Federal Register #2026-20763

Interior environmental review change for wintertime oil and gas exploration in Alaska

The Department of the Interior is revising its National Environmental Policy Act procedures for certain wintertime oil and gas exploration in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska. - Government buyer: U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary; the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for applying the exclusion to covered actions. - Opportunity type: Policy and environmental review procedure change, not a procurement solicitation. No OEMs, vendors, products, quantities, or part numbers are identified. - Covered activities: BLM approval of seismic surveys using vibroseis methods, applications for permits to drill, and rights-of-way. Related work may include temporary ice roads, snow routes, ice pads, camps and support equipment; water withdrawals; drilling, well testing, suspension, plugging and abandonment; and helicopter-assisted summer cleanup following winter drilling. - Key requirement: BLM must determine whether an action qualifies for the categorical exclusion and screen for extraordinary circumstances. If extraordinary circumstances may lead to significant effects, additional environmental review through an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement is required.

Description

The notice announces a revision to the Department of the Interior’s National Environmental Policy Act procedures, adding a categorical exclusion for wintertime oil and gas exploration activities in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The exclusion covers BLM approval of seismic surveys, applications for permits to drill, and rights-of-way, with listed activities including ice roads and pads, water withdrawals, drilling and related work, and summer cleanup. Before applying the exclusion, BLM will check whether the proposed action qualifies and whether extraordinary circumstances require further NEPA review. The revision is effective October 9, 2026.

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