Should Congress reauthorize oil production in Northern Alaska?
H.R. 6285 seeks to reauthorize and reestablish oil and natural gas development within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Northern Alaska. While historically a major oil-producing region, mining operations have gradually ceased due to additional regulations during the Trump and Biden administrations. Sponsor: Rep. Pete Stauber (Republican, Minnesota, District 8)
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Opponents say
• "The North Slope of Alaska includes lands that sustain people, wildlife, and fish in northern
Alaska and are part of a vast landscape of rich cultural traditions and thriving ecological
diversity… These lands and waters are a critical home to migratory and resident wildlife and have unique recreational values… Over 40 communities continue to rely on the resources located in the NPR-A for subsistence, including caribou, shore and waterbirds, and many other plant, fish, and wildlife species… On September 8, 2023, the BLM published a proposed rule to update… the nearly 45-year-old regulatory framework to respond to the dramatically changing conditions in the Arctic… This proposed rule also protects long-standing subsistence activities for Alaska Native communities and strengthens the role of Tribal governments in the management of public lands. H.R. 6285 would block the BLM from managing the NPR-A as the NPRPA requires: to ensure maximum protection of Special Areas while also protecting subsistence activities and ensuring a balance for surface resources in future oil and gas activities in the NPR-A. The bill would also reduce opportunities for meaningful public input and engagement on that management. Source: Steve Feldgus, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Land and Minerals Management at the U.S. Department of the Interior
• "[T]he Arctic and its people are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis. Put simply, business-as-usual dependence on oil and gas is not sustainable. We have a choice — proactively plan and prepare now to forge a path toward a bright and resilient future for the Arctic, including a fair and just transition to clean energy, or wait until we’re over the cliff’s edge. Climate warming is already having severe effects across the Arctic. Future oil projects pose a real and substantial near-term danger to sensitive biological, cultural and subsistence resources and values. Damage to the region and its communities from climate change will be — and, in fact, is already becoming — irreparable." Source: Karlin Itchoak, Alaska Senior Regional Director, The Wilderness Society
• "Cancelling the oil and gas leases in the Arctic Refuge was the right thing to do, and President Biden was on firm legal ground when he did so. The Congressional GOP would rather waste time trying to revive leases that are legally dubious and oil companies don’t want than take up common sense, bipartisan legislation to protect our wildlife and our clean air and water." Source: Athen Manuel, Lands Protection Program Director at the Sierra Club
Proponents say
• "As Chairman of the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, I’m working to stop the Biden Administration’s ‘anywhere but America, and worker but American’ energy policies. The Biden Administration’s decision to take these resources offline without consulting the Alaska Native communities most impacted by this decision will have terrible repercussions for the state of Alaska and the entire United States, including job loss and higher energy costs. By reversing Biden’s harmful actions on Alaska’s North Slope, my bill will lower energy costs for Americans, create economic opportunities for Native communities, and reduce our dangerous reliance on foreign nations for our energy needs. I’m proud to see this legislation advance through committee with bipartisan support, and I will continue to push until it becomes law." Source: Rep. Pete Stauber (Republican, Minnesota, District 8)
• "Just last week, I hosted leaders of the Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat, Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, the North Slope Borough, and the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation here in D.C. to elevate their voices and bring attention to their communities’ strong opposition to the Biden administration’s illegal cancellation of lawfully-issued leases in ANWR, and the NPR-A rule that will lock up their lands… There is palpable anger and frustration among Alaskans about the Biden administration’s unrelenting assault on our economy and our ability to lawfully access our lands. This is a grave injustice to the people who actually live on the North Slope. They have been disregarded entirely during this process and denied consultation as the Biden administration locks up their lands. Alaska has a right to produce our own energy for the sake of quality economic opportunities and good-paying jobs, and for the energy security of the entire nation." Source: Sen. Dan Sullivan (Republican, Alaska)
• "Our tribes, Alaska Native corporations, and municipal governments are engaged in the planning
processes of projects and support those projects that take into account the needs of our people
and our communities. Without an economy, our communities are not sustainable; without our
communities, our culture begins to die as more and more of our people are forced to leave to
find economic opportunity elsewhere. Thank you, Chairman Stauber and Representative Peltola for your continued support and advocacy on behalf the North Slope Iñupiat, including the introduction of HR8265 and the chance to testify in support of the bill here today in front of the committee." Source: Doreen Leavitt, Director of Natural Resources and Tribal Council Secretary for the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope
- Stauber’s Bill to Restore Alaskan Energy Production Passes Out of Natural Resources Committee (Press Release)
- Warmest Arctic Summer on Record is Evidence of Accelerating Climate Change (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
- Biden-Harris Administration Takes Critical Action to Protect Alaska Native Subsistence, Lands and Wildlife (U.S. Department of t
- Alaska Native Children, Youth and Family Well-Being Depends on our Rights to Practice Subsistence (Alaska Beacon)
- US Restricts Drilling and Mining in Alaska Wilderness, Angering State Leaders (Reuters)
- Approval of Divisive Alaska Oil Project Upheld in Blow to US Climate Goals (The Guardian)
- The United States is Producing More Oil than any Country in History (CNN)
- Rep. Pete Stauber’s Largest Donors (OpenSecrets)
