The Trump administration has officially approved the opening of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s coastal plain for potential oil and gas drilling, reigniting a longstanding debate on whether to allow drilling in this ecologically significant area.
U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum revealed the decision to move forward with lease sales within the 631,309-hectare coastal plain, an area revered by the Indigenous Gwich’in community. This action aligns with President Donald Trump’s and congressional Republicans’ promises to permit development in the refuge. A recent bill passed by Trump aimed at tax breaks and spending cuts mandates at least four lease sales within the refuge over the next decade.
Accompanied by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and the state’s congressional delegation, Burgum made the announcement in Washington, D.C., where other land-related decisions were also addressed, including the restoration of oil and gas leases in the refuge that were canceled by the previous administration.
The Indigenous Gwich’in community views the coastal plain as sacred due to its significance for a caribou herd crucial to their way of life, vehemently opposing drilling in the area. In contrast, leaders of the Inupiaq community of Kaktovik within the refuge support drilling, believing responsible oil development is vital for their economic prosperity.
A lease sale conducted during President Joe Biden’s term did not attract any bidders, with critics citing overly restrictive conditions. The recent announcement by the Trump administration has drawn criticism from Meda DeWitt of The Wilderness Society, who expressed concerns about prioritizing corporate interests over the livelihoods and cultural heritage of those reliant on the Arctic Refuge.
The administration’s actions also include plans outlined by Trump upon his return to office, including expediting the construction of a road connecting King Cove and Cold Bay. Burgum announced the completion of a land exchange deal to facilitate the road’s construction through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, a project long sought after by King Cove residents for improved access to emergency medical services.
Despite support from Dunleavy and the congressional delegation, conservationists have vowed legal challenges to the agreement, citing potential harm to migratory birds and internationally recognized habitat in the refuge. The land exchange proposal involves trading ecologically valuable wilderness lands within the refuge for lands outside it, sparking concerns from tribal leaders in communities like Hooper Bay and Paimiut.
Senator Lisa Murkowski stressed the importance of balancing the road’s construction with minimal environmental disturbance, emphasizing that the proposed road would be gravel, one-lane, and noncommercial to minimize impacts on the refuge’s ecosystem.