NPR-A integrated resource plan environmental assessment approved
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Alan Bailey for Petroleum News
On Dec. 22 the Bureau of Land Management announced the approval of the environmental assessment for its revised version of the integrated activity plan for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The approval enables the new plan to go into effect. As a consequence the agency anticipates holding an oil and gas lease sale this winter, the first of five lease sales directed under the terms of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Act, passed last July. The last lease sale in the reserve was held in 2019.
18.6 million acres available T he new IRP renders 18.6 million acres, or 82% of the NPR-A's subsurface estate available for oil and gas leasing. That compares with the 11.8 million acres, or 52% of the surface land, available for leasing under the previous IRP. The land availability in the new IRP is consistent with the IRP issued by the then Trump administration in 2020.
BLM says that the completion of the environmental assessment involved consultation with tribes and Alaska Native corporations, as well as a 14-day public comment period on the draft assessment.
"This updated plan is a major step forward in restoring the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska to the purpose Congress intended," said acting BLM Director Bill Groffy. "By opening more of the reserve to responsible development, we are helping meet national energy needs while continuing the legacy begun in the 2020 plan for thorough environmental review and strong engagement with Alaska communities."
However, BLM commented that not all of the available land may necessarily be offered for leasing the upcoming lease sales. And new infrastructure would be prohibited in approximately 4.3 million acres of surface land.
Special areas Of particular concern in the protection of the environment in the NPR-A are "special areas," areas designated as containing particularly critical environmental resources. The special areas recognized in this latest IAP consist of the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, Utukok River Uplands Special Area, Kasegaluk Lagoon Special Area and Peard Bay Special Area. The Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, including and surrounding the Teshekpuk Lake, is considered to have especial environmental sensitivity related to caribou and the bird population.
"All of the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area would be available for leasing, with potential impacts on caribou calving habitat and important bird habitat primarily mitigated through NSO (no surface occupancy) stipulations and TLs (timing limitations), among other operational measures," BLM wrote in its approved environmental assessment. "The extent of NSO coverage here means that some areas, while technically available for leasing, would not be within reach of current directional drilling technology; however, keeping those areas available for leasing allows for advances in future technology."
- Alan Bailey
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