An official with the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil and Gas, told Petroleum News today that the division expects to issue a final finding this summer on two existing exploration license proposals in this same area west of the Parks Highway from south of Willow to north of Talkeetna.

The two existing exploration license proposals were submitted by Forcenergy (now Forest Oil) in 2000. The new proposal includes approximately 499,840 acres, and the division said that while it is within the Susitna comment area which includes the Forest proposals, it "does not include any of the lands within Forest Oil's exploration license proposals for this general area."

The applicant's name for the new proposal, along with the exact acreage and work commitment proposed, will be held confidential until it is known whether there are competing proposals.

Anyone interested in submitting a competing proposal must notify the division by June 12, and submit a complete proposal by July 14. Details are available on the division's web page at www.dog.dnr.state.ak.us.

The division is also accepting comments on the exploration licensing proposal through June 12 and will issue a written finding determining whether to issue the exploration license after the public comment period closes.