DOI Announces Updated Date for Oil and Gas Lease Sale 261

On November 20, 2023, BOEM announced it will open and publicly announce bids received for Oil and Gas Lease Sale 261 on December 20, 2023. IRA section 50264 directs BOEM to hold GOM Lease Sale 261 by September 30, 2023. This is an update to the prior announcement following an October 26, 2023, Fifth Circuit stay of an injunction that required BOEM to hold the sale by November 8. BOEM had previously announced it was postponing the sale pending additional disposition of the appeal, and on November 14, 2023, the Fifth Circuit issued an opinion directing BOEM to hold the sale in accordance with the district court’s preliminary injunction but extending the deadline for conducting the sale by 37 days. This announcement does not change the Final NOS published on October 6, 2023.