Driscoll Signs Onto Comment Letter to Pause New Offshore Oil and Gas Leases

JUNE 12, 2025

State Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) has joined legislative colleagues and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators in signing a formal comment letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), urging the agency to exclude new offshore oil and gas leases from the proposed 11th National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program.

The letter, addressed to BOEM Acting Director Dr. Cruickshank, was submitted in response to the request for stakeholder input from the States on the next five-year leasing plan regarding potential leasing areas and associated environmental, economic, and public health considerations. The letter emphasizes the long-term and widespread consequences of offshore oil and gas development, especially in the context of climate change and coastal resilience.

Senator Driscoll and others outline major concerns, including the continued threat offshore drilling poses to marine ecosystems, coastal economies, and community health. Referencing past disasters, such as the Deepwater Horizon spill which released 134 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, and the ongoing Taylor Energy spill in the Atlantic, the letter highlights the scale and longevity of the damage caused by offshore oil spills. These incidents have resulted in the loss of marine biodiversity, severe economic disruption in coastal industries like fishing and tourism, and billions of dollars in cleanup and recovery costs.

Additionally, the letter challenges the need for new leasing, noting that many existing leases remain unused and that current levels of production are sufficient to meet national energy demands. The 10th OCS Leasing Program for 2024–2029 already includes three lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico. However, The Atlantic and Pacific regions have no active leases, due in part to long-standing opposition from state governments. The 11th National OCS Program will determine whether new areas are opened for exploration or whether protections will remain in place.

The legislators argue that maintaining these protections is critical for safeguarding coastal economies, reducing environmental risks, and supporting national efforts to transition to more sustainable energy sources. This joint letter urges the national government to maintain current protections and refrain from expanding offshore oil and gas leasing, prioritizing environmental sustainability, economic stability, and public health.

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