BLM issues call for 2019 NPR-A lease sale

Kristen Nelson

Petroleum News

The federal Bureau of Land Management has issued a call for nominations and comments for tracts to be included in its 2019 National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska oil and gas lease sale.

The June 20 notice announces a 30-day period for nominations or comments which closes July 22.

“This is one of several actions we are taking to further expand energy development in Alaska,” BLM Alaska State Director Chad Padgett said in a press release.

“The BLM in Alaska is also working on a new Integrated Activity Plan for the NPR-A to maximize tracts offered in the next lease sale as well as developing an Oil and Gas Leasing Program for the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as directed by the 2017 Tax Act,” Padgett said.

BLM published the notice of intent for the new Integrated Activity Plan and associated Environmental Impact Statement for NPR-A on Nov. 21, 2018.

“The new IAP/EIS will include consideration of a range of leasing alternatives that open new areas to leasing, examination of current special area boundaries, and consideration of new or revised lease stipulations and best management practices,” the agency said on its website. The public comment period ended Feb. 15; BLM is in the process of writing the draft IAP/EIS, which will be issued in the fall, followed by a 45-day public comment period, including public meetings. BLM will then revise the draft IAP/EIS and the final will be published, followed by a 30-day waiting period before issuance of the record of decision.

BLM said there are 215 authorized oil and gas leases in NPR-A, a total of 1.6 million acres. Some 10.2 million acres, 879 tracts, are available for nomination or comment.

The agency’s 2018 sale, held Dec. 12, brought in $1.5 million in high bids on 16 tracts.

- KRISTEN NELSON