Biden admin axes Trump-era oil drilling leases in Alaska wildlife refuge

 The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it plans to cancel the seven remaining oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The 430,000-acre, 10-year drilling leases were awarded to a state agency, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, by the Trump administration. 

The Biden administration put the leases on hold in January 2021 by issuing an executive order. Later that year, the administration announced that it would be reviewing the leases “[i]n light of the alleged legal deficiencies underlying the program.”

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland stated on Wednesday, “On day one of this administration, President Biden directed us to look at the oil and gas leases sold in the refuge by the previous administration.”

“What we have found in our analysis is that the lease sale itself was seriously flawed and based on a number of fundamental legal deficiencies,” Haaland claimed.

When asked about the law, a senior official told reporters on Wednesday that “no one will have rights to drill for oil in one of the most sensitive landscapes on Earth” and that the administration “intend[s] to comply with the law.” 

“With climate change warming the Arctic more than twice as fast as the rest of the planet, we must do everything within our control to meet the highest standards of care to protect this fragile ecosystem,” Haaland continued. “The steps we are taking today further that commitment, based on the best available science and in recognition of the Indigenous Knowledge of the original stewards of this area, to safeguard our public lands for future generations.” 

The administration also proposed a new rule on Wednesday to protect roughly 13 million acres in Alaska, known as the National Petroleum Reserve — Alaska.

Haaland applauded Biden for “delivering on the most ambitious climate and conservation agenda in history.” However, in March, the Biden administration approved ConocoPhillips’ controversial Willow project, a $8 billion oil-drilling project in the NPR-A.

“These bold actions to protect the Arctic region build on President Biden’s historic conservation and climate agenda, which already includes protecting more than 21 million acres of public lands and waters across the nation, and securing the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in climate action in history,” the Department of Interior stated in a Wednesday press release.

Biden said the leases were canceled due to the “climate crisis” warming the Arctic and reaffirmed his commitment to the conversation agenda.

“From day one, I have delivered on the most ambitious climate and conservation agenda in our country’s history. But there is more to do, and my administration will continue to take bold action to meet the urgency of the climate crisis and to protect our lands and waters for generations to come,” he stated.