The Division of Oil and Gas has received written questions relevant to proposed changes on oil and gas leasing regulations as described in the Notice of Proposed Changes on Oil and Gas Leasing in the Regulations of the Department of Natural Resources published July 12, 2019.
| Date Question Received | Proposed Regulation | Question | Response |
| July 30, 2019 | 11 AAC 82.400 | "The substantive question/clarification I have relates to the proposed change in 11 AAC 82.400, which allows the commissioner the ability to defer or change acreage of a parcel any time prior to issuance without notice. Does this include the period of time between the DNR awarding the parcel and issuing the lease; i.e. any time prior to the lease being executed and in effect?" | As written the proposed change includes the period of time between DNR awarding a lease and executing a lease before the lease takes effect. |
| July 30, 2019 | 11 AAC Ch.4, Ch.5, Ch.82, Ch.83, and Ch.88 | "The other question I have relates to overall timing of the effectiveness of these proposed regulations. If some or all of them are adopted, do you anticipate them going into effect prior to the upcoming lease sale?" | If some, or all, of the proposed changes are adopted the changes may go into effect prior to the Northern Alaska Areawide Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sales (Lease Sales) scheduled for December 11, 2019. However, DNR will not change the method of bidding published in the Notice of Sale on June 28, 2019 for the Lease Sales. The Notice of Sale and all other sale documents are available at http://dog.dnr.alaska.gov/. |
The written questions and responses are also available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System at https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices and the Division website at http://dog.dnr.alaska.gov/Newsroom/.
You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Kyle Smith at the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil and Gas, 550 W 7th Avenue, Suite 1100, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3563. Additionally, DNR will accept comments by facsimile at (907)269-6587 and by electronic mail at dog.leasing@alaska.gov. The comments must be received not later than 4:30 pm Alaska Standard Time on August 16, 2019 as provided in the Supplemental Notice of Proposed Changes on Oil and Gas Leasing in the Regulations of the Department of Natural Resources published July 29, 2019.
After the public comment period ends DNR will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.
Kyle Smith
Petroleum Land Manager