Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), along with Reps. James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Don Beyer (VA-08), and Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) sent a letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) requesting a 30-day extension to the public comment period for BOEM’s Request for Information and Interest (RFI) on potential leasing offshore Virginia for mineral extraction.

In a letter sent to BOEM Supervisory Oceanographer Geoffrey Wikel, the lawmakers wrote, “We write regarding the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) recent publication of a Request for Information and Interest (RFI) regarding potential leasing offshore Virginia for mineral extraction, which opened a 30-day public comment period that is scheduled to conclude on July 23, 2026. We respectfully request that BOEM extend this public comment period by no less than 30 days in order to provide interested Virginia stakeholders with the opportunity to review the RFI and provide informed feedback on the proposed lease area.”

The lawmakers continued, “Notice of the comment period was published in the Federal Register on June 23, 2026, and BOEM provided for a 30-day comment period. We are deeply concerned the current comment period timeline in insufficient for Virginians to consider and prepare comments in response to BOEM’s RFI, which  requests information on 18 wide-ranging topics, including geological conditions, archaeological resources, environmental sensitivity, and other uses of the RFI area; information on impacts of potential Outer Continental (OCS) mineral activities on Tribes and traditional cultural properties; information on appropriate fiscal terms for leasing; as well as technological feasibility of mining activities. It will take a considerable amount of time for interested stakeholders to review relevant materials and provide meaningful comments.”

“Notably, this is the first time that BOEM has considered conducting a competitive lease sale for marine minerals in the Atlantic Ocean. A 30-day extension, at minimum, of the comment period is warranted based on the novel nature of the RFI, the size of the RFI area (over 2,700 square miles), and the complexity of the information sought by BOEM. An extension of the comment period is essential to ensure meaningful participation from the state, local, and Tribal governments of Virginia, other ocean users and industries, and the public,” the lawmakers concluded. “Thank you for your consideration of our request. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can provide additional information or assistance.” 

Read the full letter here and below. 

Dear Mr. Wikel:

We write regarding the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) recent publication of a Request for Information and Interest (RFI) regarding potential leasing offshore Virginia for mineral extraction, which opened a 30-day public comment period that is scheduled to conclude on July 23, 2026. We respectfully request that BOEM extend this public comment period by no less than 30 days in order to provide interested Virginia stakeholders with the opportunity to review the RFI and provide informed feedback on the proposed lease area.

Notice of the comment period was published in the Federal Register on June 23, 2026, and BOEM provided for a 30-day comment period. We are deeply concerned the current comment period timeline in insufficient for Virginians to consider and prepare comments in response to BOEM’s RFI, which  requests information on 18 wide-ranging topics, including geological conditions, archaeological resources, environmental sensitivity, and other uses of the RFI area; information on impacts of potential Outer Continental (OCS) mineral activities on Tribes and traditional cultural properties; information on appropriate fiscal terms for leasing; as well as technological feasibility of mining activities. It will take a considerable amount of time for interested stakeholders to review relevant materials and provide meaningful comments.

Notably, this is the first time that BOEM has considered conducting a competitive lease sale for marine minerals in the Atlantic Ocean. A 30-day extension, at minimum, of the comment period is warranted based on the novel nature of the RFI, the size of the RFI area (over 2,700 square miles), and the complexity of the information sought by BOEM. An extension of the comment period is essential to ensure meaningful participation from the state, local, and Tribal governments of Virginia, other ocean users and industries, and the public.

Thank you for your consideration of our request. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can provide additional information or assistance.

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