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Office of the Secretary
For Immediate Release, Jan. 22 2004
Interior Finalizes Plan for NW National Petroleum-Alaska,
Designates More than 100,000 acres as Kasegaluk Lagoon Special Area
(Washington) - Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today signed a document
that finalizes the Bureau of Land Management's plan for managing 8.8 million
acres of public land in the Northwest portion of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
In signing the document, known as a Record of Decision, Norton said the BLM's
management plan "will help meet America's need for environmentally sound
energy development as directed by the President's National Energy Plan."
The Secretary's decision document slightly modifies the BLM's preferred management alternative, which the Bureau described in a final Environmental Impact Statement on the management plan. The impact statement, prepared as part of President Bush's National Energy Policy, was published last month.
Under its management plan, the BLM will make 7.23 million acres of the 8.8 million Northwest portion acres available for energy leasing and will defer 1.57 million acres from leasing for 10 years. All energy leases will be subject to strict environmental standards. In addition, the plan includes provisions to protect water quality, vegetation, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitats, and subsistence uses. This plan was the result of extensive consultations with Alaskans.
"With America's dependence on foreign oil growing each year, energy from the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska can help in the long term to increase our domestic energy production and stabilize prices," Secretary Norton said. "This plan will help produce energy in an environmentally responsible manner with the best available technology, while protecting the important biological, subsistence and cultural values found in this area."
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska has between 5.9 and 13.2 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil with a mean estimate of 9.3 billion barrels.
President Harding created the Navel Petroleum Reserve Number 4 in 1923. In 1976, BLM assumed management responsibility for the area and the name was changed to the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. In 1980, Congress instructed the Secretary to undertake "an expeditious program of competitive leasing of oil and gas" in the Reserve. Throughout the past two years the Bureau of Land Management has used various studies to develop the Northwest Plan for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
"With today's signing, we can continue to access these vital reserves and in doing so we can increase our national security, provide more stable energy prices for America's families, reduce our dependency on foreign oil and create new jobs in America," Secretary Norton said.
Today, as part of the Record of Decision, the Secretary designated 102,000 acres as the Kasegaluk Lagoon Special Area. "This area is important for migratory birds and marine mammals and features marine tidal flats that are rare on the North Slope. I concur with BLM's recommendation for this area and see no reason to wait," Secretary Norton said.
BLM will include "no surface occupancy" restrictions that prohibit permanent structures and contain other protective stipulations on any leases issued in this special area.
In a related development, BLM announced its intention to hold a lease sale for selected tracts in the northwest corner of the petroleum reserve on June 2, 2004. The agency is accepting additional expressions of interest from industry through Feb. 9.
The plan, detailed in the Final Northwest National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Integrated Activity Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement, includes a variety of restrictions and designations designed to protect water quality, vegetation, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, subsistence uses and scenic/recreational values. Key provisions under the plan include the following:
Defer leasing on about 1.5 million acres (17 percent of the planning area)
near Wainwright for the next 10 years
Provide no surface occupancy stipulations along coastal areas, in deep-water
lakes, along key rivers (16 percent of the planning area), and in the Kasegaluk
Lagoon Special Area
Designate special study areas of more than half a million acres each for Pacific
black brandt and caribou
Conduct area wide studies on habitat for Spectacled and Steller's eiders (both
listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act) and yellow-billed loons
Implement stipulations to minimize loss of raptor foraging habitat within the
existing Colville River Special Area
Other stipulations and required operating procedures establish restrictions and guidance that apply to waste prevention and spills, water use, winter overland moves and seismic activity, exploratory drilling, aircraft use and subsistence consultation.
The Secretary made the following changes to the agency's preferred alternative:
In response to a resolution passed by BLM's Alaska Resource Advisory Council,
leasing will be deferred in the Colville River Special Area until the combined
Southern National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska plan and Colville River management
plans are complete.
Minor changes to some of the stipulations were made to help clarify the intent
more clearly or to add phrases that were accidentally deleted during the planning
process.
A required operating procedure was added to address cultural/paleontological
resources.
At the request of the North Slope Borough, a setback stipulation of one-half
mile was added for Naklavik Creek.
The plan, released in December 2003, can be read on the Internet through the BLM home page, www.ak.blm.gov.
News Release No. AK 04-05
Date: January 12, 2004
BLM releases draft study for Alpine satellite development
The Bureau of Land Management is releasing the Alpine Satellite Development Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), initiating a 45-day public comment period ending March 1, 2004. Copies are being mailed to selected libraries throughout the state and can be viewed online beginning January 16 at www.ak.blm.gov.
Public meetings will be scheduled in February in Nuiqsut, Barrow, Fairbanks, Anchorage, Anaktuvuk Pass and Atqasuk.
The DEIS, drafted in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard, and State of Alaska, analyzes a ConocoPhilips Alaska proposal for five new production well pads near the Colville River and the associated transportation systems necessary to connect them to the Alpine processing facility. The DEIS also analyzes three other alternatives and a No Action alternative that allows the public and decision makers to compare environmental effects. "The alternatives we chose address specific concerns raised during the scoping period and through our consultations with tribal governments and North Slope governing bodies," said BLM-Alaska State Director Henri Bisson. The agency did not specify a preferred alternative.
Also included in the document is a full field development analysis for the 890,000-acre project area representing hypothetical scenarios that could occur during the next 20 years. Development would be phased; the first commercial production from the Colville Delta vicinity could occur in 2006. The first commercial production from the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska could occur in 2008.
Paper and CD copies of the DEIS can be obtained over-the-counter at the BLM Alaska State Office Public Information Room, 222 W. 7th Ave, Anchorage and at the BLM Northern Field Office Public Room, 1150 University Avenue, Fairbanks. To receive copies by mail, contact Entrix at (907) 563-0438.
News Release No. AK 04-01
Date: October 2, 2003
BLM to hold public scoping meetings for revised plan for Northeast National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will hold six public scoping meetings in October to amend its 1998 integrated activity plan covering 4.6 million acres in the northeast portion of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
BLM will host public meetings in the following communities:
Community Date Meeting Location
Anchorage October 7 BLM Anchorage Field Office
6881 Abbott Loop Road
Fairbanks October 8 Noel Wien Public Library
Nuiqsut October 14 Kisik Community Center
Barrow October 16 NSB Assembly Chambers
Anaktuvuk Pass October 27 Community Hall
Atqasuk October 28 Village Community Center
An open house starts at 6 p.m. The meetings will start at 7 p.m. with a presentation. Attendees are invited to provide relevant questions and issues regarding the possible environmental and social effects of different management alternatives for the federal lands within the planning area. Issues raised at these meetings or provided to BLM by mail will be evaluated in an environmental impact statement. ENSR International, an environmental consulting firm in Anchorage, will prepare the EIS under contract to BLM. The entire process to be completed by the end of 2004.
Public scoping comments will be accepted through October 31, 2003. Comments
should be sent to NE NPR-A Amendment Planning Team, Bureau of Land Management,
Alaska State Office (930), 222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7599.
Additional information is available on the web at: http://nenpra.ensr.com and
http://aurora.ak.blm.gov/npra.
News Release No. 03-20
Date: September 5, 2003
BLM to hold public scoping meetings for revised plan for Northeast National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska
ANCHORAGE – The Bureau of Land Management will hold six public scoping meetings in October for an amended land use plan covering 4.6 million acres in the northeast portion of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
In April BLM Alaska State Director Henri Bisson announced plans to amend the Northeast NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan and EIS, which was completed in October 1998.
"We've learned a lot during the past four years," Bisson said. "We know that we can safely explore this area without significant impact to sensitive wildlife and subsistence resources. We also believe that we can develop critical hydrocarbon resources in a manner that protects these same values."
Bisson said the plan is being amended for two main reasons: (1) to evaluate exploration and development opportunities that could provide access to significant new oil discoveries; and (2) to consider changing the current stipulations so they more closely resemble the performance-based stipulations now under development for the northwest portion of NPR-A.
BLM will finalize a schedule for revising the current plan soon. There will be several opportunities for public comment as BLM prepares a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Bisson expects the entire process to be completed by the end of 2004.
BLM will host public meetings about the plan amendment in the following communities:
Community Date Meeting Location
Anchorage October 7 BLM Anchorage Field Office
Fairbanks October 8 Noel Wien Public Library
Nuiqsut October 14 Kisik Community Center
Barrow October 16 NSB Assembly Chambers
Atqasuk October 27 Village Community Center
Anaktuvuk Pass October 28 Community Hall
All meetings will start at 7 p.m. Attendees are invited to provide relevant
questions and issues regarding the possible environmental and social effects
of different management alternatives for the Federal lands within the planning
area. Issues raised at these meetings or provided to BLM by mail will be
evaluated in the EIS.
Public scoping comments will be accepted through October 31, 2003. Comments should be sent to NE NPR-A Amendment Planning Team, Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office (930), 222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7599.
Detailed information on the plan amendment appeared in a Notice of Intent published June 23, 2003, in the Federal Register. Additional information, including the Federal Register Notice of Intent and tentative planning schedule, is available at BLM’s Web site: http://aurora.ak.blm.gov/npra.
April 15, 2003
ANCHORAGE --- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced plans to amend its 1998 land use plan for 4.6 million acres of public land in the northeast corner of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A).
"We've learned a lot during the past four years," said BLM Alaska State Director Henri Bisson. "We know that we can safely explore this area without significant impact to sensitive wildlife and subsistence resources. We also believe that we can develop critical hydrocarbon resources in a manner that protects these same values."
Bisson believes this is the ideal time to reevaluate the current plan for this portion of the National Petroleum Reserve (1) to evaluate exploration and development opportunities that could provide access to significant new oil discoveries, while remaining sensitive to biological and subsistence values and, (2) to consider changing the current prescriptive stipulations into a mixture of prescriptive and performance-based stipulations similar to those being developed for the Northwest portion of the National Petroleum Reserve.
BLM geologists and petroleum experts believe that areas currently off-limits for exploration in the reserve may contain more than two billion barrels of technically-recoverable petroleum. Many of these lands, near Teshekpuk Lake, lie within an area with significant populations of caribou, raptors and waterfowl.
Prescriptive stipulations are very specific and in some cases inappropriately or needlessly restrictive. Performance-based stipulations often can accomplish the same goal, but are more flexible. "For example, if oil and gas exploration is planned in the same area that has sensitive wildlife habitat, it is possible to allow exploration in the winter when the animals are not present," said Bisson.
Bisson said that he expects intense public interest in this proposal to amend the current plan. "This is a National Petroleum Reserve and we believe that there are billions of barrels of oil that can be responsibly extracted from the northeast portion of this area. There clearly needs to be additional public review of prior decisions for this area, regardless of the outcome of the plan amendment process," he said.
BLM will release a schedule for revising the current plan soon; there will be two opportunities for public comment. BLM will prepare a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and expects the entire process to be completed by the end of 2004.
Since the original plan was completed in 1998, the agency has awarded leases on about 1.4 million acres in the northeast corner of the reserve and industry has drilled 13 exploratory wells. BLM also has been gathering data and conducting additional biological studies and monitoring exploration activities.
Two other environmental impact statements for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska are underway. One is developing a land use plan for 8.8 million acres of land in the northwest portion and a second effort is evaluating a proposal from Conoco-Phillips for expanding production from the Alpine field.
March 12, 2003
ANCHORAGE --- Bureau of Land Management State Director Henri Bisson today announced an extension of the comment period on the draft EIS for NPR-A Northwest to April 2, 2003, an additional 15 days. The original comment period was to end March 18.
"Due to a number of public requests, including one from Mayor George Ahmaogak of the North Slope Borough, we've decided to extend our comment period," said Bisson. "We hope the extension will allow enough time for those interested and affected by the proposal to prepare and submit their comments."
BLM analyzed four possible management alternatives for 8.8 million acres of public lands in the northwest portion of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The alternatives are described in the Draft Northwest NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan and Environmental Impact Statement released January 10.
The 1,000-page report can be viewed online at www.ak.blm.gov/nwnpra. It is also available at major public libraries and BLM offices throughout the state.
This plan is the second of three separate land use plans being developed for the NPR-A. The first plan, completed in 1998, covered 4.6 million acres of public land in the northeast portion. A third planning effort, yet to begin, will cover the southern portion of the reserve.
February 18, 2003
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to evaluate oil development in the northeast corner of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and along the Colville River.
The plan calls for an environmental impact study to be undertaken in connection with a proposal from ConocoPhillips and will evaluate prospective satellite oil fields that could lead to the first commercial oil production from the NPR-A by 2008. Other oil from the Colville River area could begin flowing as soon as 2006. Additional information on the project is posted on the BLM website: www.ak.blm.gov.
BLM will serve as the lead agency, providing day-to-day coordination and direction for the Alpine Satellite Development Plan EIS. Cooperating agencies include the State of Alaska, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency. BLM has selected Entrix, an environmental consulting firm, to assist in preparing this EIS. Work will commence following publication of a Notice of Intent in the Feb.18, 2003 issue of the Federal Register.
Public scoping meetings will be held in the following locations:
Anchorage March 6, 2003
Barrow March 17, 2003
Fairbanks March 20, 2003
Nuiqsut March 18, 2003
"
These meetings will help BLM identify issues, alternatives and potential mitigation
as well as help provide resource, subsistence and other valuable information
for the development of the EIS," said BLM Alaska State Director Henri
Bisson. "We want to ensure that the development of our natural resources
are done in an environmentally sound manner," he said. BLM will accept
public scoping comments through March 31, 2003.
Leases in the reserve were authorized following the completion of the Northeast NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan and EIS in October 1998. BLM has awarded leases on 1.5 million acres following two competitive lease sales in 1999 and 2002, which raised $167.8 million in bonus bids from industry. The federal government shares these funds on a 50/50 basis with the State of Alaska.
The Alpine Satellite Development Plan EIS should not be confused with the Northwest NPR-A EIS, now in progress to evaluate leasing options for 8.8 million acres of public lands in the northwest corner of the National Petroleum Reserve.
Release F-03-02
February 11, 2003
FAIRBANKS -- The Bureau of Land Management will hold a public meeting at the Noel Wien Library in Fairbanks on Wednesday, February 12 from 7 to 10 p.m. to receive public comments on four possible management alternatives for 8.8 million acres of public lands in the northwest portion of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
BLM staff will be available from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. in the library auditorium to answer questions before the start of the formal meeting.
BLM-Alaska State Director Henri Bisson says the Draft Northwest NPR-A
Integrated Activity Plan and Environmental Impact Statement addresses
three major issues:
(1) What lands should BLM offer for oil and gas leasing? (2) What measures
should be developed to protect important surface resources? and (3) What
non-oil and gas land allocations should be considered for this portion
of the NPR-A?
The 1,000-page report, which was released January 10, can be viewed online at http://www.ak.blm.gov/nwnpra. It is also available at major public libraries and BLM offices throughout the state. BLM will mail a copy of a 25-page summary or a CD of the entire document on request. Public comments will be accepted on the website and by standard mail through March 18, 2003.
For additional information, please contact Mike Kleven at 907-474-2317 or by e-mail at Mike_Kleven@ak.blm.gov.
January 17, 2003
ANCHORAGE -- The Bureau of Land Management has analyzed four possible management alternatives for 8.8 million acres of public lands in the northwest portion of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The alternatives are described in the Draft Northwest NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan and Environmental Impact Statement released January 10.
BLM-Alaska State Director Henri Bisson says the BLM is addressing three major issues: (1) what lands should BLM offer for oil and gas leasing? (2) what measures should be developed to protect important surface resources? and (3) what non-oil and gas land allocations should be considered for this portion of the NPR-A?
The 1,000-page report can be viewed online at http://www.ak.blm.gov/nwnpra starting January 17. It is also available at major public libraries and BLM offices throughout the state. BLM will mail a copy of a 25-page summary or a CD of the entire document on request. Public comments will be accepted by on the website and by standard mail through March 18, 2003.
Public meetings will be held February 12 in Fairbanks and February 13 in Anchorage. Additional meetings will be held in the following North Slope communities: Point Lay, Wainwright, Anaktuvuk Pass, Atqasuk, Nuiqsut, and Barrow. Times and locations will be announced in newspaper advertisements and on the website http://aurora.ak.blm.gov/npra/.
February 12. Fairbanks. Noel Wien Library. Open house with resource specialists 4:30 pm to 6 pm. Public comments accepted 7 pm to 10 pm.
February 13. Anchorage. Loussac Library Public Conference Room, 1st Floor. Open house with resource specialists 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Public comments accepted 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm.
This plan is the second of three separate land use plans being developed for the NPR-A. The first plan, completed in 1998, covered 4.6 million acres of public land in the northeast portion. A third planning effort, yet to begin, will cover the southern portion of the reserve.
For additional information contact: Curt Wilson, BLM Alaska State Office at (907) 271-5546, or Mike Kleven, BLM Northern Field Office at (907) 474-2317.
Last Updated February 18, 2004