The 45-day call aims to gather information about specific areas with potential oil and gas resource within the Beaufort Sea Planning Area.
Additionally, the request will solicit information that will advance BOEM’s understanding about environmentally sensitive habitats and important social and cultural.
BOEM Acting Director Walter Cruickshank said: "There is significant oil and gas potential in the Beaufort Sea, but this part of the Arctic Ocean is also a unique and sensitive environment that is critically important to the subsistence needs of Alaska Native communities on the North Slope.
"Any consideration of future leasing must be done in a way that identifies not only the areas that have resource potential, but also those areas that must be protected for wildlife and traditional uses."
In order to target leases in areas that are relevant for oil and gas development, industry groups will rank the areas according to priority, ranging from critical interest to no interest.
The interested parties will provide relevant comments to BOEM’s analysis of areas for potential leasing as well as for the areas to be excluded from leasing due to conflicting values, uses or environmental concerns.
Upon completion of evaluating industry interest in the resource potential of specific areas, BOEM will make decisions about potential areas for leasing and will continue its analysis of scientific information and traditional knowledge regarding environmental issues and potential conflicts with uses such as subsistence activities.
