Page 3 - Alan Weitzner News Today

The Biden administration began reversing the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's coastal plain to oil drilling, by suspending leases issued in the final days of the Trump administration.

“Neither the president, nor the secretary, are given the discretion to decide otherwise,” Murkowski said.     “We’re extremely disappointed in the Biden Administration’s effort to prevent Alaska from lawfully and responsibly developing its natural resources,” said Alan Weitzner, executive director of the Alaska Industrial Development & Export Authority. Weitzner noted that the Biden Administration had failed to provide documentation “of any deficiencies th...

The Arctic Sounder - Serving the Northwest Arctic and the North Slope

Several Republican officials in Alaska, including Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, called out President Joe Biden this week for his decision to freeze drilling in an oil preserve in the Arctic amid a Trump administration reversal. While the leases were issued in relation to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act signed by President Donald Trump, Biden took action against oil development in the federally designated oil preserve 1002 Area in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Interior Secretary Deb...

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge just got a reprieve—but it’s not safe yet The U.S. recently announced it would suspend oil and gas leases in a pristine Alaskan ecosystem. But many environmental battles await the million-acre refuge. BySarah Gibbens Email The Biden administration’s decision this week to review new Trump-era oil leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is a positive step, experts and environmentalists say. But it falls far short of a final resolution of the ...

The Interior Department announced Tuesday the suspension of all Arctic National Wildlife Refuge leases pending an environmental analysis, shutting down one of the Trump administration's landmark energy initiatives.

The action reverses one of former President Donald Trump's signature efforts to expand fossil fuel development in the United States.

Joe Biden had pledged to protect the 19.6 million-acre pristine habitat for polar bears, caribou and migratory birds

The action reverses Trumps efforts to expand fossil fuel development in the U.S., and delivers a setback to the Alaska nt which had hoped opening the refuge would help its declining oil industry.

The action places leases purchased in January in limbo.