The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced that it proposes to go ahead this year with an oil and gas lease sale on the federal outer continental shelf of the lower Cook Inlet. Lease sale 244, scheduled to take place in June, is the last sale of BOEM's current five-year outer continental shelf lease sale program. The agency proposes offering 224 block in the northerly sector of its Cook Inlet Planning Area - the blocks lie in an area between Kalgin Island in the north and Augustine Island in the south.
"Following a robust environmental analysis, we are moving forward with the lease sale 244 process," said Walter Cruickshank, BOEM's acting director. "We look forward to hearing Governor Walker's comments and recommendations as we continue to balance environmental considerations with careful development."
BOEM says that it has notified Gov. Walker of the proposed sale and will mail him a copy of the proposed notice of sale. The governor will then have 60 days to review and comment on the proposal. The proposed notice can be viewed on the BOEM website. A notice of availability for the sale notice will be published in the Federal Register early next week, BOEM says.
- ALAN BAILEY
See story in March 5 issue, available online Friday, March 3, at www.petroleumnews.com
