BLM issues draft EIS on Willow Project

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. (Aug. 23, 2019) – The federal Bureau of Land Management today released a draft environmental impact statement on ConocoPhillips’ Willow Master Development Plan, which represents a dramatic industrialization of the northeastern region of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Notice will be published in the Federal Register on Aug. 30, kicking off a 45-day public comment period.

In response, The Wilderness Society issued the following statement from Alaska State Director Karlin Itchoak:

“BLM will be allowing development that is likely to pose a serious threat to critical and irreplaceable habitat in the Colville River and Teshekpuk Lake special areas at the same time the Trump administration is tearing up the document that guides management of this public land,” Itchoak said. “Meanwhile, BLM is giving the public only the shortest legally permissible period in which to comment—45 days. That is not enough time.”

“BLM has so far failed to ensure meaningful conservation protections for irreplaceable habitat in this Arctic region, and we will be engaging fully in the process of reviewing the numerous negative environmental effects of this enormous oil-development project,” Itchoak said.

The administration has stated its intent to revise the NPR-A’s Integrated Activity Plan, which has been in place since 2013. The IAP complies with the NPR-A’s dual-use mandate by balancing conservation and habitat protection with demands for domestic energy production. A revision of the document is expected to attempt to open more of the Western Arctic to oil and gas leasing and development.

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The Wilderness Society is the leading conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. Founded in 1935, and now with more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently