API Applauds Proposed Lease Sale in Gulf of America
202.682.8114 | press@api.org
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2025 — The American Petroleum Institute today released the following statement from Senior Vice President of Policy, Economics, and Regulatory Affairs Dustin Meyer after the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced a Proposed Notice of Sale for Lease Sale 262 in the Gulf of America:
“Today’s announcement marks another step in a new path forward for safe and responsible U.S. offshore development after years of roadblocks that hampered energy investment in the Gulf of America. We applaud Secretary Burgum for leveraging our nation’s vast offshore resources to support energy affordability and national security.”
Lease Sale 262 will be the first federal offshore oil and natural gas lease sale since 2023, and the first non-congressionally directed sale since 2021.
The Gulf of America is the nation’s primary source of offshore oil and natural gas production, accounting for 97% of all oil and natural gas production in offshore waters. Today, 14% of total U.S. crude oil production and 2% of natural gas production comes from the Gulf of America. A report from the National Ocean Industries Association found that the Gulf of America also produces some of the lowest carbon intensity barrels in the world.
API represents all segments of America’s natural gas and oil industry, which supports nearly 11 million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. Our approximately 600 members produce, process and distribute the majority of the nation’s energy, and participate in API Energy Excellence®, which is accelerating environmental and safety progress by fostering new technologies and transparent reporting. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization and has developed more than 800 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.
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