BOEM has identified the proposals, alternatives, and mitigating measures to be analyzed in an Environmental Impact Statement covering a proposed offshore oil and natural gas lease sale in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico (GOM).
The proposed Eastern GOM sale under consideration, Sale 225, is included in the Proposed Final Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017. Sale 225 is tentatively scheduled to be held in March 2014.
BOEM published a Call for Information and Nominations/Notice of Intent (Call/NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in the Federal Register in November 2011, and subsequent scoping meetings have been held. This area identification decision will be incorporated in the EIS.
The general area of the proposed sale covers approximately 657,905 acres, including a triangular-shaped area south of this area bordered by the Central Planning Area boundary on the West and the Military Mission Line (86º 41’W) on the East. The area is south of eastern Alabama and western Florida; the nearest point of land is 125 miles northwest in Louisiana. For a map of the area, go to: /sites/default/files/uploadedFiles/OCS_Lower_48_Strategy_20111104_v1.pdf.