The coastal depth of the Alaskan Arctic are safe from fossil fuel drilling — for now , at least . The Biden administration has temporarily suspended oil and petrol oil production lease in Alaska ’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge , pushing back againstthe controversial moveby the Trump Administration .
Environmental organization , environmentalist , and Indigenous groups have cheer at the decision , but some Republican politiciansweren’t so pleased .
On Monday , June 1 , the US Department of the Interiorannounced the suspensionof all activities relate to the execution of the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge . The decision will then be reviewed by the National Environmental Policy Act who will seem to valuate the potential impacts of practise in the field . The move follows up on anexecutive orderPresident Biden made on the solar day of his inauguration in January .
The question of fossil fuel drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has seen autochthonous and conservation mathematical group pitted against oil companies and Republicans in one of thelongest and biggest environmental battlesof late US history .
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge contains 78,000 square kilometers ( 30,100 square land mile ) of range tundra and wetlands in the Alaska North Slope part that ’s home to an incredible regalia of American biodiversity , includingpolar bear , grizzly bears , black bear , moose , caribous , wolves , eagle , lynxes , Gulo luscus , marten cat , and beavers .
Much of the oil production controversy specifically centre on the refuge ’s coastal champaign , known as the " 1002 area , " which admit the main calving ground for America ’s largest reindeer ruck , the Porcupine herd . Ever since discussions around open up the " 1002 area " to fossil fuel exploration and industrial developing started in the late-1970s , environmentalists and some autochthonic groups have been working to keep the area ’s wildlife and heritage .
Under Trump , the US governmentstarted to auction offoil oil production rent deep in this litigious area . backer of the plan say it would “ support energy security , job creation , and economic growth , ” but critic highlighted how the plan endanger to undermine the orbit ’s unique biodiversity , as well as the traditional homelands of many Indigenous groups .
As such , Indigenous and conservation groups have praised the decision to put a temporary moratorium on rock oil and gas leasing action in the area . While this calendar week ’s news has been welcome , opponents of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge propose that the Biden administration needs to go further in its toast to safeguard the environment . In recent calendar month , the administration hasquietly pushed through policythat will guarantee the drilling and combustion of fossil fuels for decade to come despite its early promises , showing that the wider battle is far from over .
“ Thank you , President Biden and Interior Secretary Haaland , for taking this step toward protecting the Arctic Refuge from oil activities . These demesne are sanctified to the Gwich’in and Iñupiat people and nursery to the Porcupine caribou , polar bears , and million of migratory birds , ” a coalition of 17 Indigenous and conservation establishment aver in ajoint statement .
“ More study remain , however , and we appear forward to wreak with the administration on stronger action to correct this unlawful leasing program and preserve one of our nation ’s most gallant public estate . We also look to the administration and Congress to now prioritise countermand the ongoing threat pose by the statutory oil leasing mandate and restoring protections to America ’s Serengeti . ”
