MMA Reopens Arctic OCS Drilling Rule Comment Period Through December

13 November 2026
Edited By: Haley McQueen

The Marine Minerals Administration (MMA) is reopening the public comment period for a proposed rule to update federal regulations governing exploratory oil and gas drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

The Marine Minerals Administration has extended its Arctic Outer Continental Shelf exploratory drilling rulemaking comment period. (Image credit: MMA)

The 30-day comment period opens Friday, November 13, and closes Monday, December 14, 2026.

“We received several requests for more time to review and comment on the proposed rule,” said MMA Acting Director Mike Olsen. “We value stakeholder feedback and want to allow time for thoughtful consideration of the proposed changes. Feedback helps us develop a clear, practical and responsible regulatory update.”

The proposed rule would make targeted revisions to the 2016 Arctic Exploratory Drilling Rule to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, clarify requirements, improve operational efficiency and reflect technological advances and lessons learned since the rule was issued.

Proposed changes address blowout preventer real-time monitoring, Arctic source-control and containment equipment, relief-rig capability, subsea isolation devices, mudline cellars, oil spill response plan-holder reviews, crane operations on artificial islands, and suspensions of operations and production, among other topics. As MMA works to update these requirements, it remains focused on safe offshore operations and responsible stewardship of the Arctic marine environment.

MMA published the proposed rule August 6, 2026, and initially provided a 60-day comment period that closed October 5, 2026. The bureau received thousands of comments during that time and will review them along with feedback submitted during the reopened comment period.

Instructions for submitting comments are available in the Federal Register notice announcing the reopened comment period: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-23145/oil-and-gas-and-sulfur-operations-in-the-outer-continental-shelf-requirements-for-exploratory.

As of July 10, 2026, the Department of the Interior has reunified the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement into the Marine Minerals Administration, which will oversee the responsible development of the nation’s offshore energy and marine mineral resources with an integrated focus on safety, environmental protection, and efficient oversight. For more information, see: https://www.doi.gov/mma-reunification.