding the environmental footprint associated with new offshore development.
Platform Gilda, installed in 1981 and located roughly nine miles offshore Ventura County, has produced approximately 42.6 million barrels of oil and 51.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas as of the end of 2025, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
State Opposition
California officials have challenged the expedited federal process. Rob Bonta formally opposed the review in a March 30 comment letter, arguing that the use of emergency procedures violates federal law and prior court orders governing offshore well stimulation.
Bonta argued that BOEM is bound by a 2022 Ninth Circuit decision and subsequent district court injunction requiring BOEM to complete a full EIS and comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) before approving any permits for well stimulation treatments.
The dispute sets up a potential federal-state conflict over offshore energy development authority and environmental review standards, particularly as the federal government moves to accelerate permitting under emergency declarations.
The outcome could be a test case for the use of emergency NEPA procedures to advance offshore oil production and could shape future federal actions on energy infrastructure permitting in California waters.