Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Alaska Region, Cook Inlet, Oil and Gas Lease Sales 191 and 199 for Years 2004 and 2006

Resumen

The Secretary's preliminary decision to consider two sales in the Cook Inlet area in the Proposed OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2002-2007 provides for the first sale to be held in 2004, with a second sale in 2006. The MMS has modified its prelease planning and decision process for proposed Cook Inlet sales included in the proposed program. This Call/NOI reflects that change and is in keeping with the Secretary's preliminary decision to analyze these two sales in a multi- sale EIS. The Secretary's preliminary decision is to offer only the Cook Inlet portion of the Cook Inlet/Shelikof Strait planning area as the program area for this 5-year program. The sale process for this first sale will require a minimum of 2\1/2\ years to complete. In order to meet the requirements of that schedule, we are issuing this Call/NOI at this time, recognizing that the final decision on the 2002-2007 5- year program has not been made and final delineation of the program areas and number of sales may change from that included in the proposed program. The multi-sale review process is based on over 25 years of leasing in the Cook Inlet/Shelikof Strait area. The process will incorporate planning and