ConocoPhillips’s massive Willow oil project on Alaska’s North Slope has prompted a groundbreaking environmental deal with local Iñupiat leaders. The US Bureau of Land Management recently signed a right-of-way agreement with Nuiqsut Trilateral Inc., a partnership combining Nuiqsut’s city and city governments with Kuukpik Corp., the village’s Native corporation.
The agreement ensures habitat protections for wildlife around Teshekpuk Lake, the North Slope’s largest lake and home to the Teshekpuk Caribou Herd. The partnership oversees nearly one million acres encircling the lake.
The agreement prohibits new leasing surface or subsurface exploration and mining during the Willow oil project lifespan. Officials designed the proposal to shield critical Caribou habitat from potential drilling impacts.
Although no active leases exist in the designated area, the deal reinforces local control over resource management. Kuukpik Corp. initiated the concept, proposing this community-led approach to address Willow’s environmental concerns while avoiding new protected areas.
According to Kuukpik’s President George Sielak, the arrangement empowers locals and balances industrial progress with cultural and environmental preservation. Willow, expected to produce oil by 2029, will deliver up to 180,000 barrels daily at peak output, contributing to North Slope energy production.
Biden’s administration approved Willow in March 2023 despite criticism from environmental groups regarding climate change risks. Initially, Nuiqsut leaders opposed the project due to risks to subsistence hunting and food gathering traditions.
Recent shifts in community sentiment, alongside collaborative efforts under Nuiqsut Trilateral Inc. and Willow oil project agreements, reflect a cautious embrace of the industry’s potential benefits. Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips continues expanding operations on the North Slope, adding new production sites like Nuna and others, and output steadily increases across the region.
This news article was originally published by Alaska Beacon.
