Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) has issued a statement expressing his support for the long-awaited Lease Sale 261 for oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced that the lease sale, which includes previously excluded lease blocks, will take place on December 20, 2023. This announcement comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit directed the BOEM to hold the sale.

In his statement, Senator Cassidy emphasized the importance of adhering to the law and expressed his gratitude for the court's decision. He said, "Slow-walking congressional mandates is not only a violation of the law, it harms our energy security and economy." Cassidy also noted that this will be the first time in over 50 years that no offshore energy lease sales are scheduled for the following year, marking the end of an era.

The delay in Lease Sale 261 was due to stipulations related to the protection of the Rice's whale. In July, the Biden administration reached a closed-door settlement agreement with several environmental organizations, resulting in the removal of six million acres from offshore oil and gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, restrictions were imposed on oil and gas vessels, hindering their ability to explore and produce energy.

However, Senator Cassidy highlighted that previous analysis conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) did not support the restrictions based on Rice's whales. As a result, the restrictions were lifted, and the acreage was re-added when the sale was announced.

In response to these developments, Cassidy introduced the Warding Off Hostile Administrative Lease Efforts (WHALE) Act, which aims to prevent maritime rules related to the Rice's whale from impeding offshore energy development and military activities. Furthermore, Cassidy filed an amicus brief asserting that the settlement agreement undermined the faithful execution of the laws.

Cassidy has been a vocal advocate for the timely scheduling of Lease Sale 261 and has criticized the Biden administration for the delays. The sale was initially scheduled for September 27, 2023, but was later rescheduled for November 8, 2023.

It is worth noting that the Biden administration recently announced the 2024-2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which calls for three lease sales over a five-year period. However, lease sales are not scheduled for the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, or offshore Alaska, and no lease sales are planned for 2024. This program represents the smallest offshore energy program in U.S. history.

In anticipation of this announcement, Cassidy introduced the Offshore Energy Security Act of 2023, which mandates the DOI to hold four offshore oil and gas lease sales, two in 2024 and two in 2025.

The upcoming Lease Sale 261 in December is a significant development for the Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. energy sector. It represents a victory for the rule of law and underscores the importance of responsible offshore energy development.

Click this link to access more information: https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cassidy-statement-on-oil-and-gas-lease-sale-261-scheduled-for-december/