Notice of Issuance of the
Preliminary Best Interest Finding for the
Proposed Beaufort Sea Areawide Oil and Gas Lease Sales, 2019-2028

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil and Gas (DO&G), gives notice under AS 38.05.945(a)(3)(A) that it has issued the Beaufort Sea Areawide Oil and Gas Lease Sales Preliminary Written Finding of the Director for 2019-2028 as required by AS 38.05.035(e)(5)(A), and that the director has preliminarily found that holding Beaufort Sea Areawide oil and gas lease sales from 2019-2028 is in the best interests of the state.

The preliminary best interest finding is now available for public comment. The finding will be revised as needed and any relevant information and issues brought up during the public comment period will be incorporated in the final finding as necessary. If the director determines the proposed lease sales are in the best interests of the state, DO&G may annually conduct lease sales in the area for up to 10 years with issuance of an annual supplement each subsequent year as necessary (AS 38.05.035(e)(6)(F)).

The Preliminary Best Interest Finding is available on DO&G’s website at http://dog.dnr.alaska.gov/Documents/Leasing/BIF/Beaufort_Sea/2019-04-12_Signed_BIF_Document_BS_Preliminary_Web_v1_0.pdf

How to Submit Comments to DO&G

Send comments to:

Best Interest Findings

500 W. 7th Ave., Suite 1100, Anchorage, AK 99501

or email to: dog.bif@alaska.gov

Comments must be received by 5:00 pm, June 12, 2019.

The DO&G complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990. On request, this announcement will be made available in alternative communication formats. A person is eligible to file a request for reconsideration of the commissioner’s decision and file a subsequent appeal to the Superior Court only if the person has meaningfully participated in the process by either submitting written comment during the period for receipt of public comment or has presented oral testimony at a public hearing, if a public hearing was held, and is affected by the final written finding (AS 38.05.035(i)).