Trump administration concludes the plan of Oil Drilling in the Arctic Refuge of Alaska
The Trump government said Monday it would start the process of auctioning off leases for oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a possible first-of-its-kind launching of this pristine wilderness which will be contested in court.
While the government is moving ahead with rentals, Trump signaled he hasn't yet determined whether to let grant rentals and permit real petroleum drilling if and when the time comes.
"Congress led us to maintain rental revenue in the ANWR Coastal Plain, also we've taken a substantial step in fulfilling our duties by deciding where and under what conditions the gas and oil development program will happen," Bernhardt said in a statement.
Congress approved the application in 2017, and the Interior's Bureau of Land Management at December 2018 reasoned drilling could be performed inside the coastal plain region without damaging wildlife.
Environmental groups known as the leasing program that an election-year stunt which will be contested in court.
"The Trump government's so-called inspection procedure due to their shameless sell-off of the Arctic Refuge was a sham from the beginning.
"Our climate is at crisis, oil prices have cratered, and important banks are pulling from Arctic financing left and right," said Adam Kolton, executive manager at Alaska Wilderness League. "And the Trump government continues its race to liquidate our country's last great wilderness, placing at risk the native peoples and iconic wildlife which rely on it"
