On 20 July 2018, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a notice in the Federal Register calling for nominations and comments on available tracts within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). The comment period runs until 20 August 2018. The 30-day notice allows interested parties to nominate or comment on available tracts with the area. The notice is the first step in the process leading to a potential 2016 oil & gas lease sale.  Tract selection for the sale will be consistent with allocations and stipulations identified in the NPR-A 2013 Record of Decision for the Integrated Activity Plan, BLM said, with 11.8 million acres identified available for leasing in the IAP. The 895 tracts available for nomination and comment cover some 10.25 million acres. There are currently 196 active oil and gas leases, 1,452,686 acres, in NPR-A.  ConocoPhillips has been the most active company in leasing over the last few years as it sought to expand its holdings following the recent Nanushuk trend oil discoveries made in the region.  A sale date has yet to be announced but as in years past it will likely be held at the same time as the annual North Slope Areawide Lease Sales which usually falls in the October/December timeframe.
On 20 July 2018, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a notice in the Federal Register calling for nominations and comments on available tracts within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). The comment period runs until 20 August 2018. 