Record of Decision Sets Stage for Major Lease Sale in National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska

July 17th, 2008 · No Comments WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a Record of Decision issued today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it will make land available for oil and gas leasing in the northeast portion of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). “This action sets the stage for a major lease sale this fall. This is welcome news at a time when Americans are paying record prices at the pump,” said C. Stephen Allred, Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals, in signing the ROD. At the same lease sale, the BLM also plans to offer land in the northwest portion of the NPR-A. “The rapid increase in energy costs facing our nation is driven by a worldwide imbalance in energy supply and demand,” Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne said. “Developing the NPR-A in an environmentally sound manner will contribute... [read full story]