The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) develops the Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program (National OCS Program) for oil and gas development in accordance with the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCS Lands Act). This National OCS Program establishes a five-year schedule of oil and gas lease sales proposed for the U.S. OCS. The National OCS Program specifies the size, timing, and location of potential leasing activity that the Secretary of the Interior determines will best meet national energy needs for the five-year period under consideration.

Currently, BOEM is working under the approved 2017–2022 Program. However, as directed in Executive Order 13795 (April 28, 2017) and Secretary's Order 3350 (May 1, 2017), BOEM is initiating a process to develop a new National OCS Program for 2019–2024 that, if approved, will supersede the 2017–2022 Program. The first of three proposals for 2019–2024, the Draft Proposed Program, was released on January 4, 2018. Comments on the DPP or Programmatic EIS should be submitted by March 9, 2018. Comments can be submitted Online (Preferred Method) or Mail/Hand delivered.

Public meetings will take place across the country using an open-house format, so participants can arrive any time during the scheduled meeting time. At the meetings, participants can ask questions, share information, talk with our team members one-on-one, and learn more about the National OCS Program. We also encourage participants to submit written comments to inform BOEM of specific issues, impacting factors, environmental resources, alternatives to the proposed action, and mitigation measures to consider in its analyses.

A meeting will be held in Maryland on Jan. 16 from 3-7 p.m. at:

Double Tree by Hilton
210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 224-3150
Hotel Website

For more information, visit https://www.boem.gov/National-Program/.