Notice2026-01808
Commercial Leasing for Outer Continental Shelf Minerals Offshore Alaska-Request for Information and Interest
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 29, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentOcean Energy Management Bureau
Abstract
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is initiating the first steps that could potentially lead to a lease sale for minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore Alaska by publishing this request for information and interest (RFI). This RFI is not a final decision to lease and does not prejudge any future Secretarial decisions concerning leasing on the OCS offshore Alaska. This RFI requests information and comments on, and indications of interest in, the leasing of OCS minerals in an area offshore Alaska, referred to as the RFI Area, with details in Section 5 "Description of the RFI Area." BOEM will consider information and interest received in response to this RFI when considering whether to proceed with additional steps leading to the offer of OCS minerals for lease offshore Alaska. Those interested in providing comments or information should provide the information requested in Section 6 "Types of Information and Comments Requested," of this RFI. Those interested in leasing in and around the RFI Area for OCS mineral development should provide the information described in Section 7 "Requested Information for Indications of Interest." BOEM will decide whether and under what terms and conditions to hold a lease sale for commercial OCS mineral development offshore Alaska after further consideration, consultations, public participation, and environmental analyses.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 19 (Thursday, January 29, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 19 (Thursday, January 29, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3923-3927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01808]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM-2025-0318]
Commercial Leasing for Outer Continental Shelf Minerals Offshore
Alaska--Request for Information and Interest
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.
ACTION: Request for information and interest.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is initiating the
first steps that could potentially lead to a lease sale for minerals on
the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore Alaska by publishing this
request for information and interest (RFI). This RFI is not a final
decision to lease and does not prejudge any future Secretarial
decisions concerning leasing on the OCS offshore Alaska. This RFI
requests information and comments on, and indications of interest in,
the leasing of OCS minerals in an area offshore Alaska, referred to as
the RFI Area, with details in Section 5 ``Description of the RFI
Area.'' BOEM will consider information and interest received in
response to this RFI when considering whether to proceed with
additional steps leading to the offer of OCS minerals for lease
offshore Alaska. Those interested in providing comments or information
should provide the information requested in Section 6 ``Types of
Information and Comments Requested,'' of this RFI. Those interested in
leasing in and around the RFI Area for OCS mineral development should
provide the information described in Section 7 ``Requested Information
for Indications of Interest.'' BOEM will decide whether and under what
terms and conditions to hold a lease sale for commercial OCS mineral
development offshore Alaska after further consideration, consultations,
public participation, and environmental analyses.
DATES: BOEM must receive all comments, information, and indications of
interest in response to this RFI no later than March 2, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Please submit indications of interest in commercial leasing
electronically via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#55143934263e341930342630063439302615373a30387b323a23"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6f2e030e1c040e230a0e1c0a3c0e030a1c2f0d000a0241080019">[email protected]</span></a> or by hard copy
by mail to the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
Alaska Region, Office of Leasing and Plans, 3801 Centerpoint Dr., Ste.
500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. If you elect to mail a hard copy, also
include an electronic copy on a portable storage device. These are the
only acceptable means of submitting indication of interest in
commercial leasing under this RFI to BOEM.
Please submit all other comments and information as discussed in
section 6, entitled, ``Types of Information and Comments Requested,''
by either of the following two methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. In the
search box at the top of the web page, enter BOEM-2025-0318 and then
click ``search.'' Follow the instructions to submit public comments and
to view supporting and related materials.
2. By mail to the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Alaska Region, Office of Leasing and Plans, 3801
Centerpoint Dr., Ste. 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503.
Treatment of confidential information is addressed in Section 8 of
this notice entitled, ``Protection of Privileged, Personal, or
Confidential Information.'' BOEM will post all comments received on
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> unless labeled as confidential and BOEM determines that
an exemption from disclosure applies.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aldine Reynolds, Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management, Alaska Region, Office of Leasing and Plans, 3801
Centerpoint Dr., Ste. 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3d7c515c4e565c71585c4e586e5c51584e7d5f525850135a524b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="82c3eee3f1e9e3cee7e3f1e7d1e3eee7f1c2e0ede7eface5edf4">[email protected]</span></a> or (907) 334-5200.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.)
declares that it is the policy of the United States that the OCS ``is a
vital national resource reserve held by the Federal Government for the
public, which should be made available for expeditious and orderly
development, subject to environmental safeguards, in a manner which is
consistent with the maintenance of competition and other national
needs.'' Id. at 1332(3). BOEM requests information and comments from
Indigenous communities, state and local governments, Federal agencies,
[[Page 3924]]
environmental and other public interest organizations, the offshore
mining industry, other interested organizations and entities, and the
public, for use in the consideration of whether to offer OCS minerals
for lease offshore Alaska. BOEM is seeking a wide array of information,
including but not limited to information on the potential impact of OCS
mineral exploration and development on OCS resources and the marine,
coastal, and human environments. This RFI is published under the OCS
Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1337(k)(1), and its implementing regulations at 30
CFR 581.12.
1. Public Comment Procedure
BOEM's strong preference is to receive comments via
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, except when a comment contains proprietary
information. Comments should include the full name and address of the
individual submitting the comment(s). Before including personal
identifying information in your comment, be aware that your entire
comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made
publicly available. While you can ask BOEM in your comment to withhold
your personal identifying information from public review, BOEM cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so. Even if BOEM withholds your
information in the context of this RFI, your submission is subject to
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and if your submission is
requested under the FOIA, your information will only be withheld if a
determination is made that one of the FOIA's exemptions to disclosure
applies. Such a determination will be made in accordance with the
Department's FOIA regulations and applicable law.
2. Background Information
Section 8(k) of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(k)) authorizes
the Secretary of the Interior to grant leases on the OCS to qualified
persons offering the highest cash bonuses for minerals other than oil,
gas, and sulfur on a competitive basis. The Trump Administration
recognizes that an overreliance on foreign critical minerals and their
derivative products could jeopardize U.S. defense capabilities,
infrastructure development, and technological innovation. To support
and facilitate domestic production of critical minerals, the Trump
Administration has issued a series of Executive Orders (EOs), including
E.O. 14156, ``Declaring a National Energy Emergency (January 20,
2025);'' E.O. 14154, ``Unleashing American Energy'' (January 20, 2025)
and E.O. 14285, ``Unleashing America's Offshore Critical Minerals and
Resources'' (April 24, 2025). The Secretary of the Interior also issued
Secretary's Order (SO) 3417, ``Addressing the National Energy
Emergency'' (February 3, 2025) and SO 3418, ``Unleashing American
Energy,'' (February 3, 2025) which direct Department of the Interior
(DOI) bureaus to facilitate and expedite critical mineral permitting,
leasing, and ultimately development on the OCS.
In response to the EOs and SO, BOEM is taking immediate action to
accelerate the responsible development of OCS mineral resources,
advance American leadership in associated extraction technologies, and
ensure secure supply chains for U.S. defense, infrastructure, and
energy sectors with the publication of this RFI.
BOEM will advance America's national security and future prosperity
through the identification of and access to OCS minerals, which include
those minerals identified as critical minerals by Federal statute.
Pursuant to Section 7002 of the Energy Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116-260,
Division Z), critical minerals are defined as any minerals, elements,
substances, or materials that are determined to be essential to the
economic and national security of the United States, have a supply
chain vulnerable to disruption, and play an essential role in
manufacturing a product whose absence would significantly affect U.S.
economic or national security. On November 7, 2025, the Secretary of
the Interior, through the U.S. Geological Survey, identified 60
critical minerals with 43 of these minerals being found on the OCS (90
FR 50494).
Upon release of this RFI, BOEM intends to evaluate lease planning
with the State of Alaska, local governments, relevant OCS users, and
Federal agencies including, but not limited to, the Department of the
Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service,
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the U.S. Coast Guard; the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and the Department of Defense.
BOEM remains available for the formal government-to-government process
with Tribes and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act corporations. BOEM
is also available for engagement with interested stakeholders and the
public.
3. BOEM's Leasing Process
BOEM will follow the steps required by 30 CFR 581.14 through 581.23
if it decides to proceed with the competitive leasing process after
analyzing the responses to this RFI. Briefly, those steps are:
(1) OCS Mining Area Identification: BOEM will select tracts to be
considered for offering of a lease. The selected tracts will be
considered in the environmental analysis conducted for the proposed
lease offering.
(2) Proposed Leasing Notice (PLN): BOEM will publish a PLN in the
Federal Register at least 60 days prior to the publication of a leasing
notice. The PLN will describe the areas that BOEM intends to offer for
leasing; proposed primary terms of the OCS mineral leases to be
offered; lease stipulations including measures to mitigate potentially
adverse impacts on the environment; and such rental, royalty, and other
terms and conditions that BOEM may prescribe in the leasing notice.
(3) Leasing Notice (LN): If it decides to proceed to conduct a
lease sale, BOEM will publish a LN in the Federal Register at least 30
days before the date of the lease sale. The LN will state whether oral
or sealed bids or a combination thereof will be used; the place, date,
and time at which sealed bids will be filed; and the place, date, and
time at which sealed bids will be opened and/or oral bids received. The
LN will contain or reference a description of the tract(s) to be
offered for lease; specify the mineral(s) to be offered for lease (if
less than all OCS minerals are being offered); specify the period of
time the primary term of the lease will cover; and contain any
stipulation(s), term(s), and condition(s) of the offer to lease.
Additionally, the LN will include a reference to the OCS mineral lease
form that will be issued to successful bidders and specify the terms
and conditions governing the payment of the winning bid.
(4) Bid Submission and Evaluation: BOEM will offer the lease
area(s) through a competitive, cash bonus bidding process under terms
and conditions specified in the LN.
(5) Issuance of a Lease: Following identification of a winning
qualified bidder on a lease area, BOEM will notify that bidder and
provide the lease documents for signature.
4. Purpose of the RFI
The purpose of this RFI is to gather comments, information, and
indications of interest from any interested parties for a potential OCS
mineral lease sale offshore Alaska. This RFI is one of the initial
steps in the public participation process to ensure that all interests
and concerns are considered for future leasing decisions. This does not
mean that DOI or BOEM has reached a
[[Page 3925]]
preliminary decision to lease in this area. BOEM will consider
information and comments received that may identify any potential
environmental impacts, multiple use conflicts, and ways to eliminate,
mitigate, and monitor for impacts to assist in future analysis and
leasing decisions. BOEM will also determine if any responses identify
specific areas of interest in the RFI Area that could support
commercial mineral development, potential conflicts among offshore
activities, and requirements to ensure safe and environmentally
responsible activities should a lease sale occur.
5. Description of the RFI Area
The RFI Area includes these areas within the Alaska OCS: Norton
Sound Heavy Mineral Sands, Goodnews Bay Heavy Mineral Sands, Aleutian
Arc, Canada Basin, Chukchi Borderland and Gulf of Alaska seamounts off
the coast of Alaska, covering approximately 113,703,395 acres. The RFI
Area boasts a variety of water depths from the deepest point near the
Aleutian Trench at over 7,000 meters, the abyssal plains of the Bering
Sea and Gulf of Alaska at 3,800-5,500 meters, and the shallow sandy
waters of Norton Sound at 10-25 meters. Deep water resource areas are
primarily abyssal plains with scattered seamounts and hydrothermal
features. Shallower areas are much sandier and are dominated by
sediment transport structures such as sand bars, alluvial fans, and
glacial moraines. BOEM is particularly interested in areas that have
been identified by USGS as prospective for critical minerals as well as
heavy minerals sands along the Seward Peninsula and Bering Sea coast.
BOEM plans to refer to Official Protraction Diagrams, whole or partial
OCS lease blocks, and aliquots for the purpose of area identification
and tract size specification. This is consistent with previous RFIs
issued related to OCS mineral lease sales and the practice used by BOEM
for other OCS leasing (e.g., oil and gas, other minerals). The map
depicting the approximate RFI Area (Figure 1), and an Esri shapefile
are available for download on the BOEM website at <a href="https://www.boem.gov/ak-minerals-2027">https://www.boem.gov/ak-minerals-2027</a>. BOEM Official Protraction Diagrams (OPDs) and
Supplemental Official OCS Block Diagrams, are available online at
<a href="https://www.boem.gov/alaska-cadastral-data">https://www.boem.gov/alaska-cadastral-data</a>. Please note that some areas
within the RFI area (and Alaska OCS) do not currently have published
OPDs. Additional information on Alaska minerals can be found at <a href="https://www.boem.gov/marine-minerals/critical-minerals/critical-minerals-alaska-ocs">https://www.boem.gov/marine-minerals/critical-minerals/critical-minerals-alaska-ocs</a>.
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29JA26.010
[[Page 3926]]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-C
BOEM is seeking to identify locations suitable for OCS mineral
development in the RFI Area. Respondents may nominate areas of interest
within the RFI Area and comment on any acreage in and around the RFI
Area. The RFI Area is not indicative of the area that may ultimately be
offered for lease. Responses to this RFI will help determine lease
tract size and block configurations for potential leasing. If BOEM
proceeds with the leasing process, tract sizes will be proposed in the
PLN and finalized in the LN.
6. Types of Information and Comments Requested
BOEM invites comments from anyone who would like to submit
information and suggestions for consideration in determining, among
other things, the appropriate size and location of potential OCS
mineral leasing in and around the RFI Area. Commenters should be as
specific and detailed as possible to help BOEM understand and address
the comments. Where applicable, spatial information should be submitted
in a format compatible with Esri ArcGIS (Esri shapefile, Esri file
geodatabase, KML (Keyhole Markup Language), GeoJSON, or GeoPackage) in
the WGS84 or NAD83 geographic coordinate system. BOEM is requesting
information on the following:
a. Information concerning the offering of a specific OCS mineral, a
group of OCS minerals, or all OCS minerals (other than oil, gas, and
sulfur) in a broad area for lease in the RFI Area or the offering of
one or more discrete tracts which represent a minable orebody.
b. Geological conditions, archaeological resources, or potential
hazards on the seabed in and around the RFI Area.
c. Multiple uses in and around the RFI Area, including shipping,
navigation, and recreation.
d. Socioeconomic, biological, and environmental information in and
around the RFI Area or analogous sites for comparative analysis;
potential impacts of leasing and mining activities to these resources;
and methods to eliminate, mitigate, and monitor for impacts.
e. Information regarding commercial, Indigenous, and recreational
fisheries, including but not limited to, the use of the areas, the
fishing gear types used, seasonal use, and recommendations for reducing
use conflicts.
f. Relative environmental sensitivity and marine productivity in
and around the RFI Area.
g. Information on the preliminary activities necessary to develop
comprehensive delineation, testing, or mining plans, particularly the
types of any necessary surveys and associated equipment.
h. Information on the types of activities associated with
delineation, testing, or mining of OCS minerals.
i. Information related to Indigenous Peoples, including their
traditional and cultural activities in the region and interactions with
potential OCS mineral exploration and extraction related work, such as
potential impacts to the Indigenous way of life; practices; lands;
resources; ancestral lands; sacred sites, including sites that are
submerged; and access to traditional areas of cultural or religious
importance on federally-managed lands and waters. BOEM will protect
confidential information shared by Indigenous Peoples in response to
this RFI to the extent authorized by Federal law. Treatment of
confidential information is addressed in Section 8 of this notice
entitled, ``Protection of Privileged, Personal, or Confidential
Information.''
j. Socioeconomic information for communities potentially affected
by OCS mineral leasing in and around the RFI Area, including community
profiles, vulnerability, and resiliency data.
k. Information from the offshore mining industry on the
considerations for OCS mineral development in the offshore such as
water depth, seafloor conditions, operations, mineral extraction
feasibility, and costs.
l. Information on what a reasonable and fair rental rate would be
for a minerals lease, including whether and why a rental payment should
be required in the first five years, and if not in accordance with 30
CFR 581.27, what the rental payment should be starting in year six.
Should the adjustment or suspension of rental payments be allowed under
certain conditions, such as geologic, geographic, technical, or
economic factors? If so, what specific conditions should apply?
m. Information on the royalty rates and schedules that would
effectively serve as both an incentive for development and assure a
fair return to the public for extracted minerals. BOEM could
potentially issue a minerals lease with an ad valorum royalty and
include provisions for a minimum royalty equivalent to the rental rate
per 30 CFR 581.30. The royalty schedule may be modified from the
provisions in 30 CFR 581.28(b) and is anticipated to include a lower
royalty rate during the early years of the lease to help lessees recoup
their capital investments.
n. Information on appropriate bid deposit, minimum bid levels, and
preferred auction format (sealed bid or ascending). BOEM is evaluating
the use of either a sealed bid or an ascending oral bid auction format
and is considering limiting bidders to one lease area if multiple areas
are offered. An ascending auction allows for more effective price
discovery, while a sealed bid auction offers administrative simplicity.
o. Information on the appropriate lease size BOEM should offer for
a minerals lease offshore Alaska.
p. Information on the duration and conditions BOEM should consider
for potential lease contraction clauses. BOEM could offer one or more
large lease areas so companies can explore for and find economic
deposits of minerals. However, BOEM could also consider lease
contraction clauses allowing for the reduction of the leased acreage
after a specified period. BOEM is evaluating a two-stage lease
contraction process, scheduled around years 7 and 14. The first
contraction would reduce the acreage to the most suitable area for more
detailed exploration. The second contraction would further refine the
lease area to define the acreage for commercial recovery. What is the
preferrable acreage for each lease contraction stage? What are the
optimal years for implementing these two stages of lease contraction?
q. The regulations at 30 CFR 581.26(h) establish a framework for
valuing production for royalty purposes. We invite public comment on
whether there are alternative valuation methods that ONRR should
consider under 30 CFR 581.26(h)(1)(iii).
7. Requested Information for Indications of Interest
Areas of interest and the accompanying rationale are extremely
useful to help BOEM understand and model the commercial viability of
portions of the OCS for mineral leasing. Respondents are requested to
nominate specific blocks or acreage within the RFI Area that are of
particular interest for consideration in a possible OCS mineral lease
sale. Nominations must be depicted on a map with the RFI Area by
outlining the area(s) of interest. Where applicable, interested
companies should submit spatial information in a format compatible with
Esri ArcGIS (Esri shapefile, Esri file geodatabase, KML (Keyhole Markup
Language), GeoJSON, or GeoPackage) in the WGS84 or NAD83 geographic
coordinate system.
If you wish to indicate interest for one or more areas for a
commercial OCS mineral lease in the RFI Area, you
[[Page 3927]]
should provide the following information for each area of interest:
(a) The area to be offered for lease.
(b) The OCS minerals of primary interest.
(c) The available OCS mineral resource, geological, archaeological
resources, and environmental information (including methods to
eliminate, mitigate, and monitor for potential impacts) pertaining to
the area of interest to be offered for lease which supports the
request.
Although the identities of those indicating interest in specific
areas in response to this RFI become a matter of public record, their
indications of interest in specific areas are considered proprietary
information. BOEM will not release information that identifies any
particular area of interest or nomination with any particular party, so
as not to compromise the competitive position of any participants.
Respondents may rank areas of specific interest according to priority:
1 (high), 2 (medium), and 3 (low). The name and telephone number of a
person in the respondent's organization to contact for additional
information or clarification should be included in the response.
Please submit indications of interest in commercial leasing
electronically via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#20614c41534b416c4541534573414c455360424f454d0e474f56"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4a0b262b39212b062f2b392f192b262f390a28252f27642d253c">[email protected]</span></a> or by hard copy
by mail to the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
Alaska Region, Office of Leasing and Plans, 3801 Centerpoint Dr. Ste
500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. If you elect to mail a hard copy, also
include an electronic copy on a portable storage device. Do not submit
indications of interest via the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
8. Protection of Privileged, Personal, or Confidential Information
a. Freedom of Information Act
BOEM will protect privileged or confidential information that you
submit when required by the FOIA. Exemption 4 of FOIA applies to trade
secrets and commercial or financial information that is privileged or
confidential. If you wish to protect the confidentiality of such
information, clearly label it and request that BOEM treat it as
confidential. BOEM will not disclose such information if BOEM
determines under FOIA, and the Department and BOEM regulations (see 30
CFR 581.7) that it qualifies for exemption from disclosure under FOIA.
Please label privileged or confidential information ``Contains
Confidential Information'' and consider submitting such information as
a separate attachment.
BOEM will not treat as confidential any aggregate summaries of such
information or comments not containing such privileged or confidential
information. Information that is not labeled as privileged or
confidential may be regarded by BOEM as suitable for public release.
b. Personally Identifiable Information
BOEM encourages you not to submit anonymous comments. Please
include your name and address as part of your comment. You should be
aware that your entire comment, including your name, address, and any
personally identifiable information (PII) included in your comment, may
be made publicly available. All submissions from identified
individuals, businesses, and organizations will be available for public
viewing on <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. Note that BOEM will make available for
public inspection all comments, in their entirety, submitted by
organizations and businesses, or by individuals identifying themselves
as representatives of organizations or businesses.
For BOEM to consider withholding your PII from disclosure, you must
identify any information contained in your comments that, if released,
would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of your personal
privacy. You must also briefly describe any possible harmful
consequences of the disclosure of information, such as embarrassment,
injury, or other harm. Even if BOEM withholds your information in the
context of this RFI, your submission is subject to FOIA and, if your
submission is requested under FOIA, your information will be withheld
only if a determination is made that one of FOIA's exemptions to
disclosure applies.Such a determination will be made in accordance with
the Department's FOIA regulations and applicable law.
c. Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54
U.S.C. 307103(a))
After consultation with the Secretary, BOEM is required to withhold
the location, character, or ownership of historic resources if it
determines that disclosure may, among other things, risk harm to the
historic resources or impede the use of a traditional religious site by
practitioners. Indigenous Peoples, communities, and organizations
should designate information that falls under Section 304 of the NHPA
as confidential.
Matthew N. Giacona,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2026-01808 Filed 1-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 29, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.