The Department of the Interior said Wednesday that they received no bids during the second lease sale for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which Congress required. The US Bureau of Land Management, which is in charge of managing the leasing program established by a 2017 tax bill, originally planned for bids to open.
The measure, signed by Donald Trump and passed by the Republican-controlled Congress, sought to allow drilling in the Arctic refuge. The Biden administration declared the lack of bids an affirmation of its stance against oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge.
Acting Interior Secretary Laura Daniel-David criticized the 2017 legislation, arguing it ignored environmental and cultural concerns. She noted that oil companies hold vast undeveloped leases elsewhere and urged them to refocus.
This follows the 2021 lease sale, which attracted minimal interest and few bids, mainly from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority. On Wednesday, AIDEA disclosed an agreement with the Biden administration to prevent reselling its previously acquired leases.
However, drilling advocates accused the administration of deterring bids by enforcing strict environmental regulations. Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska claimed that the Biden administration was stifling development-oriented voices from the North Slope Iñupiat and weakening federal law.
Alaska Natives are divided on the Arctic Refugee issue. The Gwich’in, who depend on the Porcupine Caribou Herd, reject drilling as a threat to their subsistence lifestyle and culture. At the same time, many North Slope Iñupiat support it for its economic benefits.
Environmental groups also celebrated the failed Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lease sale, highlighting public opposition to Arctic oil drilling amid growing climate change concerns. A Gwich’in leader, Curtis Gilbert, reaffirmed resistance to development, calling the coastal plain sacred land.
AIDEA, undeterred by the setback, insists its leases remain valuable. However, AIDEA leaders anticipate renewed efforts under the Trump administration to claim billions of recoverable oil barrels exist within the Arctic Refuge. Legal battles over Biden’s leasing policies and canceled leases continue as Alaska officials seek policy reversals.
This news article was originally published by Alaska Public Media.
