Data / Federal rules / 2026-15953
Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf-Revisions to the Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf
The Ocean Energy Management Bureau published this proposed rule in the Federal Register on August 6, 2026. Comments closed on October 5, 2026.
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What the agency says
The Department of the Interior (DOI or Department), acting through BSEE and BOEM (collectively, "the Bureaus"), is proposing to revise its existing regulations for exploratory drilling and related operations on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), to reduce unnecessary burdens on stakeholders while ensuring that energy exploration on the Arctic OCS is safe and environmentally responsible.\1\ This proposed rule would revise certain requirements promulgated through the rule entitled, Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf--Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf ("2016 Arctic Exploratory Drilling Rule") (see 81 FR 46478). This proposed rule would modify existing Arctic OCS blowout preventer (BOP) real-time monitoring requirements and add new provisions to BSEE's regulations pertaining to requirements for crane operations on artificial islands, suspensions of operations (SOO), and suspensions of production (SOP). This proposed rule would also revise certain parts of the Exploration Plan (EP) and Development and Production Plan (DPP) regulations implemented by BOEM. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Key facts
- Document number
- 2026-15953
- Type
- Proposed rule
- Action
- Proposed rule
- Agency
- Interior Department; Safety and Environmental Enforcement Bureau; Ocean Energy Management Bureau
- Published
- August 6, 2026
- Comments due
- October 5, 2026
- Dates
- Submit comments on this proposed rule to BSEE on or before October 5, 2026. The Bureaus may not fully consider comments received after this date. You may submit comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the information collection burden in this proposed rule by September 8, 2026. The deadline for comments on the information collection burden does not affect the deadline for the public to
- Docket
- Docket ID: BSEE-2026-0133 EEEE500000-256E1700D2-ET1SF0000.EAQ000
- Regulation ID (RIN)
- 1082-AA05
- Code of Federal Regulations
- 30 CFR 250; 30 CFR 254; 30 CFR 550
- Topics
- Administrative practice and procedure; Continental shelf; Environmental impact statements; Environmental protection; Government contracts; Incorporation by reference; Investigations; Mineral resources; Oil and gas exploration; Penalties; Pipelines; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Sulfur
- Pages
- 59
Other documents from the Ocean Energy Management Bureau
| Document | Type | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing; Corrections 2026-21346 | Final rule | Oct 19 |
| Risk Management and Financial Assurance for OCS Lease and Grant Obligations; Extension of Public Comment Period 2026-09208 · significant | Proposed rule | May 8 |
| Risk Management and Financial Assurance for OCS Lease and Grant Obligations 2026-04517 · significant | Proposed rule | Mar 9 |
| Administrative Revisions to Regulations Related to Outer Continental Shelf Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur 2026-03690 | Proposed rule | Feb 24 |
| Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf 2025-22767 | Final rule | Dec 15, 2025 |
| Rescission of Expired 1-Year Grace Period for Data Extensions; Corrections 2025-18561 | Final rule | Sep 25, 2025 |
| Rescission of Expired 1-Year Grace Period for Data Extensions 2025-15325 | Final rule | Aug 12, 2025 |
| Rescission of Renewable Energy Leasing Schedule 2025-14805 | Final rule | Aug 5, 2025 |
Everything from the Ocean Energy Management Bureau · Rules on administrative practice and procedure · Rules on continental shelf · Rules on environmental impact statements · Published in August 2026
Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.