The Trump administration moved to unleash drilling in a region of Alaska on Tuesday that former President Joe Biden targeted during his tenure in the White House.
The Department of the Interior (DOI) unveiled its draft analysis on Tuesday proposing to open more than 80% of the 23-million-acre National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) for oil and gas leasing. The action stands in contrast with the Biden administration’s NPR-A policies, which heavily restricted oil and gas leasing across almost half of the reserve.
“This plan is about creating more jobs for Americans, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and tapping into the immense energy resources the National Petroleum Reserve was created to deliver,” Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Adam Suess said. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we’re cutting red tape and restoring commonsense policies that ensure responsible development and good stewardship of our public lands.” (RELATED: Trump Admin Walks Back Biden Rule ‘Smothering’ Alaskan Oil)
The Biden administration designated around 13 million acres as restricted “special areas” in the Alaskan North Slope as part of a major crackdown on natural resource extraction in the state. Notably, Biden’s restrictions on Alaskan oil threatened to harm some native populations whose economies depend heavily on natural resources, but the former administration nevertheless touted the virtues of “Indigenous Knowledge” in enacting its climate policies in Alaska.
The NPR-A on the North Slope and nearby areas are thought to contain approximately 8.7 billion barrels of retrievable oil, according to estimates from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The reserve was designated by Congress for oil and gas development for national energy security in response to the oil crisis of the 1970s.
The action is the latest move in President Donald Trump’s deregulatory spree as his administration works to allow for more oil, gas and mineral development in Alaska and beyond.
Trump campaigned on unleashing America’s energy dominance, repeating the phrase “drill baby drill” in reference to expanding domestic oil drilling. The administration has argued that oil and gas expansion is vital to address the “energy emergency,” heighten national security and shore up the power grid.
The draft analysis is open for public feedback on the Bureau of Land Management National Environmental and Policy Act register until July 1.
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