🌊Offshore Downhole Commingling Regulatory Updates Overview
The Department of the Interior (DOI or Department), through the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), is revising the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) downhole commingling regulations consistent with the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBB). These administrative revisions update the regulations to ensure consistency with the OBBB when BSEE reviews a request for downhole commingling.
Learn More🌊Rescission of Renewable Energy Leasing Schedule Announced
The Department of the Interior (the Department or DOI), acting through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), is amending the Department's regulations to rescind a section that provides for publishing a renewable energy leasing schedule every 2 years. This section is not necessary because it is not mandated by the statute for renewable energy regulations.
Learn More⚒️BSEE Removes Outdated Sulphur Operations Regulations
The Department of the Interior (DOI or Department), through the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), is rescinding the majority of the provisions in its sulphur operations subpart and revising the subpart by applying other available regulatory requirements for similar operations to sulphur operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The existing regulations are outdated, duplicative of, or inconsistent with, other Department regulations. This direct final rule provides consistency and clarity to industry regarding regulatory requirements for sulphur operations by aligning the requirements with the Department's other BSEE-administered regulations.
Learn More⚖️Updated Bonding Requirements for Civil Penalty Appeals
On November 14, 2024, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) published final rules that amended appeal rights. Some of the language from the appeal rights section was inadvertently erased. This document corrects the final regulations.
Learn More📜Final Rule on Rescission of Cross References in BOEM Regulations
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is amending its regulations to rescind a section containing cross references. This section is not necessary because it is non-regulatory and only cites references to other regulations.
Learn More⚓New Temporary Safety Zones for Sunrise Wind Farm Construction
The Coast Guard is establishing 85 temporary safety zones around the construction of individual wind energy facilities during the development of the Sunrise Wind Farm project area. The project area lies within Federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf, specifically in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Renewable Energy Lease Area OCS-A 0487, approximately 16 nautical miles south of Martha's Vineyard, MA. This action protects life, property, and the environment during construction of each facility. When a safety zone is being enforced, only attending vessels and vessels with authorization are permitted to enter or remain in the safety zone.
Learn More🌊Amendments to Rename Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is amending its regulations that implement the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to revise language reading "Gulf of Mexico" or the associated acronym "GOM" to read "Gulf of America" or the associated acronym "GOA." Executive Order 14172 directs agencies to make this change. This final rule ensures that these regulations comply with this order.
Learn More🐚Removal of Marine Archaeology Protection Rule
Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress passed, and the President signed, a joint resolution disapproving the final "Protection of Marine Archaeology Resources" rule published by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on September 3, 2024. That rule required lessees and operators to submit an archaeological report with any oil and gas exploration or development plan they submit to BOEM for approval of proposed activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Under the joint resolution and by operation of the Congressional Review Act, the "Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources" rule has no force or effect.
Learn More🚢Coast Guard Establishes Safety Zones for Empire Wind Project
The Coast Guard is establishing 55 temporary safety zones around the construction of individual wind energy facilities during the development of the Empire Wind 1 Wind Farm project area. The area lies within Federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf, specifically in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Renewable Energy Lease Area OCS-A 0512, approximately 12 nautical miles south of Long Island, NY. This action protects life, property, and the environment during construction of each facility. When being enforced, only attending vessels and vessels with authorization are permitted to enter or remain in the temporary safety zones.
Learn More⚖️2025 Civil Penalties Adjustments for Offshore Energy Operations
This final rule implements the 2025 inflation adjustments to the maximum daily civil monetary penalties in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) regulations for violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA). These inflation adjustments are made pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Improvements Act) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum M-25-02. The 2025 adjustment multiplier of 1.02598 accounts for 1 year of inflation from October 2023 through October 2024.
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