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Presidential Memorandum

Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf From Oil and Natural Gas Leasing

President withdraws Atlantic, Pacific, and portions of Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf areas from oil and natural gas leasing indefinitely under section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. The withdrawal covers specific Bureau of Ocean Energy Management planning areas and Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act zones, protecting existing lease rights but blocking future exploration, development, and production leasing.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 6743

Key directives

  • Withdraw North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida Planning Areas from oil and natural gas leasing
  • Withdraw areas designated by Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act section 104(a) from oil and natural gas leasing
  • Withdraw Washington/Oregon, Northern California, Central California, and Southern California Planning Areas from oil and natural gas leasing
  • Prevent consideration of withdrawn areas for any future oil or natural gas leasing for exploration, development, or production
  • Preserve rights under existing leases in withdrawn areas

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Withdrawal takes effect upon memorandum issuance
  • Future oil/gas leasing consideration prohibited in designated areas

Near term (90d)

  • BOEM must update leasing plans and maps to reflect withdrawal boundaries

Long term

  • Indefinite leasing moratorium persists without specific expiration date
  • Potential shift toward renewable energy development in withdrawn areas
  • Possible legal challenges to withdrawal scope and duration

Risks & tensions

  • Indefinite 'without specific expiration' duration may invite legal challenges based on statutory interpretation of section 12(a) authority
  • Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act section 104(a) areas partially overlap with existing production; withdrawal scope may be contested
  • Renewable energy 'benefits' cited as independent rationale, but memorandum does not direct concurrent renewable leasing actions
  • Attached map not provided in text creates boundary uncertainty for implementation
Presidential Memorandum: Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf From Oil and Natural Gas Leasing · Executive Orders