AGENCY:

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION:

Request for information and interest; extension of the comment period.

SUMMARY:

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the 30-day extension of the comment period for the request for information and interest (RFI) for leasing of the Outer Continental Shelf minerals offshore the Commonwealth of Virginia, referred to as the RFI Area.

DATES:

BOEM published the RFI on June 23, 2026, and opened a public comment period through July 23, 2026. BOEM is extending this public comment period to August 22, 2026. BOEM must receive all comments, information, and indications of interest in response to this RFI no later than August 22, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Please submit indications of interest in commercial leasing electronically via email to BOEMVAMineralLeaseSale@boem.gov or by hard copy by mail to the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Strategic Resources, Marine Minerals Division, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166. If you elect to mail a hard copy, also include an electronic copy on a portable storage device. Do not submit indications of interest via the Federal eRulemaking Portal.

Please submit all other comments and information as discussed in section 6 of the June 23, 2026, RFI entitled, “Types of Information and Comments Requested,” by either of the following two methods:

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the search box at the top of the web page, enter BOEM-2026-0100 and then click “search.” Follow the instructions to submit public comments and to view supporting and related materials.

2. By mail to the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Strategic Resources, Marine Minerals Division, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166.

Treatment of confidential information is addressed in section 8 of the June 23, 2026, RFI entitled, “Protection of Privileged, Personal, or Confidential Information.” BOEM will post all comments received on regulations.gov unless labeled as confidential and BOEM determines that an exemption from disclosure applies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Geoffrey Wikel, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Strategic Resources, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166, at BOEMVAMineralLeaseSale@boem.gov, 703-787-1283.