How do I submit a public comment on Risk Management and Financial Assurance for OCS Lease?

The public comment window for this decision closed on March 9, 2026. The record of what was at stake stays on this page.

When is the public comment deadline for Risk Management and Financial Assurance for OCS Lease?

The comment window closed on March 9, 2026.

Do public comments actually change federal decisions?

Yes, when they are substantive. Agencies are legally required to read and respond to substantive comments before finalizing a rule, and specific personal comments about real places and real uses carry far more weight than identical form letters. Courts have overturned rules when agencies ignored substantive comments.

Affects public lands

Oppose Risk Management and Financial Assurance for OCS Lease

Risk Management and Financial Assurance for OCS Lease and Grant Obligations; Extension of Public Comment Period

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management· Outer Continental ShelfFederal Register 2026-09208 ↗

Drilling Climate Clean water

Open water on the Outer Continental Shelf off Virginia (BOEM photo) · public land, held in trust for you

BOEM is extending the public comment period by seven days for a proposed rule on risk management and financial assurance for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leases and grants. The rule would set requirements for how energy companies manage financial risks and guarantee they can cover costs tied to offshore leases. It affects offshore energy operators, environmental advocates, and anyone with a stake in how the federal government holds industry accountable for OCS activities.

In the agency’s own words

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is extending the public comment period on our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled "Risk Management and Financial Assurance for OCS Lease and Grant Obligations" by seven days. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered.

Federal Register 2026-09208 ↗

The reporting behind this

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