Lease sale nets bids covering 48,000 acres of Alaska’s Beaufort Sea, draws protests

Investors bid on 48,000 acres in Alaska lease sale

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The state of Alaska has received oil and gas lease bids for 48,000 acres in near shore waters of the Beaufort Sea.

The lease sale Wednesday for marine waters off the state’s north coast drew criticism from Native Alaska and environmental groups, who say tracts were offered in sensitive areas. Development would threaten whales, seals, birds, polar bears and people who rely on a subsistence lifestyle, according to the groups.

Alaska oil and gas leasing and permitting manager Jonne Slemons (JOE-knee-SLEH-mons) says the results are preliminary. All 18 tracts are within state-regulated waters up to 3 miles from shore.

Bids totaled $823,468.80.