Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Alaska OCS Region, Cook Inlet Planning Area, Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244 for OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2012-2017

Riepilogo

The Proposed OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017 (Proposed Program) identifies Sale 244 as a potential special interest sale for the Cook Inlet Planning Area in Alaska. While industry interest in the Federal OCS offshore area has been limited in the past decade, recently there has been renewed interest in exploring for and developing additional hydrocarbon resources in the south-central region of the state, as evidenced by acreage leased in state sales and announced discoveries of natural gas on state-managed lands, both offshore and onshore. This RFI seeks to determine the level of industry interest in a possible Sale 244 in 2013 in the Cook Inlet Planning Area, whether focused on a few blocks or prospects, or on a larger portion of the program area. BOEM is also seeking comments from tribal, local, and state governments, Federal agencies, and the general public to evaluate whether the agency should proceed with further evaluations pursuant to the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and all other applicable laws and regulations. BOEM will consider the level of industry interest and other issues and concer