Section 1010(a) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) directed the Secratary of the Interior to assess the oil, gas, and other mineral potential on all public lands in the State of Alaska in order to expand the data base with respect to the mineral potential of such lands.  The BLM conducts these mineral assessments under a long term plan, developed with stakeholder input, which deterimes the order of priority.  The long-term plan was revised to include consideration of the BLM Alaska's schedule for completing Resource Management Plans/Environmental Impact Statements.

Mineral assessments are conducted by mining district.  There are 72 mining districts in Alaska. In 1996, the BLM assumed responsibility from the U.S. Bureau of Mines (BOM) for conducting assessments of mineral resources on Federal land in Alaska. The BOM had completed assessments of nine mining districts.  The BLM, with stakeholder input, designated 21 of the remaining 63 as high priority.  The BLM has completed assessments of eight of those mining districts, leaving a total of 13 remaining high priority mining districts that require assessments under the act.  In FY05, the BLM initiated work on three more assessments, including the South NPR-A.  Approximately four to five years is required to perform the steps involved in Alaska mineral assessments, with some overlap between the two teams conducting the work. 

The BLM Alaska is currently in various stages in the development of several Resource Management Plans/Environment Impact Statements (RMPs), and additional RMPs are planned over the next five to seven years.  Alaska Mineral Assessment staff provide support by completing or overseeing the completion of the Mineral Potential Reports and Reasonable Foreseeable Development Scenarios for these RMPs. Both are critical parts of the RMPs, and are used to assist land planners in developing alternative land-use decisions.   

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