On January 16th, around a hundred coastal advocates—elected officials, Tribal representatives, state agencies, community organizations, scientists, commercial fishers, and concerned members of the public—gathered at Sausalito’s Bay Model for a people’s hearing to oppose offshore oil. Attendees learned about the threats of offshore oil drilling, heard from dozens of speakers, including EAC, and signed piles of postcards to submit to the federal government in opposition of expanded oil drilling. Thank you to Surfrider Foundation for organizing this amazing event!
Attendees at the Bay Area People’s Hearing listen to a presentation about drilling impacts from Surfrider Foundation. EAC joined others in encouraging the audience to submit comments opposing expanded offshore oil drilling.
Similar people’s hearings have been held up and down the state, providing information to the public and ways to take action in an effort to meet last week’s comment deadline on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) draft plan that would open California’s coasts to offshore oil and gas drilling. Almost 300,000 comments were submitted in opposition by people across the country. However, this will not be the only opportunity to voice your opposition—in fact, a separate comment period has opened and will end next month.
New Comment Period Ends February 26
On January 27th, BOEM announced they were inviting oil industry nominations of areas for possible inclusion in oil and gas lease sales in the Southern and Central Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Planning Areas—in short, asking oil companies directly where they want to drill on California’s coast.
At the same time, the public is invited to provide information on places where offshore drilling would be inadvisable. BOEM specifically seeks information on geological conditions, archaeological sites, potential use conflicts, areas of special concern, and other socioeconomic, biological, and environmental information.
We have until Feb 26, 2026, 8:59 PM PST to comment on which geographic areas should NOT be open to offshore oil and gas drilling within the Southern and Central California coast.
Comments should focus specifically on:
Potential use conflicts (recreation, boating, fishing, science, military, etc.)
Areas of special concern (ecological areas, marine protected areas, unique habitats, etc.)
Socioeconomic information (economic benefits of an area, quality of life, etc.)
Environmental or biological information (habitat, etc.)
Archaeological resources (Tribal resources, etc.)
Check back on our blog for upcoming comment templates and resources
Submit a Comment:
Submit comments for Central California (includes Marin County and the Bay Area)
By mail to: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific Region, Office of Strategic Resources, 760 Paseo Camarillo (CM 102), Camarillo, California 93010. Send your comments in an envelope clearly labeled “Comments on the Call for Information and Nominations for the Central California Planning Area Lease Sales.”
