No substantial new information

The director of the Alaska Division of Oil and Gas has issued a decision of no substantial new information for the 2017 Beaufort Sea, North Slope and North Slope Foothills areawide lease sales.

Comments were received on the terms and conditions of sales, on declines in the Central Arctic caribou herd, on moose populations in the game unit spanning from the Canning River to the Colville River, on impacts to waterfowl in marine and terrestrial habitats and on polar bear habitats.

The comments on lease sale terms and conditions were forwarded for consideration by the director and the Department of Natural Resources commissioner for consideration when setting terms and conditions for lease sales.

The other comments will be considered, the division said, “for incorporation into the North Slope Areawide Preliminary Best Interest Finding that is currently being drafted,” but do not “rise to the level of substantial new information” that would justify supplementing the existing best interest finding.

- Petroleum News