The Biden administration eyes more drilling restrictions in Alaska
The Biden administration is setting in motion actions that could prevent drilling in more “special areas” of Alaska’s north slope — if the incoming Trump administration does not shelve it.
The Interior Department issued a memo Thursday proposing a new protected area and expansions of existing protected areas.
The impacted areas would be expected to total more than 3 million additional protected acres within a 23-million-acre area known as the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
The new protected area would be called the Nuiqsut Subsistence Use Area. The Nuiqsut community is located near the controversial Willow oil project. Existing activity that’s part of that project is not expected to be impacted, but if the policies are left in place, they could impact efforts to further expand it.
The move comes on top of prior decisions to block drilling on 13 million acres within the petroleum reserve and reverse a Trump-era decision to open up 80 percent of it for oil and gas production.
Laura Daniel-Davis, the Interior Department acting deputy secretary, told reporters the move comes in response to “really consistent feedback that there are additional areas … that people believed merited protection within the reserve.”
The move comes just days before President-elect Trump’s inauguration. He is expected to broadly pursue policies that open up more opportunities for oil and gas as part of a commitment to “drill baby drill.” This latest policy is among those his administration is likely to reverse.
The reserve in Alaska’s north slope was set aside in 1923 by President Harding as an emergency supply of oil for the Navy.
The area is also home to caribou herds, threatened and sensitive bird species, and other animals, including polar bears.
In addition to expanding the protected areas, the memo directs the Bureau of Land Management to seek to protect and reduce potential harm to areas important for tribal food-gathering practices.
-
Biden Administration Creates Final Limits for Oil Drillers in Alaska
Republicans said they were seeking ways to quickly reverse the restrictions in the state’s North Slope region.The New York Times - 5h -
Biden administration proposes new restrictions on AI chip exports
The proposal is raising concerns with the chip industry, with artificial intelligence leader Nvidia calling it "misguided."CBS News - 3d -
Companies decline to drill in Alaska wildlife refuge
Click for the latest from The Hill {beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story Companies decline to drill in Alaska wildlife refuge Alaska on Wednesday sued the Biden ...The Hill - Jan. 8 -
Alaska sues Biden administration over restrictions on arctic oil, gas development
The state of Alaska on Wednesday sued the Biden administration over restrictions the federal government imposed in December on oil and gas leases in the Arctic set for auction this week. The ...The Hill - Jan. 8 -
What to know about Biden’s new offshore drilling restrictions
President Biden's move to bar drilling across the U.S.'s East and West coasts, while splashy, may not have significant climate or energy impacts in the years ahead. Because very little oil and gas ...The Hill - Jan. 7 -
Biden blocks new offshore drilling in vast areas
Click for the latest from The Hill {beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story Biden blocks new offshore drilling in vast areas President Biden has blocked new offshore ...The Hill - Jan. 6 -
Trump rips Biden’s offshore drilling restrictions: ‘I’ll unban it immediately’
President-elect Trump blasted President Biden’s decision to block oil drilling across large swaths of the U.S.’s coastlines, saying he will “unban it.” “It’s ridiculous; I’ll unban it immediately,” ...The Hill - Jan. 6 -
Biden Expected to Permanently Ban Oil Drilling in Some Federal Waters
The move, expected as early as Monday, relies on a 70-year-old law that could make it difficult for the Trump administration to reverse it.The New York Times - Jan. 2
More from The Hill
-
Eric Adams to meet with Trump ahead of his inauguration
New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) is set to meet with President-elect Trump in Florida on Friday just days ahead of Trump's inauguration next week, according to Adams’s aide. “Tomorrow, Mayor ...The Hill - 3h -
Former FEMA director to Congress: 'Give it back its independent agency status,' direct access to president
Former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Michael Brown said that Congress should give the disaster relief agency back its “independent agency status,” allowing it direct ...The Hill - 3h -
Biden won't enforce TikTok ban: Reports
Reports allege that President Biden will not enforce the TikTok ban slated to take effect on Sunday, just one day before the presidential inauguration, according to multiple reports, including by ...The Hill - 4h -
Biden says he spent too much time on policy, not enough on politics
President Biden said that he spent too much time on policy and not enough time on politics while reflecting on his presidency in his final interview just days away from leaving office. Biden sat ...The Hill - 4h -
Biden says goodbye to the troops
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Bien says goodbye to the troops President Biden on Thursday ...The Hill - 5h
More in Politics
-
Eric Adams to meet with Trump ahead of his inauguration
New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) is set to meet with President-elect Trump in Florida on Friday just days ahead of Trump's inauguration next week, according to Adams’s aide. “Tomorrow, Mayor ...The Hill - 3h -
Former FEMA director to Congress: 'Give it back its independent agency status,' direct access to president
Former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Michael Brown said that Congress should give the disaster relief agency back its “independent agency status,” allowing it direct ...The Hill - 3h -
Biden won't enforce TikTok ban: Reports
Reports allege that President Biden will not enforce the TikTok ban slated to take effect on Sunday, just one day before the presidential inauguration, according to multiple reports, including by ...The Hill - 4h -
Georgia senator arrested after trying to enter House chamber
Georgia State Sen. Colton Moore, a Republican, was arrested when he tried to enter the state House chamber after a previous ban.NBC News - 4h -
Biden says he spent too much time on policy, not enough on politics
President Biden said that he spent too much time on policy and not enough time on politics while reflecting on his presidency in his final interview just days away from leaving office. Biden sat ...The Hill - 4h