Donald Trump spent his entire term trying to open up the Arctic Refuge to drilling, and in the final hours of his administration he succeeded in auctioning away drilling rights.
John — The University of Pennsylvania’s Regulatory Review has just published a new analysis on what path could be taken to save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
But first, here’s a reminder on how we got here: Donald Trump spent his entire term trying to open up the Arctic Refuge to drilling, and in the final hours of his administration he succeeded in auctioning away drilling rights.
Once Joe Biden took office, he was able to issue an executive order that effectively paused drilling in ANWR, but only on a temporary basis.
And now the Regulatory Review is examining how drilling in ANWR might be stopped in the long term. Here is what they found:
The Biden Administration likely cannot cancel the leases that were sold under the Trump Administration.
Four lawsuits filed by conservation groups, the Gwich’in and Venetie Native people, and individual states probably can get the leases axed because the Trump Administration rushed and shortened the required period for public comments on drilling in ANWR.
But, even if the leases are canceled, a Republican-passed law during the Trump years still requires another new sale to occur. So legislation will be needed to ensure permanent protection of ANWR.
John — This is why SEEC Rep. Jared Huffman wrote the Arctic Refuge Protection Act, which restores protections to the Arctic Refuge Coastal Plain, and importantly, it would stop the oil and gas exploration that Donald Trump was pushing for in one of America’s greatest natural treasures.
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