The federal government is currently accepting public comments on a sweeping proposal that could dramatically reshape the future of America’s offshore waters — including the California coastline. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has released its Draft Proposed Program (DPP) for the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program, a five-year plan that would open vast areas of U.S. federal waters to new oil and gas leasing. Public comments are due by January 23, 2026, and community participation is critical. Public comments can be received here.

Under the proposal, more than 85 percent of the nation’s technically recoverable offshore oil and gas resources would be made available for leasing. For California, the stakes are especially high. The plan includes six potential lease sales off the California coast beginning in 2027, marking the first serious attempt in decades to reopen offshore drilling in federal waters that have remained protected since 1984 due to bipartisan moratoria and strong public opposition.

History offers a clear warning. In 1969 and again in 1996, major oil spills off Santa Barbara caused devastating and long-lasting damage to marine ecosystems, coastal economies, and public trust. Those disasters helped galvanize California’s enduring resistance to offshore drilling and led to the creation of lasting protections such as the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Once oil infrastructure is allowed, the environmental risks — spills, habitat disruption, and impacts to fisheries and tourism — are permanent.

Local leaders are responding. Santa Cruz County officials are working to revive a historic statewide coalition of coastal governments to oppose the plan, echoing successful efforts from the 1980s and 1990s that halted offshore drilling and strengthened marine protections. Elected officials across the region, including county supervisors, city councils, and members of Congress, have reaffirmed their opposition and are urging residents to speak out.

“We, the citizens of the California coast, will be singing a strong message that we will fight back,” County Supervisor Justin Cummings stated during a conference at the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf on October 29th, 2025. He was joined by U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, state Sen. John Laird, Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley, and County Supervisor Manu Koenig. Rep. Panetta has since been featured on the local podcast Off the Lip Radio Show to discuss the contentious issue and its effects on the Santa Cruz community.

BOEM is required by law to consider public input, including economic, environmental, social, and cultural impacts, as well as nominations for environmentally sensitive areas that should be excluded from leasing. This comment period is a rare and powerful opportunity for the public to influence federal decision-making before plans are finalized.

Community members can submit comments through Regulations.gov by searching Docket ID: BOEM-2025-0483, or by mail. Voices from coastal communities matter — especially now. As the O’Neill Sea Odyssey reminds us, this ocean is not just a resource, but a shared classroom, livelihood, and legacy. Taking a few minutes to comment today can help protect California’s coast for generations to come.

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