Make A Public Comment: Offshore Drilling
Leave A Public Comment Here
What is Being Proposed?
When Trump came into office for his second term, he tasked the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management with drafting a leasing plan for offshore oil and gas drilling. This would replace the existing plan that was established by President Biden and was set to last until 2029. The new plan has been drafted and includes 34 new lease sites that would open up over one billion acres of untouched areas of the ocean. There are 34 proposed sites across three regions: California, the Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska. The Center for Biological Diversity noted in their press release on November 20th, 2025 that this is the first time the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management “will not be conducting an environmental review of the plan, and it has indicated that it may not hold public hearings.” It is frustrating to see the process being modified to further reduce protections for our planet, and it makes it that much more important that those who oppose the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure raise their voices.
Impacts By Region:
Gulf of Mexico- Covering a vast area of our coasts, these projects will have a detrimental impact on marine ecosystems and species. There is major concern for marine mammals, whales in particular. The Gulf of Mexico is home to endemic species, including the Rice whale who spends its whole life in this region. The critically endangered North Atlantic Right whale has also been spotted in the Gulf of Mexico on occasion and they have critical habitats along the eastern coast of Florida, meaning the surrounding habitats the whales depend on may be altered, thereby affecting the critical habitat. The Gulf of Mexico is also an important region for threatened corals, sea turtles, and Manta rays. Animals now protected under Appendix 1 under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) are finally gaining protections, and will now face another threat that will slow the recovery of their populations. Some of these species include the Oceanic Whitetip shark, Giant Manta ray, and Smalltooth sawfish. The Gulf of Mexico is also a particularly vulnerable region, having experienced decades of eutrophic conditions that have created dead zones due to an influx of nutrient run-off from farms along the Mississippi River into the Gulf. Coastal communities in the Gulf have disputed offshore drilling in this region before, and are prepared to reject this proposal again, to protect the health of their communities and support the local tourism industry.
Alaska- The proposed drilling sites all around Alaska are in untouched areas where anthropogenic noise is seldom a concern. This new stressor will impact echolocation for native beluga whales, North Pacific Right whales, and many other species that live in these waters. Echolocation allows whales and other creatures to detect objects by using sound. Noise pollution will impair their ability to find food, detect danger, and locate other members of their pod. Whales in this region must be protected both for the balance of the ecosystem and to allow Native American communities to carry on traditions. Beluga is a common foodsource for native nations, who comprise around one fifth of the Alaskan population. Similarly, oil spills in this region would be detrimental causing harm to the land and sea as well as the locals who are subsistence fishing, and rely on this consistent food source.
**Please note that whaling as a food source is common among native nations and is not the cause of low populations of whales. Boat strikes from commercial fishing and export, climate change, pollution, and historic overconsumption of whales for products like oil have decimated populations. We must conserve these species to simultaneously preserve native traditions. Fishing of beluga whales is also forbidden for the Cook Inlet Beluga population, which is critically endangered.
California- In California, there has been strong opposition from state leaders at this proposal to open up federal waters to offshore drilling. Much of this area was previously protected by former President Biden, and has been closed to offshore drilling for decades. There has been a statewide moratorium on offshore drilling along California’s coast since 1994, but this only applies to waters within the state’s jurisdiction. The sites proposed by the Trump administration are in federally managed waters, causing tension amongst the administration and state representatives. The moratorium was put in place after a severe oil spill in Santa Barbara that took place in 1969. The environmental and economic toll was astronomical, spurring action that would prevent future harm to the California coast. California’s marine economy contributes billions in Gross Domestic Product every year and employs Californians across various industries including tourism, recreation, fisheries, etc. Oil spills would be detrimental to the well being of marine life, communities along the coast, and the economic impacts would be felt around the country.
What You Will Do:
The proposal for opening up these 34 sites to offshore oil and gas drilling is subject to a 60 day public comment that is open until January 23rd. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management must review every submission they receive from the public and take that into consideration before finalizing the sites and officially launching the lease sale.
American citizens are encouraged to speak out and submit a public comment to the federal register. Check out our tips and template below and don’t forget to submit before January 23rd!
Tips for Writing A Public Comment:
Introduce Yourself- Say your name (just first name will do if you prefer some anonymity) and your role. This can be a job title, identifying yourself as a concerned conservationist, loving parent, etc. This frames your perspective for the reader, so they understand how different stakeholders feel about the decision at hand.
Make it personal to you while still being professional. It is important the reader understands why you are speaking out on this issue as well as how it connects to your life and values.
Tailor your comment to your interests and passions. If you know a lot about a specific species, region, or environmental impact you can expand on that and share your reasons for wanting to increase protections (while keeping it relevant to the decision in question).
Bonus Action:
Reach out to your representative and encourage them to speak out against this proposal and leave a public comment as well. Feel free to customize it and be sure to fill out the template with your personal information!
Not sure who your Rep is? Find them here by entering your address
Leave A Public Comment Here
Public Comment Template: (feel free to customize it and be sure to fill out the template with your personal information)
To the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
My name is {insert name here} and I strongly oppose the proposed 11th National Offshore Leasing Program which expands offshore drilling sites in our federal waters. I am deeply concerned about the environmental and economic impacts of expanding offshore drilling leases when we have cheaper and more sustainable alternative energy sources.
{Describe who are you and why are you writing this message today}
The proposed leasing program is creating changes to the existing program which is not set to expire for another 3 years. It is an ineffective use of government resources to preemptively replace the program when there is already strong opposition to offshore drilling among the American public, according to Oceana’s 2024 poll. Additionally, it is important to note the disapproval from the states that would be impacted. State leaders in Alaska, California, and Florida have outwardly expressed opposition to the expansion of offshore drilling in their waters which threatens the local tourism industry, fisheries, and greenhouse gas reduction goals. This new plan would open up over one billion acres of untouched areas of the oceans to increased vessel traffic, sediment disturbance, noise pollution, and oil spills, causing further damage to these vulnerable marine ecosystems. Offshore drilling threatens marine life, including endangered species that inhabit the regions with proposed drilling sites.
The new leasing program would directly result in increased greenhouse gas emissions at a time when it is critical we transition to clean energy which is more affordable and has fewer environmental impacts. I strongly oppose expansion of new fossil fuel infrastructure, particularly in our oceans where oil spills and other environmental impacts associated with it will simultaneously harm the ecosystem and contribute to the climate crisis. Developing new fossil fuel infrastructure and expanding the lease program directly contradicts statewide emission reductions goals around the country and does not align with our community goals.
Each region will suffer severe environmental damage that I am deeply concerned about. The proposed lease sites are home to endangered species that could potentially go extinct as their critical habitats are degraded. Some environmental concerns I have for the proposed regions include:
Gulf of Mexico- Covering a vast area of our coasts, these projects will have a detrimental impact on marine ecosystems and species. There is major concern for marine mammals, whales in particular. The Gulf of Mexico is home to endemic species, including the Rice whale who spends its whole life in this region. The critically endangered North Atlantic Right whale has also been spotted in the Gulf of Mexico on occasion and they have critical habitats along the eastern coast of Florida, meaning the surrounding habitats the whales depend on may be altered, thereby affecting the critical habitat. The Gulf of Mexico is also an important region for threatened corals, sea turtles, and Manta rays. Animals now protected under Appendix 1 under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) are finally gaining protections, and will now face another threat that will slow the recovery of their populations. Some of these species include the Oceanic Whitetip shark, Giant Manta ray, and Smalltooth sawfish. The Gulf of Mexico is also a particularly vulnerable region, having experienced decades of eutrophic conditions that have created dead zones due to an influx of nutrient run-off from farms along the Mississippi River into the Gulf. Coastal communities in the Gulf have disputed offshore drilling in this region before, and are prepared to reject this proposal again, to protect the health of their communities and support the local tourism industry.
Alaska- The proposed drilling sites all around Alaska are in untouched areas where anthropogenic noise is seldom a concern. This new stressor will impact echolocation for native beluga whales, North Pacific Right whales, and many other species that live in these waters. Echolocation allows whales and other creatures to detect objects by using sound. Noise pollution will impair their ability to find food, detect danger, and locate other members of their pod. Whales in this region must be protected both for the balance of the ecosystem and to allow Native American communities to carry on traditions. Beluga is a common foodsource for native nations, who comprise around one fifth of the Alaskan population. Similarly, oil spills in this region would be detrimental causing harm to the land and sea as well as the locals who are subsistence fishing, and rely on this consistent food source.
California- In California, there has been strong opposition from state leaders at this proposal to open up federal waters to offshore drilling. Much of this area was previously protected by former President Biden, and has been closed to offshore drilling for decades. There has been a statewide moratorium on offshore drilling along California’s coast since 1994, but this only applies to waters within the state’s jurisdiction. The sites proposed by the Trump administration are in federally managed waters, causing tension amongst the administration and state representatives. The moratorium was put in place after a severe oil spill in Santa Barbara that took place in 1969. The environmental and economic toll was astronomical, spurring action that would prevent future harm to the California coast. California’s marine economy contributes billions in Gross Domestic Product every year and employs Californians across various industries including tourism, recreation, fisheries, etc. Oil spills would be detrimental to the well being of marine life, communities along the coast, and the economic impacts would be felt around the country.
{Why you care about protecting the oceans and stopping the expansion of offshore drilling.}
Thank you for your time and consideration as the proposed 11th National Offshore Leasing Program is assessed. I urge you to consider the environmental damage that is an inevitable result of expanding offshore drilling in federal waters. We have exploited our oceans for centuries and we finally have the scientific understanding and solutions to use resources in a more sustainable manner. I firmly believe that this proposal will move the United States backwards, rather than allowing us to be a leader in ocean conservation and renewable energy. Please consider the impacts offshore drilling will have on our oceans and coastal communities.