March 30 Resubmission of Comments to BOEM Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement -- opposition

March 30th, 2026

Ms. Kelly Hammerle
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (VAM-LD)
45600 Woodland Rd.
Sterling, VA 20166-9216

Re: Comments on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management “Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)”

Dear Ms. Hammerle,

On behalf of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, I respectfully re-submit this comment on the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) regarding proposed offshore drilling lease sites on the California coast. By Resolution of the Board of Supervisors, the County of Marin opposes any new or expanded offshore oil and gas drilling, and deep seabed mining, and urges federal and state decision-makers to permanently prohibit offshore drilling and deep seabed mining in all U.S. waters, including the Pacific Ocean off California.

We also re-affirm the special concern and analysis of National Marin Sanctuaries as part of the PEIS. Layered protections detailed below reflect decades of bipartisan federal and state efforts to preserve one of the nation’s most ecologically and economically valuable marine environments. New leasing and associated activities — including seismic surveys, seabed disturbance, and the risk of oil spills — are incompatible with the conservation mandates and statutory protections governing these areas. The timing of the designation of each Sanctuary or portion thereof plays no role in whether or not BOEM can consider its waters are permanently protected from OCS leasing and related activities. All our Sanctuary waters are permanently protected from offshore oil and gas leasing and all related activities.

The Central California OCS Planning Area intersects with vital navigation routes, commercial and recreational fisheries, and tourism economies, all of which would be jeopardized by offshore leasing activities. These sectors are central to local jobs and households. The waters off the coast of California – including here in Marin County –support rich and sensitive marine ecosystems, including marine mammals, seabirds, and endangered fish species that are particularly vulnerable to habitat disruption, pollution, and climate impacts. Offshore oil and gas development poses unacceptable risks to our economy, as well as to the public health and environmental integrity of communities.

Decision-making should be informed by the comprehensive, scientific data documenting sensitive habitats, endangered species, and the economic sectors most vulnerable to offshore development. Any proposed activities must also be evaluated for consistency with California’s Coastal Zone Management Plan under the Coastal Zone Management Act. This includes the requirement for formal consistency determination by the California Coastal Commission.

We strongly urge that public hearings be held within our region to ensure meaningful local input, particularly given the scale of potential impacts.

Sincerely,

Eric Lucan
President of the Board of Supervisors

CC: Marin County Board of Supervisors
Congressman Jared Huffman
Senator Alex Padilla
Senator Adam Schiff