In a bold move, the Biden administration has introduced new environmental protections covering over a million acres within Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve to counter expected developments by the incoming Trump administration.
Biden 's move aims to preemptively shield critical subsistence resources from expansive oil and gas extraction plans, as the Daily Caller reports.
The Department of the Interior (DOI) made this announcement last Thursday, stating that the initiative would protect 1.3 million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). These lands are highly valued for their subsistence resources which are vital to the local Indigenous populations.
The NPR-A was originally established by former President Warren G. Harding in 1923. Designed as an emergency fuel reserve for the U.S. Navy, the area now spans approximately 23 million acres. It is a significant site for potential oil and gas projects, which makes it a focal point in national energy policies.
In April 2024, the Biden administration had previously limited drilling in 13 million acres of this vast area, reflecting a continued emphasis on conservation and environmental protection.
The new protections mandated by the DOI will require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to evaluate and reveal the potential impacts of drilling activities on local hunting and fishing practices. This assessment reflects the administration's response to extensive public input that underscored the importance of these subsistence activities.
Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Daniel-Davis provided insights into the governmental proceedings: "Throughout our efforts to receive feedback from the public, we heard significant input about the need for protecting subsistence by identifying it as a significant resource value in the NPR-A." She elaborated on the historic dependency on these resources, stating, "Fish and wildlife have provided food for Alaska Native people in this region for millennia and, based on the information we received and our legal mandate, we have concluded it is necessary to commence a process to ensure its protection."
While these environmental measures are set to provide some hurdles for the Trump administration's energy ambitions, the New York Times points out that they are unlikely to completely obstruct the forthcoming policies geared towards enhancing oil and gas production. However, they could invite legal challenges that may delay or complicate Trump’s objectives.
Environmental groups have come out in strong support of the Biden administration’s proactive steps. They appreciate the efforts to balance resource extraction with environmental and cultural preservation.
However, not everyone is pleased with these developments. Republican Alaska Rep. Nick Begich and Nagruk Harcharek, president of the Voice of Arctic Iñupiat (VOICE), have criticized the Biden administration's decision. They argue that these measures are politically motivated rather than effective solutions for the local communities directly affected by such policies.
Harcharek expressed his frustrations, stating "This is no way to create durable policy on Alaska’s North Slope. Today’s development exemplifies the Biden administration’s broken policy process, prioritizing short-term political wins over lasting solutions for the communities directly impacted by its actions." He further lamented the perceived disregard for local communities: "It is deeply insulting that our lands, communities, and culture continue to be treated as the outgoing Biden administration’s pet legacy project – especially after voters in our region and around the country resoundingly rejected the federal government’s policy agenda."
Despite these protections, Harcharek remains hopeful about the future, emphasizing continuity in their efforts against these measures: "The North Slope Iñupiat will continue to fight the Biden administration’s attempts to deny our self-determination in our ancestral homelands." He looks towards fostering a relationship with the upcoming administration that respects mutual interests: "We look forward to building a more collaborative relationship, characterized by mutual respect, with the Trump-Vance administration following its inauguration next week."
The intricate balance between national energy needs, environmental conservation, and the rights and traditions of local communities continues to shape the unfolding narrative of America's Arctic policy.
