The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced that it will begin preparing a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) for potential oil and gas lease sales off the coast of California. The review encompasses the Northern, Central and Southern California Planning Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
The action, published as a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register on February 27, 2026, initiates the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and marks the first formal step toward evaluating offshore leasing options under the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The Department of the Interior released a draft proposal in November 2025 to lease approximately 1.27 billion acres in the OCS, including in six areas off the coast of California.
The PEIS will analyze a representative California lease sale and assess environmental, economic and resource considerations that could inform lease sales currently scheduled for 2027 in the Central and Southern California planning areas, as well as any future sales off the state’s coast.
“California households are facing an energy affordability crisis, and inaction is no longer an option,” Acting BOEM Director Matt Giacona said in a statement. “This Notice of Intent reflects the administration’s commitment to responsibly evaluating offshore leasing as part of a broader strategy to lower costs, strengthen energy security, and support American jobs.”
BOEM said the representative lease sale would include all unleased blocks in federally managed portions of the planning areas that may contain economically recoverable oil and gas resources. The agency emphasized that the Notice of Intent does not authorize drilling or finalize any lease sale. Instead, it begins a multi-step review process that includes environmental analysis, public input and subsequent federal decision-making.
The notice opens a 30-day public scoping period during which tribal governments, state and local agencies, stakeholders and members of the public may submit comments. BOEM said input received during scoping will help define the scope of analysis, identify reasonable alternatives and outline potential mitigation measures for consideration in the PEIS. The agency is also inviting qualified government entities to participate as cooperating agencies in the environmental review process.
Under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, BOEM is responsible for managing offshore oil and gas leasing in federal waters. Lease sales, if ultimately held, can generate bonus bids, annual rental payments and production royalties for the federal government. Offshore activities also support employment across exploration, development and supply-chain sectors, according to the agency.
The programmatic environmental review will examine potential impacts on marine ecosystems, fisheries, coastal communities, air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, among other factors. The analysis is expected to evaluate cumulative impacts and alternatives, including a no-action alternative in which no lease sale would occur.