Federal officials who oversee offshore petroleum drilling have released a draft environmental review for a proposed June 2017 sale in Alaska’s Cook Inlet.
The sale could cover 1,700 square miles from south of Kalgin Island to an area west of Seldovia.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management says the area is near existing leases in state waters.
The draft is in two volumes covering more than 1,100 pages. It discusses alternatives to reduce leasing effects on endangered beluga whales, sea otters and commercial fishing.
BOEM on July 22 will put out the review for a 45-day public comment period. BOEM officials also will conduct public meetings on the measure in Anchorage, Homer and Kenai.
BOEM officials say they will use findings to determine whether a sale will be held.
