🛢️Executive Order 14153 Rescinds Special Area Guidelines for NPR-A
Based on identified deficiencies, inconsistency with the President's and the Department's national energy strategy, and pursuant to direction in Executive Order 14153, "Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential," the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Alaska State Office, is rescinding the BLM notice entitled "Special Areas Within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska," published in the Federal Register on July 17, 2024, and the report entitled "Maximizing Protection in the National Petroleum Reserve- Alaska," and the memorandum with subject header "BLM Interim Management of special areas within the National Petroleum Reserve- Alaska" that were issued on January 16, 2025.
Learn More🐬NOAA Notice
In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA regulations for taking marine mammals incidental to geophysical surveys related to oil and gas activities in the Gulf of America, originally published as "Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico," notification is hereby given that NMFS has modified the Letter of Authorization (LOA) issued to Fugro USA Marine, Inc. (Fugro) for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the Gulf of America (GOA).
Learn More🛢️Proposed Reinstatement of Oil and Gas Leases in Weld County, CO
In accordance with the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, Okreek Oil and Gas LLC, Bison IV Properties Colorado, LLC, and Morning Gun Exploration LLC, filed timely petitions with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for reinstatement of competitive oil and gas leases located in Pawnee Grasslands, Weld County, Colorado. The lessees paid the required rentals that accrued from the dates of termination. The BLM has not issued new leases that affect these lands prior to receiving the petition. The BLM proposes to reinstate these leases because they meet the requirements of the Mineral Leasing Act and BLM regulations and are in conformance with the existing Eastern Resource Management Plan, signed on January 9, 2024.
Learn More🐋Proposed Regulations on Marine Mammals Impacting Hilcorp Alaska Activities
NMFS has received a request from Hilcorp Alaska, LLC (Hilcorp) for regulations allowing for the take of marine mammals incidental to activities conducted in support of oil and gas exploration, development, production, and decommissioning in Cook Inlet, Alaska, over the course of 5 years (2025-2030). As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is proposing regulations to govern the requested take, and requests comments on the proposed regulations. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the requested MMPA regulations. Agency responses to received comments will be summarized in the final rule, if issued.
Learn More⚖️Updated Bonding Requirements for Civil Penalty Appeals
On November 14, 2024, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) published final rules that amended appeal rights. Some of the language from the appeal rights section was inadvertently erased. This document corrects the final regulations.
Learn More🐋LOAs for Nonlethal Take of Marine Mammals in Alaska Oil and Gas Sector
In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issues letters of authorization (LOA) for the nonlethal take of polar bears and Pacific walruses incidental to oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and the adjacent northern coast of Alaska. The FWS also issues LOAs for the nonlethal take of northern sea otters incidental to pile driving and marine construction activities in the Gulf of Alaska. This notice announces the LOAs issued in calendar year 2024. The LOAs stipulate conditions and methods that minimize impacts to polar bears, Pacific walruses, and northern sea otters from these activities.
Learn More⛽Notice of Sale for Gulf of America Outer Continental Shelf Lease 262
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the Proposed Notice of Sale (NOS) for the proposed Gulf of America (GOA) Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 262 (GOA Lease Sale 262). BOEM is publishing this notice pursuant to its regulatory authority. Pursuant to Section 19 of the OCS Lands Act, the Secretary of the Interior provides the Governors of affected States and the executive of any affected local government the opportunity to review and comment on the Proposed NOS. The Proposed NOS describes the proposed size, timing, and location of the sale, including lease stipulations, terms and conditions, minimum bids, royalty rates, and rental rates.
Learn More🐻New Regs for Polar Bear Protection Affecting Oil and Gas Operations
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are revising a portion of our regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act pertaining to incidental take of marine mammals. These regulations, codified at 50 CFR part 18, subpart J, authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take by harassment of small numbers of polar bears from the Southern Beaufort Sea stock and Pacific walruses during year-round oil and gas industry activities in the Beaufort Sea (Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf) and adjacent northern coast of Alaska. Such take may result from oil and gas exploration, development, production, and transportation activities occurring through August 5, 2026. The revisions made by this final rule authorize incidental Level A harassment of polar bears in addition to the incidental Level B harassment of polar bears and Pacific walruses already authorized. No lethal take is authorized under this rule.
Learn More⚠️NRC Approves Alternate Waste Disposal Method for ProTechnics
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and accompanying environmental assessment (EA) for an alternate waste disposal method request from ProTechnics, a division of Core Laboratories LP (ProTechnics), for the disposal of well logging sand-outs or well logging returns containing residual amounts of NRC-licensed materials into Class I disposal wells in North Slope, Alaska. Based on the analysis in the EA, the NRC staff has concluded that there would be no significant impacts to the environment from ProTechnics' proposed exemption request and therefore, a FONSI is appropriate.
Learn More🛢️BLM Notice
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California State Director intends to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) and a potential resource management plan (RMP) amendment for the Central Coast Field Office (CCFO). The supplemental EIS will analyze the impacts of oil and gas leasing and development on BLM-managed public land and mineral estate in the CCFO. Lands withdrawn from mineral entry by law, including national monuments and designated wilderness areas, would remain unavailable for leasing and development. This notice initiates the process to solicit public comments to identify issues and announces a potential RMP amendment.
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