Federal Outer Continental Shelf Lease Sales 

Kenai Peninsula Borough Positions

Lower Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf Special Interest 

Lease Sales 211 & 219

The Kenai Peninsula Borough supports the inclusion of Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) special interest oil and gas lease sales 211 and 219 for inclusion in the proposed 2007-2012 OCS oil & gas leasing program currently under consideration by the Federal government.  This support is based on KPB Resolution 2001-127 that adopted the five provisions of the Tri-Borough Position Paper that represent five critical issues that the Kenai Peninsula Borough believes were initially addressed through the OCS Environmental Impact Statement, and that must continue to be addressed by the provisions of any resulting OCS lease agreements and permits issued by all federal agencies, and through current and future Congressional legislation.  These positions include:

1. No offshore loading of tankers

2. Specific plans to minimize and avoid commercial fishing gear conflicts with the exploration and development of oil

3. The oil exploration company must have adequate spill prevention and response capability

4. Identification of critical habitat areas

5. Provision for local government revenue sharing

The Kenai Peninsula Borough also supports improved lease terms and incentives to encourage new oil & gas exploration within the OCS lease area.  The economic and resource potential of the OCS is substantial and those resources should be explored and developed in a manner that benefits the economies of the Cook Inlet Basin while maintaining reasonable and appropriate environmental protection standards for OCS oil & gas exploration, development and production activities.

MMS Proposed 5-Year 

Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Program for 2007-2012

MMS Lease Sale 199, Scheduled for May, 2006 Cancelled 

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service has recently announced the scheduled lease sale for the Lower Cook Inlet Federal waters is intended to be set for May, 2006 has been cancelled due to a lack of industry interest. 

MMS Press Release "MMS Delays Lease Sale 199" (78KB)

Request for Information Notice in 12/27/04 Federal Register (273KB)

MMS Cook Inlet Overview Brief (1,420KB)

For additional information, please contact the Minerals Management Service at:

Minerals Management Service, Alaska OCS Region, Resource Center

3801 Centerpoint,  Suite 500

Anchorage, AK  99503-5823

Toll Free 1-800-764-2627 or 907-334-5200

Or Click on the following banner to go directly to the MMS Website:

Copies of the FEIS are also available for viewing in person at various Kenai Peninsula public Libraries in the communities of Homer, Seldovia, Port Graham, Anchor Point, Halibut Cove, City of Homer, City of Kenai, City of Soldotna, Kenai Peninsula College Branches, Nanwalek and Ninilchik.  Click on the following links for detailed information about Lease Sales 191 & 199.

***Newly Posted 06/30/04***

The following three documents are components of a newly released study commissioned by the Minerals Management Service that examines the interactions of the oil & gas and commercial drift gillnet fishery of Cook Inlet.

Cook Inlet Platforms

Kenai Peninsula Borough Positions

The Kenai Peninsula Borough supports Lease Sale 191 & 199 as important to the future of the economies of the Cook Inlet Basin and Alaska.  70% of Alaskans rely on Cook Inlet natural gas to heat and light their homes and businesses.  With proven reserves of Cook Inlet natural gas estimated to last 10 to 12 years, new reserves must be developed to prevent critical shortages of this important energy source.

The support of the Kenai Peninsula Borough is qualified to advocate for the withdrawal of 300,000 acres of the original 2.5 million acres proposed.  The Final Environmental Impact Statement offers a preferred plan that incorporates these withdrawals.  

Another qualifier to the Kenai Peninsula Borough's support is that the Federal government must incorporate into its lease and development plans and permits the five provisions of the Tri-Boroughs Position Paper.

You can view the Kenai Peninsula Borough's positions on the proposed OCS lease sales by clicking the links below.

Updated 02/09/04

State of Alaska

Updated 02/09/04

Other Organization Positions 

Related Media Articles

Updated 01/06/04

All reports and documents presented in this website are available via U.S. Mail upon written request to:

Bill Popp, Oil, Gas & Mining Liaison

Kenai Peninsula Borough, 144 N. Binkley Street, Soldotna, AK 99669

907-714-2157 ~ fax 907-262-8616 ~ brichards@borough.kenai.ak.us

The preceding  materials are assembled from numerous sources and are provided here in an effort to improve the availability of public information. The Kenai Peninsula Borough has made a significant effort to eliminate problems and errors from these data, but shall make no expressed or implied warranties (including warranties of merchantability and fitness) with respect to the character, function, or capabilities of this data or its appropriateness for any user's purposes. In no event shall the Kenai Peninsula Borough be liable for any incidental, indirect, special, consequential or other damages suffered by the user or any other person or entity whether from use of this data, any failure thereof or otherwise, and in no event will the Kenai Peninsula Borough's liability to the person using this data or anyone else exceed the fee paid for this data.

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