Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

{{Short description|US Water Energy Agency}} {{Infobox government agency | agency_name = Bureau of Ocean Energy Management | seal = BOEM Logo.png | seal_width = | headquarters = Main Interior Building Washington, D.C. | formed = {{Start date|2011|10|01}} | preceding1 = Minerals Management Service | coordinates = | employees = 610 | budget = N/A | chief1_name = Matthew Giacona | chief1_position = Acting Director | parent_agency = {{nowrap|Department of the Interior}} | website = [http://www.boem.gov/ www.boem.gov] }}

The '''Bureau of Ocean Energy Management''' ('''BOEM''') is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior, established in 2010 by Secretarial Order.

On May 19, 2010, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signed a Secretarial Order dividing the Minerals Management Service (MMS) into three independent entities: BOEM, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and the Office of Natural Resources Revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Reorganization Of The Former MMS {{!}} Bureau of Ocean Energy Management |url=https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/reorganization/reorganization-former-mms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324141637/https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/reorganization/reorganization-former-mms |archive-date=2020-03-24 |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=www.boem.gov |language=en}}</ref> The most important legislation for BOEM is the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act (1953) to facilitate the federal government's leasing of its offshore mineral resources and energy resources.

In addition to the OCS Lands Act, the Submerged Lands Act (SLA) of 1953 grants individual states rights to the natural resources of submerged lands from the coastline to no more than 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) into the Atlantic, Pacific, the Arctic Oceans, and the Gulf of Mexico. The only exceptions are Texas and the west coast of Florida, where state jurisdiction extends from the coastline to no more than 3 marine leagues (16.2 km) into the Gulf of Mexico.

== Mission == BOEM's stated mission is to "manage development of U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) energy, mineral, and geological resources in an environmentally and economically responsible way."<ref>{{Cite web |title=About BOEM {{!}} Bureau of Ocean Energy Management |url=https://www.boem.gov/about-boem |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=www.boem.gov |language=en}}</ref>

=== Offshore energy === The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) is a significant source of oil and gas for the nation's energy supply. As of May 1, 2021, BOEM managed about 2,287 active oil and gas leases on approximately 12.1 million OCS acres.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oil and Gas Energy {{!}} Bureau of Ocean Energy Management |url=https://www.boem.gov/oil-and-gas-energy |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=www.boem.gov |language=en}}</ref>

In 2009, the Department of the Interior announced the final regulations for the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Renewable Energy Program, which was authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct). These regulations provide a framework for issuing leases, easements and rights-of-way for OCS activities that support production and transmission of energy from sources other than oil and natural gas.

=== Marine minerals === BOEM is the only federal agency with the authority to lease marine minerals from the OCS, including responding to commercial requests for OCS minerals such as gold, manganese, or other hard minerals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marine Minerals {{!}} Bureau of Ocean Energy Management |url=https://www.boem.gov/marine-minerals |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=www.boem.gov |language=en}}</ref>

=== Carbon sequestration === Carbon sequestration (CS) refers to a process of storing captured carbon dioxide (CO2) that leads to a reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere. Carbon sequestration activities can take many forms. One form of long-term storage is injection of captured CO2 into suitable underground geologic formations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carbon Sequestration {{!}} Bureau of Ocean Energy Management |url=https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/regulations-guidance/carbon-sequestration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206133811/https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/regulations-guidance/carbon-sequestration |archive-date=2023-02-06 |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=www.boem.gov |language=en}}</ref>

On November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law and gave the Department of the Interior the authority to grant a lease, easement, or right-of-way on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) for long-term sequestration of carbon dioxide that would otherwise go into the atmosphere and contribute to further climate change. BOEM is working with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) on a draft rule to implement this authority over the OCS CS projects.

=== Environmental studies === BOEM's environmental program ensures that environmental protection is a foremost and indispensable consideration in BOEM's decision-making.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Environment {{!}} Bureau of Ocean Energy Management |url=https://www.boem.gov/environment |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=www.boem.gov |language=en}}</ref>

BOEM uses science and law to inform our environmental analyses, conduct consultations, and design and conduct research. The environmental program informs three major areas that BOEM regulates on the outer continental shelf: oil and gas, renewable energy, and non-energy minerals such as sand and gravel or hard minerals.

==Directors== The agency's first director, serving from June 2010 to May 2014, was Tommy Beaudreau.<ref>{{cite web |title=Past Directors |url=http://www.boem.gov/Past-Directors/ |website=BOEM |access-date=4 March 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304000407/http://www.boem.gov/Past-Directors/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The second director was Abigail Ross Hopper, serving from January 2015 to January 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=Abigail Ross Hopper, Director |url=http://www.boem.gov/Director/ |website=BOEM |access-date=4 March 2015 |archive-date=1 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150301183142/http://www.boem.gov/Director/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> From 2017 to 2021, deputy director Walter Cruickshank served as the acting director.

From February 2021 to January 2023, the director was Amanda Lefton.<ref>{{cite web |title=Director |url=https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/boem-leadership/amanda-lefton |publisher=BOEM |access-date=4 January 2022 |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303101845/https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/boem-leadership/amanda-lefton |url-status=dead }}</ref> In an announcement with United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm on April 27, 2022, Lefton said that her agency would focus on efforts to promote offshore wind projects, saying that BOEM would work to "inspire confidence and demonstrate commitment" for lease planning and calling it her "number-one priority," ''National Fisherman'' reported.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BOEM issues offshore wind call areas for central Atlantic, Oregon waters |url=https://www.nationalfisherman.com/national-international/boem-issues-offshore-wind-call-areas-for-central-atlantic-oregon-waters |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=National Fisherman |language=en |archive-date=April 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427225452/https://www.nationalfisherman.com/national-international/boem-issues-offshore-wind-call-areas-for-central-atlantic-oregon-waters |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2023, Lefton announced her resignation, effective January 19.<ref name="2023-01-10 Reuters">{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-interior-department-names-elizabeth-klein-oversee-offshore-energy-2023-01-10/ |title=U.S. Interior Department names Elizabeth Klein to oversee offshore energy |first=Valerie |last=Volcovici |date=January 10, 2023 |website=Reuters |access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" ! {{abbr|No.|Number}} ! Picture ! Director ! Start date ! End date ! {{abbr|Refs.|References}} ! President(s) served under |- | 1 | 70px | Tommy Beaudreau | June 2010 | May 2014 | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Interior-Department-Completes-Reorganization-of-the-Former-MMS |title=Interior Department Completes Reorganization of the Former MMS |date=September 30, 2011 |publisher=DOI}}</ref> |rowspan=3| Barack Obama |- bgcolor="#e6e6aa" | acting | 70px | Walter Cruickshank | May 2014 | January 6, 2015 | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oedigital.com/news/456076-cruickshank-takes-lead-at-boem |title=Cruickshank takes lead at BOEM |date=May 16, 2014 |work=Offshore Engineer}}</ref> |- | 2 | 70px | Abigail Ross Hopper | January 6, 2015 | January 6, 2017 | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/secretary-jewell-names-maryland-energy-administrator-abigail-ross-hopper-as-director-of-bureau-of-ocean-energy-management |title=Secretary Jewell Names Maryland Energy Administrator Abigail Ross Hopper as Director of Bureau of Ocean Energy Management |date=December 18, 2014 |publisher=DOI}}</ref> |- bgcolor="#e6e6aa" | acting | 70px | Walter Cruickshank | January 6, 2017 | February 2, 2021 | |bgcolor="#ffffff"| Barack Obama Donald Trump Joe Biden |- | 3 | 70px | Amanda Lefton | February 2, 2021 | January 19, 2023 | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boem.gov/newsroom/press-releases/boem-announces-amanda-lefton-new-director |title=BOEM Announces Amanda Lefton as New Director |date=February 5, 2021 |publisher=BOEM}}</ref> |rowspan=2| Joe Biden |- | 4 |70px | Elizabeth Klein | January 19, 2023 | January 20, 2025 | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/elizabeth-klein-named-director-bureau-ocean-energy-management |title=Elizabeth Klein Named Director of Bureau of Ocean Energy Management |date=January 10, 2023 |publisher=DOI}}</ref> |- bgcolor="#e6e6aa" | acting | 70px | Walter Cruickshank | January 20, 2025 | June 10, 2025 | <ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rechargenews.com/policy/with-biden-era-chief-klein-gone-boem-gets-set-to-obey-trumps-orders-on-offshore-wind/2-1-1778850 |title=Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management confirms deputy now in charge and that it is preparing to carry out new president's reviews |date=February 12, 2025 |first=Tim |last=Ferry |magazine=Recharge}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://budsoffshoreenergy.com/2025/06/10/congratulations-walter-cruickshank/ |title=Congratulations Walter Cruickshank! |date=June 10, 2025 |work=Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) |first=Elmer Peter III |last=Danenberger}}</ref> | rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffff" | Donald Trump |- bgcolor="#e6e6aa" |acting | |Matthew Giacona |June 10, 2025 |Present |<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 2, 2025 |title=Trump to Appoint Oil and Gas Lobbyist to Oversee Offshore Drilling |url=https://www.citizen.org/news/trump-to-appoint-oil-and-gas-lobbyist-to-oversee-offshore-drilling/ |access-date=August 8, 2025 |website=Public Citizen |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lefebvre |first=Ben |date=2025-04-01 |title=Interior replaces longtime head of offshore energy agency with lobbyist |url=https://www.eenews.net/articles/interior-replaces-longtime-head-of-offshore-energy-agency-with-lobbyist/ |access-date=August 8, 2025 |website=E&E News |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |}

==Shipwrecks== BOEM keeps records of shipwrecks, to ensure the Nation's important historical sites are protected when offshore activities take place on the OCS. These shipwrecks, particularly when over fifty years old, may be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places,<ref>{{Cite web |title=36 CFR § 60.4 |url=https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-60/section-60.4 |url-status=live |access-date=19 June 2022 |website=National Archives |archive-date=1 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401035238/https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-60/section-60.4 }}</ref> and any new wells or pipelines have to be studied for their potential effect on archaeological sites on the outer continental shelf.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=4Uk3AQAAMAAJ&dq=Attakapas+Wildlife+Management+Area&pg=PA35 Google books] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017175702/https://books.google.com/books?id=4Uk3AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA35&dq=Attakapas+Wildlife+Management+Area&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiax5Oez5zSAhUJ94MKHU4-A3EQ6AEILzAE#v=onepage&q=Attakapas%20Wildlife%20Management%20Area&f=false |date=2022-10-17 }}: pp 3-179 & 3-180 (table 3-39 and 3-40), ''Proposed Use of Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading Systems On the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf'' - Retrieved 2017-02-19</ref>

===List of shipwrecks=== The BOEM maintains a list of shipwrecks and the location.

*''Northern Eagle'' (built 1857), a fishing schooner lost 1908-03-01<ref>[http://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?215018 FV Northern Eagle] - Retrieved 2017-02-19</ref> *''Carrie Strong'' (lost 1916) *''W.H. Marston'' (lost 1927) *''Western Empire'' was abandoned during a hurricane on September 18, 1875. Further research ruled out the wreck as the ''Western Empire'', and it is now believed to be a naval ship (now referred to as the BOEMRE Vessel ID No. 359) that may have been used as a merchant vessel.<ref>[https://www.promare.org/western-empire-shipwreck/ "Western Empire" Shipwreck] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016171241/https://www.promare.org/western-empire-shipwreck/|date=2021-10-16}}. Retrieved 2021-05-28.</ref> *''Nokomis'' (lost 1905)

====World War II shipwrecks==== There were over 100 attacks on ships in the Gulf of Mexico by German U-boats. Several were listed by the MMS and maintained by the BOEM.

*SS ''Gulfoil'' (built 1912, lost 1942-05-17), sunk by German submarine U-506<ref>[http://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?14894 SS Gulfoil]- Retrieved 2017-02-19</ref> *SS ''Gulfpenn'' (built 1921, lost 1942-05-13), sunk by German submarine U-506<ref>[http://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?14892 SS Gulfpenn]- Retrieved 2017-02-19</ref> *SS ''Robert E. Lee'' (built 1924, lost 1942-07-30), sunk by German submarine U-166<ref>[http://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?14925 SS Robert E. Lee] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816043520/https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?14925 |date=2021-08-16 }}- Retrieved 2017-02-19</ref> *SS ''Alcoa Puritan'' (built 1941, lost 1942-06-05), sunk by German submarine U-507<ref>[http://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?14887 SS Alcoa Puritan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506225622/http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?14887 |date=2008-05-06 }}- Retrieved 2017-02-19</ref> *SS ''Carrabulle'' (built 1920, lost 1942-05-26), sunk by German submarine U-106. *SS ''Amapala'' (built 1924, lost 1942-05-16), sunk by German submarine U-507<ref>[http://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?14914 SS Amapala]- Retrieved 2017-02-19</ref>

The only known German U-boat to be sunk in the Gulf is U-166. After sinking the SS ''Robert E. Lee'', the United States Navy patrol craft PC-566 reported hitting and sinking the submarine. This was questioned, and the sinking was attributed to a United States Coast Guard Grumman G-44 Widgeon that reported an attack over 100 miles away, thought to be the U-166. In 2001 the wreckage of U-166 was identified near the wreckage of the ''Robert E. Lee'', and in 2014 the record was set straight that PC-566 had actually sunk U-166. In 2014 the position, {{coord|28|37|N|90|45|W|dim:400000|display=inline}}, was designated a war grave.<ref>[https://www.boem.gov/BOEM-Newsroom/Press-Releases/2001/010615-pdf.aspx ''MMS Ensures Nation's Historic Shipwrecks are Protected as Archaeologists Share in U-Boat Discovery''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227220841/https://www.boem.gov/BOEM-Newsroom/Press-Releases/2001/010615-pdf.aspx |date=2016-12-27 }}- Retrieved 2017-02-19</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *[https://www.boem.gov/ Bureau of Ocean Energy Management] Official website *[https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/ocean-energy-management-bureau Bureau of Ocean Energy Management] in the Federal Register

{{DOI agencies}} {{United States government agencies involved in environmental science}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bureau of Ocean Energy Management}} Category:Government agencies established in 2011 Category:United States Department of the Interior agencies Category:Oil wells Category:Natural resources agencies in the United States Category:Environmental agencies in the United States Category:2011 establishments in the United States