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December 8, 2023
Offshore Energy Agency Appropriations, FY2024
Three entities in the Department of the Interior (DOI) share
was a 22% increase over total FY2023 budget authority of
responsibility for managing the nation’s ocean energy
$220.0 million provided in P.L. 117-328, the Consolidated
resources on almost 2.5 billion acres of the U.S. outer
Appropriations Act, 2023. House-passed H.R. 4821 would
continental shelf (OCS). The Bureau of Ocean Energy
provide $182.0 million in total FY2024 budget authority for
Management (BOEM) administers offshore energy leasing
BOEM, 17% less than FY2023 and 32% less than requested
and mineral development; the Bureau of Safety and
by the Administration. Senate committee-reported S. 2605
Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) oversees offshore
would provide BOEM with total budget authority of $220.0
operational safety and environmental protection; and the
million, level with FY2023 and 18% less than the request.
Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) manages
public revenues from federally regulated offshore and
BOEM’s funding is contained in a single budget account,
onshore energy and natural resource projects. BOEM,
titled Ocean Energy Management. Within this account, the
BSEE, and ONRR receive appropriations in the annual
Conventional Energy activity ($61.5 million FY2023;
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations
$72.3 million FY2024 requested; $65.8 million H.R. 4821;
bill. Issues include determining the aggregate and program-
$61.5 million S. 2605) funds administration of oil and gas
level appropriations for each entity and considering certain
leasing, including development of five-year leasing
Biden Administration proposals.
programs. BOEM’s requested funding increase was
primarily for developing an offshore carbon sequestration
On November 3, 2023, the House passed an FY2024
program, as authorized in P.L. 117-58, the Infrastructure
Interior appropriations bill, H.R. 4821 (H.Rept. 118-155),
Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
with funding for BOEM, BSEE, and ONRR. On July 27,
2023, the Senate Committee on Appropriations reported S.
The Renewable Energy activity ($42.8 million FY2023;
2605 (S.Rept. 118-83) with FY2024 appropriations for the
$64.5 million FY2024 requested; no funds H.R. 4821;
three entities. Also, two continuing resolutions have
$42.8 million S. 2605) supports BOEM’s management of
provided appropriations at FY2023 levels through February
renewable ocean energy resources. BOEM’s requested
2, 2024, or until full-year appropriations are enacted.
changes were to increase permitting workforce capacity,
initiate renewable energy leasing activities offshore of U.S.
Total budget authority for BOEM and BSEE includes both
territories, and automate information management. An
discretionary appropriations and offsetting collections
amendment on the House floor eliminated funding for the
derived from a portion of OCS rental receipts, cost-
renewable energy program in H.R. 4821.
recovery fees, and (for BSEE) inspection fees. The
discretionary appropriations for each fiscal year are reduced
The Environmental Assessment activity ($82.4 million
by the amount of eligible fees and receipts collected, so that
FY2023; $92.8 million FY2024 requested; $84.7 million
the final amount appropriated to each agency is the net of
H.R. 4821; $82.4 million S. 2605) supports BOEM’s
those collections. Discussions of account- and activity-level
responsibilities for assessing the environmental impacts of
funding in the sections below refer to total budget authority,
ocean energy activities to inform planning and policy
regardless of offsets. ONRR’s funding does not include
decisions. BOEM requested increases for its Environmental
offsetting collections.
Studies Program, for development of an offshore carbon
sequestration program, for a team to address renewable
BOEM Appropriations
energy environmental reviews, and for tribal co-
The Biden Administration requested $268.2 million in total
stewardship.
budget authority for BOEM for FY2024 (Table 1). This
Table 1. BOEM, BSEE, and ONRR Appropriations, FY2023 and FY2024 ($ millions)
FY2023 Enacted FY2024 House-Passed House Bill % Change Senate-Reported Sen. Bill % Change
Agency
(P.L. 117-328)
Request H.R. 4821
from FY2023
S. 2605
from FY2023
BOEM Total Budget Authority
220.0
268.2
182.0
-17%
220.0
—
BOEM Net Appropriation
183.0
212.2
126.0
-31%
164.0
-10%
BSEE Total Budget Authority
213.9
255.5
210.0
-2%
213.9
—
BSEE Net Appropriation
172.0
198.6
159.1
-7%
163.0
-5%
ONRR Total Appropriation
174.9
185.4
157.4
-10%
174.9
—
Source and Notes: Data from House Appropriations Committee. Net appropriations reflect estimated reductions to discretionary
appropriations from offsetting col ections.
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The Marine Minerals activity ($14.4 million FY2023;
The activities for Administrative Operations ($19.3 million
$16.4 million FY2024 requested; $14.5 million H.R. 4821;
FY2023; $19.2 million FY2024 requested; $18.0 million
$14.4 million S. 2605) supports management of offshore
H.R. 4821; $19.3 million S. 2605) and Executive Direction
non-energy minerals, particularly sand and gravel, as well
($18.8 million FY2023; $20.4 million FY2024 requested;
as BOEM’s assessment of critical minerals on the OCS.
$17.0 million H.R. 4821, $18.8 million S. 2605) fund a
BOEM requested increased funds for its National Offshore
range of administrative services as well as BSEE’s
Sand Inventory.
executive offices. BSEE’s FY2024 request included
increased funding for zero-emission vehicles and
The Executive Direction activity ($18.9 million FY2023;
information technology enhancements.
$22.3 million FY2024 requested; $17.0 million H.R. 4821;
$18.9 million S. 2605) covers leadership, budgeting,
BSEE’s Offshore Decommissioning activity ($3.0 million
technology, and related activities. The requested increase
FY2023; $30.0 million FY2024 requested; $3.0 million
was primarily to enhance program support for the
H.R. 4821 and S. 2605) was established as a separate line
Administration’s clean energy priorities.
item in FY2022, supporting closure and removal of
offshore energy infrastructure when leases reach the end of
Net of estimated offsetting collections, BOEM’s FY2024
their lifetimes. BSEE had requested $30.0 million for
request was $212.2 million, 16% more than the net
FY2024 to “properly plug and abandon” orphaned wells
appropriation of $183.0 million for BOEM in FY2023. The
and pipelines for which no liable party is available to
16% increase in the net request, compared with a 22%
decommission. In the past, appropriators have expressed
increase in the total requested budget authority, reflects that
opposition to decommissioning costs being borne by
BOEM anticipates more in offsetting rental receipts and
taxpayers.
cost-recovery fees for FY2024 than were collected in
FY2023. Net of offsetting collections, H.R. 4821 would
The second BSEE account, Oil Spill Research ($15.1
provide $126.0 million for BOEM, 31% less than enacted
million FY2023, FY2024 request, H.R. 4821, and S. 2605),
for FY2023 and 41% less than requested. S. 2605 would
funds research and planning for oil spill responses and
provide $164.0 million, 10% less than FY2023 and 23%
supports Ohmsett, the National Oil Spill Response Research
less than requested.
and Renewable Energy Test Facility.
BSEE Appropriations
BSEE’s requested net appropriation after offsetting
The Administration requested $255.5 million in total budget
collections was $198.6 million, 15% more than the FY2023
authority for BSEE for FY2024, a 19% increase compared
net appropriation of $172.0 million. Net of offsetting
with the FY2023 total budget authority of $213.9 million in
collections, H.R. 4821 would provide $159.1 million, 7%
P.L. 117-328. House-passed H.R. 4821 would provide
less than FY2023 and 20% less than the request. S. 2605
BSEE with total FY2024 budget authority of $210.0
would provide net appropriations of $163.0 million, 5% less
million, 2% less than the FY2023 total budget authority and
than FY2023 and 18% less than the request.
18% less than the request (Table 1). Senate committee-
reported S. 2605 would provide BSEE with total budget
BSEE’s budget proposed a legislative provision to raise
authority of $213.9 million, level with FY2023 and 16%
inspection fees to adjust for inflation and to change facility
less than requested.
inspection fees from a per-year to a per-visit basis. H.R.
4821 and S. 2605 do not include the requested changes.
BSEE’s funding is appropriated under two budget accounts,
Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement (OSEE)
ONRR Appropriations
and Oil Spill Research. Under the OSEE account, the
ONRR, which manages revenues from both offshore and
Operations, Safety, and Regulation activity ($166.9
onshore energy, is funded within the broader appropriation
million FY2023; $178.5 million FY2024 requested; $167.0
for DOI’s Department-Wide Programs. For FY2024, the
million H.R. 4821; $166.9 million S. 2605) supports
Administration requested $185.4 million for ONRR, a 6%
BSEE’s development of regulations and safety standards,
increase over the FY2023 funding of $174.9 million (Table
review and approval of OCS operating permits, inspections
1). The requested increase was mainly to strengthen
of facilities and equipment, and oversight of operator safety
auditing and compliance and expand solicitor staff. H.R.
programs, among other activities. BSEE’s request included
4821 would provide $157.4 million, 10% less than FY2023
a funding increase to build its carbon sequestration
and 15% less than the request, while S. 2605 would provide
program, as authorized in the IIJA.
$174.9 million, level with FY2023 and 6% less than the
request.
The Environmental Enforcement activity ($5.9 million
FY2023; $7.4 million FY2024 requested; $5.0 million H.R.
Laura B. Comay, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
4821; $5.9 million S. 2605) supports BSEE’s compliance
with environmental statutes and its oversight and
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enforcement of environmental compliance by operators on
the OCS. A portion of BSEE’s requested increase was for
tribal engagement.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Offshore Energy Agency Appropriations, FY2024
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