BOEM’s Alaska OCS Region
Managing the wealth of natural resources on Alaska’s Outer Continental Shelf
Alaska’s Outer Continental Shelf is enormous: at 1.3 billion acres, about 65 percent of the size of the entire contiguous U.S. That expanse comprises immense energy and mineral resources. Alaska’s OCS is estimated to contain 24.69 billion barrels of oil, 124.03 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and 3,800 gigawatts of potential wind, tidal and wave energy. As an important partner in America’s energy security and overall Arctic security, we are committed to managing the development of these natural resources in an environmentally and economically responsible way.
Mission
To manage development of U.S. Outer Continental Shelf energy, mineral, and geological resources in an environmentally and economically responsible way.
The Latest
- Alaska is incredibly rich in renewable resources. At 11 a.m. Thursday, May 23, Givey Kochanowski, director of BOEM's Alaska OCS Region, will serve on a panel titled "Diversifying Alaska’s Energy Portfolio: Exporting Renewable Energy from Cook Inlet" at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference. "Southcentral Alaska
- BOEM is deploying innovative strategies to modernize our data by utilizing Open-Source Software (OSS), automation, and the fundamentals of computer programming.
- Staff members at the Bureau of Ocean Energy’s Alaska OCS Region had the opportunity to work with fifth- and sixth-graders from all over Anchorage at Outdoor Week 2024, held by the Bureau of Land Management’s Campbell Creek Science Center here May 7-10.
- One of Alaska’s largest funders of marine science, BOEM’s Alaska OCS Region is testing a new approach to studying sea otter populations. The approach uses an AI-powered technique that promises to be safer, more efficient and less visible to the otters themselves.
Givey Kochanowski
Givey Kochanowski is a member of the Senior Executive Service and regional director for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Region
Announcements
- In February 2022, BOEM held an auction that brought in over $4.3 billion for the rights to six lease areas in the New York Bight – a record amount for any U.S. offshore renewable or conventional energy lease sale.
- Organized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA-Fisheries), Belugas Count! 2024 brought the community together Saturday, Sept. 21, for a day of whale watching, learning, and conservation. At 22 designated viewing stations around Cook Inlet, the event offered participants the chance to help spot and count beluga whales while contributing to critical conservation efforts.
- Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a non-invasive and cost-effective method for monitoring marine biodiversity. Through water sample collection and analysis, scientists can identify species present in an ecosystem based on their genetic material. By integrating eDNA analysis with other technologies such as passive acoustics, satellite data, ship-based surveys , and aerial observations, researchers gain a more comprehensive understanding of marine ecosystems and the impacts of human activities on ocean health. BOEM supports utilizing eDNA to inform decision-making related to offshore wind development, monitoring, and oil spill response.
- BOEM is pleased to announce that the 2023 Environmental Studies Program (ESP) Year in Review report is now available. The ESP Year in Review summarizes the environmental studies BOEM published from October 2022 through December 2023. It provides concise descriptions of each study’s purpose and findings, and how BOEM will use the research results. In addition to the study summaries, the Year in Review also provides insight into BOEM’s study process and the types of research BOEM conducts.
- The ESP Year in Review summarizes the environmental studies BOEM published from October 2022 through December 2023.
It can vary a bit in other places; but in Alaska, the OCS is the submerged land that lies more than three nautical miles from shore. So if an energy or marine-mining company wants to develop any of those areas – for example, build a wind-turbine farm, or explore for natural gas – we are the agency they work with. (The submerged lands within three miles of Alaska’s shores are state waters, and are regulated by the State of Alaska.)
