JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Biden administration said Friday it will restrict new oil and gas leasing on 13 million acres (5.3 million hectares) of a federal petroleum reserve in Alaska to help protect wildlife such as caribou and polar bears as the Arctic continues to warm.
The decision — part of a yearslong fight over whether and how to develop the vast oil resources in the state — finalizes protections first proposed last year as the Democratic administration prepared to approve the contentious Willow oil project.
The approval of Willow drew fury from environmentalists, who said the large oil project violated President Joe Biden’s pledge to combat climate change. Friday’s decision also completes an earlier plan that called for closing nearly half the reserve to oil and gas leasing.
A group of Republican lawmakers, led by Alaska U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, jumped out ahead of Friday’s announcement about drilling limitations in the National Petroleum-Reserve Alaska before it was publicly announced. Sullivan called it an “illegal” attack on the state’s economic lifeblood, and he predicted lawsuits.
5,000 flee military raids on villages in Myanmar’s Sagaing region — Radio Free Asia
Outage hits Apple services, including App Store and Apple TV+
New Climate Change Minister Simon Watts not expecting criticism at COP28 over fossil fuels U
Auckland's rail operators promise city's trains will run more smoothly
Biden administration restricts oil and gas leasing in Alaska
Coronavirus outbreak joins just five other public health emergencies from history
Wellington City Council votes to increase housing density
Coronavirus news: American tries to slip through quarantine
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton can be disciplined for suit to overturn 2020 election, court says
Killer whale vs shark: Solo orca eats great white
Samuel L. Jackson reunites with Pulp Fiction co
Auckland's rail operators promise city's trains will run more smoothly