BOEM proposes notice of sale for second Cook Inlet oil and gas lease sale

ANCHORAGE, Oct 13 — The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Tuesday announced a proposed notice of sale for a second Cook Inlet offshore oil and gas lease sale under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with bid opening currently scheduled for March 3, 2027.

The proposed notice covers the Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas One Big Beautiful Bill Act Lease Sale 2, which the agency calls Lease Sale BBC2. According to the notice published in the Federal Register, it sets out the proposed size, timing and location of the sale.

The proposed notice also includes lease stipulations, terms and conditions, minimum bids, royalty rates and rental rates, which the notice said are required by Section 50102 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for this sale.

Under Section 19 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, governors of affected states and the executive of any affected local government may review and comment on the proposed notice, the agency said.

Those comments on the size, timing and location of the sale must reach BOEM by Dec. 14, 2026, according to the notice.

BOEM will publish a final notice of sale in the Federal Register at least 30 days before bid opening, the notice said.

The notice was signed by Michael D. Olsen, acting director of the Marine Minerals Administration. According to the notice, Secretary's Order 3451 established the Marine Minerals Administration and incorporated the authorities and functions of the former BOEM and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement into it.

The proposed notice and related package are available from BOEM's Alaska Region office in Anchorage and on the agency's website.