The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency within the US Department of the Interior (DoI), is set to conduct an oil and gas lease sale in the Coastal Plain of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on 5 June 2026.
The sale will be the first in the area since 2021. It is part of a legal obligation to hold at least four such offerings in the region by 2035, each encompassing a minimum of 400,000 acres.
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The initiative follows the mandates set by Executive Order 14153 and Secretary’s Order 3422, which both aim to advance the exploration and production of resources in Alaska.
DoI Deputy Secretary Kate MacGregor said: “After three Acts of Congress and several successful lawsuits making it abundantly clear that oil and gas leasing in this area of Alaska is lawful, it is a great honour to once again announce another Coastal Plain lease sale.
“President Trump has long supported Alaska’s important contribution to American energy dominance and Interior is proud to take the necessary and durable steps to unleash these important resources on behalf of the American people.”
According to the BLM, Congress recognised the development potential of the region when it mandated the creation of an oil and gas leasing programme for the Coastal Plain in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
The area’s first lease sale occurred in January 2021, awarding 11 leases to three companies. A subsequent sale was scheduled for January 2025 but was cancelled after receiving no bids, attributed to development restrictions at the time.
Acting BLM director Bill Groffy said: “The record-breaking success of last month’s lease sale in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve sent a clear signal: there is robust and continuing demand for Alaskan energy, underscoring the need for more opportunities like the Coastal Plain sale.
“By expanding these opportunities, we strengthen our national energy security, support high-paying jobs for Alaskans and help ensure Americans have access to affordable energy.”
In September 2025, the BLM raised more than $38m from an oil and gas lease sale across Montana and North Dakota.
The lease sale involved 23 parcels spread over 7,604.47 acres, which were granted for a term of ten years, with extensions subject to ongoing production.
