The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has rescinded its record of decision for the Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sale 257.
The decision pauses planning for the proposed sale—the first scheduled for 2021—which was expected to occur in March.
The ROD is being rescinded in response to Executive Order 14008, which President Joe Biden signed on Jan. 27. The order directed the Secretary of the Interior to pause new oil and gas leasing on public lands and offshore waters pending completion of a comprehensive review of federal oil and gas activities.
National Ocean Industries Association President Erik Milito issued a statement saying the organization hopes the lease sale will take place after the administration completes of its review. He noted that under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Interior completed multiple environmental reviews and specifically considered the climate impacts in 2016 during the Obama administration, concluding that greenhouse gas emissions would be higher without lease sales because energy production would be outsourced to foreign counties resulting in a higher carbon footprint.
