The U.S. federal government said it plans to prepare an impact statement in support of a possible oil and gas lease sale in Cook Inlet, off the Alaskan coast. “We need to hear from residents of the communities along Cook Inlet on how the proposed leasing area is currently being used and what specific areas need extra attention,” Walter Cruickshank, acting director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, said in a statement. The BOEM said its planned environmental impact statement will focus on what impact, if any, leasing, exploration, development and production of oil or natural gas in the region would have on the regional ecosystem. The agency said Tuesday the potential lease sale avoids areas designated as critical habitat of sea […]