Biden administration considers new oil drilling limits in Alaska

The Biden administration is evaluating further restrictions on oil drilling in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve, potentially designating more areas off-limits to development.

Heather Richards reports for E&E News.

In short:

• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will seek public input on expanding “special areas” in the 23-million-acre reserve, which could restrict new oil exploration.
• The move follows the approval of the controversial Willow oil project, which could add up to 199 new wells in the reserve.
• The evaluation will involve consulting with Indigenous tribes and communities reliant on the reserve's resources for subsistence.

Key quote:

“We have a responsibility to manage the western Arctic in a way that honors the more than 40 Indigenous communities that continue to rely on the resources from the Reserve for subsistence.”

— Tracy Stone-Manning, BLM Director

Why this matters:

Increased restrictions on drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska could significantly impact oil production and the local economy, while aiming to protect vital ecosystems and Indigenous ways of life amid rapid climate change.