Trump Administration Revives Alaska Oil, Road Plans | JQJO

The Trump administration announced steps to allow oil and gas drilling in Alaska, including a winter lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s 1.56-million-acre coastal plain and the reinstatement of seven leases canceled by the Biden administration. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the land “should and will be supporting responsible oil and gas leasing” at an “Alaska Day” event, as many Interior employees were furloughed during the government shutdown. He also finalized a deal for a gravel road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and reaffirmed plans to greenlight an industrial road to a proposed Alaska mine.