Outer Continental Shelf, Alaska Natural Gas and Oil Lease Sales

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15964-15967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8953]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Outer Continental Shelf, Alaska Natural Gas and Oil Lease Sales

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Request for Indications of Continuing Interest and Comments for 
Oil and Gas Lease Sales: Beaufort Sea, Sale 144; Cook Inlet, Sale 149; 
and Gulf of Alaska/Yakutat, Sale 158.

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    The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is requesting information on 
natural gas and oil lease sales in the Alaska OCS Region. These sales 
are included in the 5-Year Program for 1992-1997 and are in various 
stages of the pre-sale process. The areas currently being considered 
for offering are shown on the maps for each area included in this 
Notice. Larger scale maps are also available for use at the Alaska OCS 
Region, 949 East 36th Avenue, 3rd Floor, Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4302, 
telephone (907) 271-6691. All indications of interest and comments 
containing confidential information will be deemed to be proprietary 
information.
    Beaufort Sea Sale 144 is currently scheduled for late September 
1996. The final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is due to be filed 
next month. Potential bidders are asked to indicate whether they have a 
continuing interest in leasing and conducting oil and gas operations in 
any portion of the sale area and to specifically identify those areas 
of interest by outlining groups of blocks using MMS's Beaufort Sea Sale 
144 maps.
    Cook Inlet Sale 149 is currently scheduled for late June 1996. 
Governor Knowles of Alaska recently indicated that he believed that 
industry interest in a lease sale in this area was uncertain. Potential 
bidders are asked to indicate whether they have a continuing interest 
in leasing and conducting oil and gas operations in any portion of the 
sale area and to specifically identify those areas of interest by 
outlining groups of blocks using MMS's Cook Inlet Sale 149 maps.
    Preparations for Sale 158, Gulf of Alaska/Yakutat have been 
proceeding toward a proposed mid-1997 sale date. However, recent 
information from industry showed much less interest in the area among 
companies which had earlier supported the proposal. Comments on Sale 
158 will help MMS determine whether preparations should continue or the 
area be deferred for consideration in the 1997-2002 5-Year Program. 
Also, note that the comment period for the draft EIS for Sale 158 is 
hereby extended to May 25, 1996.
    Responses are requested within 15 days of the publication of this 
notice. Letters and/or maps should be mailed or delivered to the 
Regional Supervisor, Leasing and Environment, Alaska OCS Region, 949 
East 36th Avenue, 3rd Floor, Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4302. Responses 
may also be sent by fax to (907) 271-6805. Telephone inquiries may be 
made to Mr. Tom Warren at (907) 271-6691. Additionally, respondents may 
request a meeting with MMS to discuss, in a confidential manner, the 
specific areas of interest.

    Dated: April 5, 1996.
Thomas Gernhofer,
Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management.

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[FR Doc. 96-8953 Filed 4-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M