During preparation of a proposed leasing schedule, the Secretary shall invite and consider suggestions and relevant information for such program from the Governor of Alaska, local governments, Native corporations, industry, other Federal agencies, including the Attorney General and all interested parties, including the general public. This request for information shall be issued as a notice in the Federal Register.

(a) The State Director Alaska, Bureau of Land Management, shall issue calls for Nominations and Comments on tracts for leasing for oil and gas in specified areas. The call for Nominations and Comments shall be published in the Federal Register and may be published in other publications as desired by the State Director. Nominations and Comments on tracts shall be addressed to the State Director Alaska, Bureau of Land Management. The State Director shall also request comments on tracts which should receive special concern and analysis.

(b) The State Director, after completion of the required environmental analysis (see 40 CFR 1500-1508), shall select tracts to be offered for sale. In making the selection, the State Director shall consider available environmental information, multiple-use conflicts, resource potential, industry interest, information from appropriate Federal agencies and other available information. The State Director shall develop measures to mitigate adverse impacts, including lease stipulations and information to lessees. These mitigating measures shall be made public in the notice of sale.

Special stipulations shall be developed to the extent the authorized officer deems necessary and appropriate for mitigating reasonably foreseeable and significant adverse impacts on the surface resources. Special Areas stipulations for exploration or production shall be developed in accordance with section 104 of the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976. Any special stipulations and conditions shall be set forth in the notice of sale and shall be attached to and made a part of the lease, if issued. Additional stipulations needed to protect surface resources and special areas may be imposed at the time the surface use plan and permit to drill are approved.

(a) The State Director Alaska, Bureau of Land Management, shall publish the notice of sale in the Federal Register, and may publish the notice in other publications if he/she deems it appropriate. The publication in the Federal Register shall be at least 30 days prior to the date of the sale. The notice shall state the place and time at which bids are to be filed, and the place, date and hour at which bids are to be opened.

(b) Tracts shall be offered for lease by competitive sealed bidding under conditions specified in the notice of lease sale and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. Bidding systems used in sales shall be based on bidding systems included in section (205)(a)(1)(A) through (H) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978 (43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

(c) A detailed statement of the sale, including a description of the areas to be offered for lease, the lease terms, conditions and special stipulations and how and where to submit bids shall be made available to the public immediately after publication of the notice of sale.