BLM opens more NPR-A acres to leasing

Jan. 12, 2006
The US Department of the Interior announced Jan. 11 approval of a US Bureau of Land Management amendment to the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska's leasing program, opening 389,000 acres for leasing in NPR-A's northeastern corner.

By OGJ editors
WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. 12 -- The US Department of the Interior announced Jan. 11 approval of a US Bureau of Land Management amendment to the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska's leasing program, opening 389,000 acres for leasing in NPR-A's northeastern corner.

The plan calls for seven oil and gas leasing areas around Lake Teshekpuk. This area previously was off limits to oil and gas development because of environmental impact concerns.

Henri Bisson, BLM's director in Alaska, said the leasing program would include thousands of acres where no surface facilities—other than pipelines—would be allowed. This provision is intended to protect wildlife and birds.

"We think we have a very [environmentally] responsible proposal here," Bisson said, noting that surface facilities, including roads and drilling pads, would be limited to no more than 300 acres for each leasing area.

The leasing approval will result in an oil and gas lease sale, possibly in September, BLM officials said. An adjacent northwest area of NPR-A already was open to leasing (OGJ, Jan. 24, 2005, Newsletter).

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North Slope production has been in decline since the late 1980s. Policy decisions in favor of expanded leasing in NPR-A are critical for future Alaskan production.

Alaska Gov. Frank H. Murkowski said BLM's recommendation to lease the northeastern NPR-A was consistent with his administration's recommendation.

"Alaska's abundant energy resources are absolutely critical to meeting our nation's energy needs," Murkowski said. "Alaskans have proven that we can develop our tremendous oil and gas reserves in environmentally responsible ways."

The National Resources Defense Council issued a statement opposing DOI's decision, however.

Chuck Clusen, NRDC's Alaska project director, said that drilling in wilderness areas will not make the US any more secure because the Middle East controls most of the world's oil.

"Scientists, sportsmen, and conservation groups all agree we should protect the last 13% of the most sensitive habitat in the Western Arctic's Northeast area," Clusen said, adding that 87% already was open to leasing.

"[BLM] today decided to hand all of it over to the oil companies," Clausen said. "The agency is supposed to balance all values of our public lands. Giving 100% to the oil industry is not what anyone would call 'balanced.'"