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The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today announced it is seeking public comment on two documents -- A Call for Information and Nominations (Call) and a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) – relating to a proposed 2021 oil and gas lease sale in the federal submerged lands under Cook Inlet, off Alaska’s southcentral coast.

“We look forward to receiving thoughtful, substantial input,” said Dr. James J. Kendall, regional director of BOEM’s Alaska Office. “We especially need to hear from residents of the communities along Cook Inlet as to how the proposed leasing area is currently being used and what specific areas need extra attention. This kind of substantive input helps us ensure that we do the required environmental analysis in a careful, rigorous way.”

Call for Information and Nominations

The purpose of the Call, which will publish in the Federal Register on Sept. 10, is to solicit industry nominations for areas of leasing interest, including nominations or indications of interest in specific blocks within the Call Area. BOEM will also use the Call to gather comments and information for consideration in planning for this proposed Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas lease sale. 

Nominations and other information submitted in response to this Call must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST Oct. 13. Submission instructions can be found in the Federal Register notice.

Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare an EIS

The purpose of the EIS is to analyze the environmental effects of the potential June 2021 lease sale. The Sept. 10 Federal Register publication of the NOI will open a scoping period extending through 11:59 p.m. EST on Oct. 13.

The EIS will analyze the potential effects of leasing, exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas in the proposed lease sale area. The purpose of a scoping period is to solicit public input on the scope of the proposed 2021 Cook Inlet Lease Sale 258 EIS, significant issues, reasonable alternatives and potential mitigation measures. BOEM will consider this input when preparing the EIS.

The NOI to prepare an EIS does not indicate that a final decision to hold a lease sale has been made. Rather, information gathered through this scoping process will help BOEM prepare the EIS, which will in turn inform a final decision as to whether to hold the sale.

For More Information

During the public comment period, members of the public may visit the Proposed LS 258 Virtual Meeting Room to find out more about the proposed lease sale. It also provides an opportunity for submitting questions about the Call and EIS, as well as directions for how to submit comments for the public record.

BOEM will also host two live, virtual public meetings during the comment period. These sessions will be held at 6:30 p.m. Alaska Time on Tuesday, Sept. 29 and at 6:30 p.m. Alaska Time on Thursday, Oct. 1.

For more information, visit: www.boem.gov/ak258.