BOEM to do EIS for Cook Inlet sale

The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said Oct. 21 that it will prepare an environmental impact statement for a potential Cook Inlet lease sale

Scoping meetings are scheduled for Nov. 12 in Seldovia, Nov. 13 in Nanwalek, Nov. 13 in Homer, Nov. 14 in Soldotna and Nov. 24 in Anchorage. The Nanwalek meeting will begin at noon; all other meetings will begin at 7 p.m. The purpose of the meetings is to solicit comments on the scope of the EIS for the Cook Inlet sale.

BOEM said the EIS will focus on the potential effects of leasing, exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas in the proposed lease sale area.

“We look forward to receiving thoughtful, substantial input on this EIS,” Acting BOEM Director Walter Cruickshank said in a statement. “In particular, we need to hear from residents of the communities along Cook Inlet on how the proposed leasing area is currently being used and what specific areas need extra attention. To address these issues, we will use rigorous science together with traditional knowledge and input we receive from The Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS,” he said.

The sale is part of the 2012-17 five-year proposed outer continental shelf oil and gas leasing program, approved by the secretary of the Department of the Interior in August 2012.

The Cook Inlet lease sale area identified in November 2013 includes “most of the areas identified by industry in their responses to the March 27, 2012, Request for Interest,” BOEM said, but excludes the majority of areas designated as critical habitat for beluga whales and northern sea otters, and the critical habitat areas for Steller sea lions and the North Pacific right whale. In addition, there is a buffer between the area considered for leasing and the Katmai National Park and Preserve, the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge and the Alaska Maritime National Refuge. The proposed sale area also excludes subsistence use areas for the Native villages of Nanwalek and Port Graham identified during the Cook Inlet lease sale 191 process, BOEM said.

There will be a 45-day public comment period from the Oct. 23 publication in the Federal Register. If held, the sale is tentatively scheduled for November 2016.

- Petroleum News