The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) confirmed that the bureau is extending the public comment period for a draft programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) that was released March 2012.  

The PEIS evaluates the potential effects of seismic surveys and other proposed geological and geophysical activities in the Mid and South Atlantic. The comment period will now run through July 2.  

Following the release of the draft PEIS, BOEM held eight public hearings in states along the Atlantic coast. BOEM will use the information received at these meetings, along with other feedback received through the comment process, in finalizing the analysis.