BLM takes key step toward destruction of Arctic Refuge coastal plain
Caribou in the Arctic Refuge
Georgia Bennett/Georgia Bennett LLC
Environmental Assessment illustrates rush to authorize damaging exploration activities before Trump leaves office
The federal Bureau of Land Management today released its environmental assessment of an application from Kaktovik Iñupiat Corporation to conduct seismic exploration for oil and gas on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The agency also posted a draft finding of no new significant impact, which, if finalized, will clear the way for the government to issue a permit that will allow industrial activity to begin as soon as January 21.
The documents are available for a short, 14-day public comment period spanning the winter holidays. This is the first assessment to fall under new federal regulations that allow government agencies to streamline review processes required under the National Environmental Policy Act. The new NEPA regulations have limited analysis and gutted the ability of the public and scientists to raise their concerns.
In response, The Wilderness Society issued the following statement from its Alaska state director, Karlin Itchoak:
“This is another harmful step that shows how desperately the current administration wants to turn over one of the nation’s most sensitive ecosystems to the oil industry before President Trump leaves office. To allow industrial activity on the coastal plain goes against public opinion, tramples on the human rights of Indigenous peoples in the region and is sure to cause irreparable harm to the lands of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
“We strongly oppose proposals for seismic exploration, as well as the rushed oil and gas lease sale scheduled for Jan. 6. With our Indigenous and conservation partners, we will be exploring all options to protect the coastal plain from the Trump administration’s relentless attack on the nation’s largest national wildlife refuge.”
The Wilderness Society is the leading organization uniting people to protect America’s wild places. Founded in 1935, and now with more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 111 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands. www.wilderness.org.
Tim Woody, (907) 223-2443, tim_woody@tws.org
