The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is a U.S. Department of the Interior agency responsible for managing the development of energy and mineral resources on the federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Established in 2011, BOEM oversees offshore oil and gas, offshore wind and other marine renewables, and marine minerals in federal waters beyond state jurisdiction.
BOEM’s core functions include planning and administering OCS lease sales; evaluating resources and conducting economic analyses; reviewing and approving exploration, development, and construction plans (such as Construction and Operations Plans for offshore wind); and leading environmental reviews and studies to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and other statutes. The agency designs lease terms to help ensure a fair return to the public, coordinates with federal, state, Tribal, and local stakeholders, and integrates science-based environmental stewardship into permitting decisions. BOEM also manages the Marine Minerals Program, which provides sand and gravel from the OCS for coastal restoration and resiliency projects. Its decisions shape the timing, location, and conditions under which offshore energy and mineral activities proceed in U.S. federal waters.