BOEM extends Beaufort Sea comment period

Alan Bailey

Petroleum News

The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has announced that it is extending by 30 days the comment period for a planned Beaufort Sea oil and gas lease sale in 2019. Comments must now be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on May 30. The public comment period was initiated on March 30 through a notice published in the Federal Register.

The proposed lease sale forms part of a draft outer continental shelf lease sale program for the years 2019 to 2024. As part of the pre-sale process BOEM is seeking information relevant to the planning of the sale, including comments from industry on areas that may be of interest for leasing. The agency also wants comments on any relevant information, including geological, environmental, biological, archaeological and socioeconomic parameters, relating to a lease sale.

With the lease sale program still being in draft form, a lease sale cannot be held until the program is finalized and approved. BOEM has said that, meanwhile, it wants to start the planning process for the proposed Beaufort Sea sale. Information received will enable blocks to be identified for potential leasing; prioritize areas with oil and gas potential; develop potential lease conditions; and identify potential use conflicts and mitigation measures. In addition to identifying areas to offer in a lease sale, the next step would be to conduct an environmental analysis.

- ALAN BAILEY