Biden administration delays release of new Arctic Refuge drilling environmental review
The release, originally planned by the end of November, won't happen until the second quarter of next year.
The Biden administration has delayed by several months the release of a new environmental review of oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The review, known as a "draft supplemental environmental impact statement," was originally set for release by the end of November. All oil development work in the refuge is effectively stalled until the new review process concludes.
Northern Journal is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
The report’s release will now be delayed until the second quarter of next year. That’s according to status reports filed late Wednesday by U.S. Department of Justice attorneys with the federal court handling three separate lawsuits over the refuge leasing program.
DOJ Refuge Status Report109KB ∙ PDF fileDownloadDownload
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of the Interior, which is overseeing the leasing program, declined to comment further.
The Arctic Refuge drilling program was a contentious piece of the Trump administration’s energy agenda, following Congress’ vote to open the area to drilling as part of the 2017 tax reform package.
Conservation groups, tribes and anti-drilling U.S. states each filed lawsuits to challenge the administration’s oil leasing process and environmental reviews.
Following an auction in the final days of Trump’s term, the Biden administration suspended the active leases in the refuge. Then, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced the new review process, saying she found "multiple legal deficiencies" in the leasing program, including insufficient environmental analysis.
The two private companies that submitted winning bids in the Trump administration’s 2021 sale have already canceled their leases. Just one leaseholder remains, the state-owned Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority.
The 2017 tax reform package requires the federal government to hold a second lease sale by 2024.
The Anchorage Press corrects errors publicly and promptly. If you believe this reporting contains an inaccuracy, please contact [email protected].
Nathaniel Herz
Nathaniel Herz is the Executive Editor of the Anchorage Press and founder of Northern Journal.
JOIN THE PRESS EMAIL LIST
Sign up for the good stuff. Free email dispatches delivered straight to your inbox with zero paywalls.
RELATED DISPATCHES
Biden administration advances conservation group's bid to list Gulf of Alaska king salmon as endangered or threatened
Experts say that the request, if granted, could force restrictions not just on salmon fishermen but also on activity that affects river habitat, like road and residential construction.
Shell abandons North Slope oil leases, raising questions about the industry’s future in Alaska
As the world pivots toward lower-carbon energy sources in response to global warming, experts say some of the state’s hard-to-tap oil prospects are becoming less attractive.
Something woolly is afoot in Alaska 🦣🦣
A mammoth investigation.
Like what you see?
We want you to have nice things. We’re dedicated to reporting on the hard and the fun topics (sometimes both…) – powered by Alaskan readers.