In 2011, President Obama directed the Secretary of the Interior to conduct annual oil and gas lease
sales in the NPR-A. Lease
sales had previously been held every two years.
Since 1999, 11 lease sales in the NPR-A have garnered more than $261 million, half of which was shared with the State of Alaska. On November 18, 2015, the BLM will conduct its 12th annual lease sale in the NPR-A, which will include 143additional tracts covering approximately 1.5 million acres.