Following January Announcement, Bureau of Land Management Issues Record of Decision for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
Decision balances protection of special areas and wildlife habitat with responsible resource development, reverts to 2013 management plan
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska —The Department of Interior today signed a new Record of Decision (ROD) to guide management of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). The BLM had announced in January its review of the 2020 Integrated Activity Plan (IAP) for the area.
Today’s decision ensures the NPR-A will be managed consistent with the 2013 IAP, while including certain more protective lease stipulations and operating procedures for threatened and endangered species from the 2020 IAP/EIS, confirmed through consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
The Bureau of Land Management prepared a Determination of National Environmental Policy Act Adequacy (DNA) for this action. The BLM also assessed the associated subsistence evaluation and biological opinions, determining they remain adequate under NEPA, Section 810 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, and Endangered Species Act to support a new decision by the Department.
The new ROD and Determination of NEPA Adequacy can be found here.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.